Aging in Place Report – 2017 HomeAdvisor
Many of our customers are Boomers looking to prepare their homes for later in life. (One of the things we specialize in is aging in place remodeling.) However, a lot of homeowners in the Cincinnati area haven’t really thought about their home in relation to their future.
HomeAdvisor recently completed their annual aging in place survey, which is a look at how people are preparing their homes. As an industry professional, it is important for me and my team to understand these trends. For you, as a consumer who wants to (and should) make smart choices for your own future, it is a way to see what others are choosing.
About the aging in place report
The survey was presented to two different groups of homeowners:
- People aged 55 to 75
- People aged 75 and over
Part of what these folks were asked was why they were doing home remodeling (without mentioning the idea of aging in place).
The results were interesting, though not surprising
Nearly every type of home remodeling or repair can be an opportunity to take one step closer to the home you’ll need when you’re older.
According to the results, “A holistic approach to home improvement lays the foundation for aging in place.” This means keeping up with what needs to be done to their home, while keeping the future in mind.
People are taking action to prepare for the future, but not necessarily attributing it to aging in place.
This is probably the most exciting data for us, since we want people to have what they need. Lots of folks are taking on projects that will help them later in life. Many choosing that over home safety or how it looks.
People are unfamiliar with the idea of aging in place.
The term “aging in place” isn’t that well-known or understood. Which, is understandable, given that it started as an industry term, not a consumer one.
Age groups are completing nearly the same projects, but for different reasons.
Most cited ease of living as a motivation for the remodeling they were doing. However, the reasons they chose to do it vary by life stage.
If you plan, you reap the benefits.
For those over 75 years old who had remodeled their homes to prepare for later in life, less than 30% said they had problems getting around their home.
There’s a whole lot more in this fascinating study and I encourage you to check it out. If you would like to talk with a friendly home professional who can guide you through the changes you should make in your home, just give us a call. We’ll make sure you enjoy learning what you need to know.