Boomers Plan to Age in Place, but Are Unprepared to Do So
The HomeAdvisor 2016 Aging-In-Place Report has found that over 86% of homeowners are familiar with common age-related home renovations, but only 22% have actually completed a project. The issue is that homeowners view aging-related projects as being solely for disabled or elderly homeowners. 40% stated they haven’t completed a project because they do not have a disability, and 20% do not consider themselves old enough for a project. This is despite the fact that 61% of homeowners plan to stay in their homes indefinitely, which will require changes as their lifestyle evolves, adding elements such as open floor plans or extra kitchen seating. Smart home technology is being under-utilized by homeowners to help improve their home’s viability for their old age, with 67% of homeowners over the age of 55 believing it to be useful, but only 19% actually considering installing it. The report found that the most popular types of smart technology included home security, thermostats and lighting, with these items helping to increase the chance of homeowners “thriving in place.”

While homeowners are familiar with typical aging-related projects, they view them as irrelevant, according to data from the recently released HomeAdvisor 2016 Aging-in-Place Report. More than 86 percent of the homeowners surveyed in the report are familiar with common aging-related renovations, but less than one-quarter (22 percent) have completed an aging-related project. The report discusses the need for a new dialogue about aging in place and suggests three solutions to achieve this: change perception, focus on livability, and maximize smart-home technology.

“For an aging population of homeowners who plan to maintain an active lifestyle, traditional aging-related renovations aren’t only unnecessary, they’re unwanted,” says HomeAdvisor’s Housing Advisor Marianne Cusato, who prepared the report. “It’s time to change the conversation from medically-oriented aging-in-place renovations, such as adding grab bars, to thriving-in-place projects that homeowners of any age can enjoy.”

Highlights of the Aging-in-Place Report:

The perception is aging-related projects are solely for elderly or disabled homeowners. Among homeowners who’ve never considered a renovation, 40 percent say it’s because they don’t have a physical disability and 20 percent say they don’t consider themselves old enough for such a project.

Homeowners are planning to stay in their homes, but aren’t preparing to do so. A majority of homeowners (61 percent) are planning to stay in their home indefinitely as they age and the aging-in-place dialogue needs to shift to how aging-related tasks, including adding extra kitchen seating and open floor plans, can help homeowners thrive in place and make their homes more livable, regardless of age.

Smart home technology supports independence, but is being under-utilized to help older homeowners improve their livability. Two-thirds (67 percent) of homeowners over age 55 believe smart home technology could help them as they age, yet fewer than one in five (19 percent) have actually considered installing it for such purposes.

The report also reveals the most popular types of smart home technology to help homeowners thrive in place. The three types of technology homeowners are most interested in include home security, thermostats, and lighting.

“Smart-home technology, such as smart home lighting, which can prevent falls when entering a dark room, is no longer only for the tech-savvy homeowner,” says Cusato. “The current generation of smart home gadgets can provide comfort and safety, as well as significantly add to the home’s livability.”

The 2016 Report is comprised of results from a recent survey conducted among homeowners and HomeAdvisor’s network of prescreened home professionals. For the complete Aging-in-Place Report, click here.

For more information about HomeAdvisor, visit www.homeadvisor.com.