The trend of older Americans aging in place and forgoing traditional residential care will require special considerations from their cities and towns in order to make sure that their needs are met effectively. According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, or JCHS, the number of households headed by someone age 70 or older will surge by 42 percent from 2015 to 2025.
An article in Reuters recently explored this issue, and noted that despite an aging population that is overwhelmingly choosing to age in place, programs designed to aid these individuals, such as transportation services and caregiver support programs, are currently in decline.
This is often a result of financial hardships brought on by the recent recession, but even as the economy nears pre-recession levels, the majority of these programs still have not seen funding return, nevermind the increased resources that will be necessary to assist a growing older American population. This can be a significant problem for thos who want to support their loved ones’ decision to age in place, but are unable to personally provide full-time care.
“From a planning perspective, putting in place things like infrastructure and transportation services takes time,” Sandy Markwood, chief executive officer of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (NAAAA), told Reuters.
Especially in suburban settings, where the majority of residents drive to their everyday destinations, there is a need to consider the challenges and costs that an aging population will have on the community as a whole.
“When you do things to make roads safer or increase public transportation, or add volunteer driver programs, that’s good for everyone in the community,” Markwood said . “It’s not a zero-sum game.”
As communities continue to look for new ways to provide this population with services that support their desire to age in place, solutions from Independa can help to cover many of the gaps that decreased public funding have left in care. Of course, one of the major challenges for independent senior living is social isolation.
Independa’s Integrated CloudCare platform is a telecare and social engagement solution that assists older adults in their desire to age in place. Our Angela solution uses the technology that older adults are most comfortable with—the television—to enrich the lives of care recipients through social engagement and other significant, integrated benefits. Angela requires no prior computer knowledge or training to operate, and features an award-winning, intuitively designed interface. To schedule a free consultation, contact us through our online form.
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