4) Staying in the neighborhood exposes older adults to “environmental complexity”
“Aging-in-community” (remaining in one’s neighborhood) exposes us to multi-generational social networks by keeping close to family, friends, and neighbors; this in turn contributes to “environmental complexity.” The stimulation is important because longevity studies have shown the more complex your daily behavior the longer you live.
5) Avoiding the high cost of care
The high cost of care was outlined in a recent survey by Genworth Financial Inc., which reported the costs for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and some in-home care services have increased for a fifth consecutive year.
The survey found
The *costs of least and most expensive states for four levels of long-term care: Homemakers (basic cleaning and grocery/errand shopping); home health aides (help with bathing, dressing etc.); assisted living; and nursing home care, according to Genworth Financial:
HOMEMAKERS (median national annual cost: $41,184)
Least Expensive States
1. Alabama: $34,320
2. Louisiana: $36,333
3. Mississippi and Arkansas (tied): $$36,608
Most Expensive States
1. Alaska: $59,374
2. Hawaii: $52,052
3. Massachusetts and Rhode Island (tied): $51,480
HOME HEALTH AIDES (median national cost: $43,472)
Least Expensive States
1. Louisiana: $36,471
2. Alabama: $36,562
3. Arkansas: $36,608
Most Expensive States
1. Alaska: $60,632
2. Minnesota: $58,916
3. Hawaii: ($57,772)
ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY (median national cost: $39,135) (for one bedroom in a private apartment/unit)
Least Expensive States
1. Georgia: $28,800
2. Utah: $31,770
3. Florida $31,950
Most Expensive
1. Alaska: $66,000
2. Massachusetts: $59,400
3. New Jersey: $59,250
SEMI-PRIVATE ROOM AT A NURSING HOME (median national cost: $70,445)
Least Expensive
1. Texas: $46,335
2. Oklahoma: $47,450
3. Mississippi: $48,910
Most Expensive
1. Alaska: $222,285
2. Hawaii: $108,405
3. Massachusetts: $116,800
When visiting the Genworth Financial site note the “future costs” estimate.
*Homemaker and Home Health Aides are based on 44 hours a week and Adult Day Health Care is for 8 hours at a facility, 5 days a week.
The Rising Cost of Care
These costs will continue to rise as the growing number of us out paces the number of long-term care providers. Economic necessity is driving care from the clinical setting into the home environment.
Staying in one’s home and community can provide the kind of daily challenges and cost savings not offered by institutional housing.
The art of successful aging in place is a balance between the increasing needs of the older adult with the right combination of housing modification options, care giving, assistive technologies, behavioral adaptations, and “green” strategies for aging in place, to meet “environmental press” challenges.
But a poor fit between the capacities of the individual and their environmental support systems could result in giving up cherished activities, isolation, accidents, and possibly premature institutionalization.
The goal is to promote choice and independence which enhances (or preserves) physical and mental functioning, while balancing safety and security needs unique to each person.