Is 2022 the Year of Aging in Place?

    By: Katy Dodd

    The first month of 2022 is nearly behind us. As I pause to consider what the rest of this year has in hold for us all, and especially for older Americans, the recent presentation, “The Cost Efficiency of Home Modifications to Reduce Healthcare Costs,”  that Dr. Jesse M. Abraham, Research Director at HomesRenewed Resource Center, shared during the Gerontological Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting in late 2021 keeps coming to mind.

    The paper distills current knowledge regarding healthcare cost reductions from home modifications. It also shares about the cost efficiency to society and to the federal government of providing government subsidies for home modifications for older adults at the ages of 50, 65 and 75. Cost sharing among insurers, government and the beneficiary is one way to achieve positive social returns.

    For home safety interventions, research shows that an average 30% reduction in falls and 20% reduction in the number of fallers— those with a higher risk of falling—were found to benefit more from the intervention.

    “Falls are the leading cause of injuries and injury-related death for adults over the age of 65 in America, costing over $50 billion annually along with unquantifiable life changes and disruptions” (Collins, 2019).

    The shortage of housing dedicated to care for older adults is also not sufficient to meet the needs of this growing population. Unfortunately, most homes were not designed or built to support the needs that develop as one ages or the needs of those who are living with complex health issues or a condition that requires greater accessibility to complete basic activities of daily living.

    Adding to the shortage of appropriate housing, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact almost every part of our lives and the healthcare sector that supports the well-being of us all. From staffing shortages to the aging of America, a “perfect storm” continues to rage on, especially for older adults.

    As we move forward into 2022, now is the time to take the steps to advocate for policy change that incentivizes adults to proactively implement home modifications. This will support the ability to age in place and live independently and safely at home.

    Download the complete presentation.