With news that more Baby Boomers will opt to remain in their lifelong homes after retirement, aging in place has never been a more popular aspiration. In previous generations, the thoughts of downsizing or moving to a care facility were standard among people over 65, but today that's becoming less typical. As a result, communities around the country have doubled their efforts to support people who've chosen to age in place, with significant public support.
In Portland, Oregon, the Community Energy Project has emerged to help individuals make home improvements that facilitate aging in place. From weatherizing drafty homes to installing hand rails for accessibility, the movement is funded by the Portland Housing Bureau and saves its participants tens of thousands of dollars each year.
So far, 220 single-family homes and duplexes have received updates from the project, according to Oregon Live. The decision marks a collective resolution to support the community members who've made the choice to remain in their homes as they get older, and could influence other cities to adopt similar programs. Improvements made by the project help reduce the cost of utilities and enhance fire safety, convenience and mobility. These alterations are designed to support the activities of daily life.
"Having a healthy home is important to everyone and can become increasingly important as you age," says Chad Ruhoff, vice president of Energy Services for Neil Kelly Co., whose office employs aging in place specialists. "Having consistent temperatures can help people from getting sick."
Home improvements can be necessary to support aging in place, but communication is crucial, too. With Independa's intuitive Angela™ platform, users can video chat, text message, share photos and connect as care recipients age in place.
