Simply put, aging in place means choosing to stay in your home with family, friends, and neighbors — instead of moving to a residential facility designed to support long-term care, such as an assisted living facility — as you grow older. (1) THE NEED The need for aging in place is significant and is becoming even more so. Senior citizens make up the country’s fastest-growing population, according to the latest U.S. census results. They’re outpacing the growth of the general population at a rate of 15.1 percent to 9.7 percent, and the total number of individuals over 65 is projected to nearly double before 2050! According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1 in 6 will be age 60 or older by 2030. And adding to this initiative is that fact that 90% of US residents aged 45+ say they prefer to remain in their homes even when they need assistance. (2)This phenomenon is significant and deserves discussion. Designers have the ability to prolong an individuals’ ability to safely live at home. There’s a true responsibility here.Aging in place is strongly linked to greater health and happiness outcomes for seniors, particularly when social isolation concerns are addressed, but it […]
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