Homeowners' Approach to Aging in Place is No Longer About Aging -- it's about Holistic Living

GOLDEN, Colo., Nov. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The results of HomeAdvisor's 2017 Aging in Place survey reveal that homeowners are completing future-thinking projects without connecting them to aging in place. In fact, while only about half of the survey respondents are familiar with the concept of "aging in place" by name, most are completing projects such as installing smart thermostats or replacing appliances to improve ease of living in their homes. And these improvements, coupled with regular home maintenance, make for just the kind of holistic approach to home improvement that will lay the foundation to help homeowners remain in their homes as they age.

"By taking a holistic approach to home improvement, homeowners will get their homes in good working order before aging-specific home improvements become necessary," said Marianne Cusato, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Notre Dame's School of Architecture. "Take the front walkway for example. If there are cracks or dips in the concrete, homeowners need to address those existing safety issues before completing a project like adding grab bars, which they may or may not need in the future."

In this year's survey, HomeAdvisor interviewed two groups of homeowners, one aged 55-75 and the other aged 75 and older, to examine the motivation for completing home improvements at different life stages. Not only did these interviews uncover homeowners' goals for completing home projects, but they also garnered valuable advice and perspective from homeowners who've watched loved ones age in place and those who've aged in place first hand.

Highlights of the 2017 Aging in Place Report:

1. Having a regular home maintenance schedule, and keeping the future in mind when making improvements, ensures that the home is project-ready when the time comes to make aging-specific improvements, such as adding grab bars and widening doorways.
2. Homeowners are making home improvements that will facilitate aging, citing ease of living as their motive for completing most projects — even over safety and aesthetics.
3. Nearly half of homeowners aged 75 and older report renovating their homes in anticipation of getting older. Correspondingly, less than 30 percent report struggling to get around the house as they've aged.
4. Watching a loved one struggle impacts how homeowners view aging in place. Roughly three in five homeowners aged 55-75 report seeing a loved one (a parent, sibling, partner, etc.) struggle to get around their home as they got older, further reporting that this experience has changed their feelings about how they will age in place personally.

For the complete Aging in Place Report, click here. For more information about HomeAdvisor, visit www.homeadvisor.com.

About HomeAdvisor:

HomeAdvisor® is a digital marketplace evolving the way homeowners connect with service professionals to complete home projects. With HomeAdvisor's on-demand platform, homeowners can find and vet local, prescreened home service professionals; view average home project costs using True Cost Guide; and instantly book appointments online or through HomeAdvisor's award-winning mobile app, which is compatible with all iOS, Android and virtual assistants, including Amazon Echo. HomeAdvisor is based in Golden, Colo., and is an operating business of ANGI Homeservices ANGI. 

*Data included in the Aging in Place Report is based on two online surveys conducted by HomeAdvisor. One survey was conducted nationwide from August 8-15, 2017 among 500 homeowners aged 55-75, and had completed a home improvement project in the last 12 months. The other was conducted from August 15-22, 2017 among 332 homeowners aged 75 and older.

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SOURCE HomeAdvisor