WS Chronicle

By Rebecca Holder

According to several recent surveys, more older adults than ever want to age in place. That desire is reflected in this year’s Older Americans Month theme, “Powered by Connection,” as it “emphasizes the vital role that connectedness plays in supporting independence and aging in place by combating isolation, loneliness, and other related issues.” 

When powered by connection, aging in place becomes more than someone growing old within the four walls of their home. Aging in place happens in the community with the awareness and involvement of businesses, organizations, service providers, educational institutions, churches, and government, as well as the efforts of the older adult.

What happens when there’s community-wide connection? First, aging in place becomes more proactive. Conversations around needs, resources, planning, and options take place sooner rather than later. All the stakeholders can weigh in on the opportunities and challenges and determine the role they will play. Too often in the past, older adults start “aging in place” after circumstances have forced the issue and limited their options. 

Being more proactive means that decisions and actions taken now can have tremendous benefits years later. It also sets a more positive tone for aging. Instead of waiting and reacting to negative events, there is excitement and enthusiasm for setting goals, looking to the future with purpose and a plan.

There’s also more understanding that aging in place is an on-going process. Aging in place isn’t the “one-time” installation of grab bars or the addition of a wheelchair ramp. As time passes and circumstances change, how well a person and their house function together are reassessed. Even with a proactive approach, adjustments will be needed as new products and technologies become available or medical, financial, and familial crises arise. 

Or it may be that something simply no longer works – aging in place is ever-changing. The process of aging in place calls on the strengths of adaptability, resilience, and creativity – strengths that may come from a variety of places and in various forms.

Connection is why more professionals in aging in place, particularly professionals with experience in both aging and construction, are becoming available. Bringing together architects, interior designers, general contractors, physical therapists, social workers, and others to share information and experience ensures that aging in place – whatever the plan, product, or process – functions and is well- suited for the older adult.

Embracing various professional viewpoints also allows a more comprehensive approach to the “in place” portion of aging in place, as well as focusing more attention on small details. Every aspect of a home is evaluated to ensure everything is working together to achieve the independence, functionality, and accessibility needed for aging in place. From foundation to rooftop, house numbers to paint color, nothing is overlooked.

Though Older Americans Month, with its theme of Powered by Connection, is about showing and growing more support for an aging in place mindset, it is about much more. It reminds us that situations related to aging can be complicated, varied, difficult, and just downright hard at times. There is no cookie cutter formula, roadmap, or instruction sheet and there never will be. People, all of us, need help with aging issues. We can’t do it alone. We need to connect to one another. Successful aging goes far beyond the efforts of a single individual. It does, and will continue to require, the collective expertise, passion, and attention of our “connectedness” if an aging society, and we ourselves, are to experience later life in a meaningful way.

Rebecca S. Holder’s career working with older adults spans over 40 years. Combining her experience as a nursing home administrator and general contractor, Rebecca works as a writer and consultant providing home assessments for aging in place as well as conducting education and training on aging. Stay informed by following Smart Aging with Rebecca on Facebook.