Sept. 9th 2026
American Safe Home
Senior Mobility Specialist
Why Are More Families Choosing to Age in Place?
For many older adults, home is more than four walls. It’s where memories were made, routines were built, neighbors became friends, and a sense of independence was established.
Research consistently shows that older adults overwhelmingly prefer to remain in their homes and communities as they age. A systematic review of 66 studies found that the majority of participants preferred to age in place, often with the support of family and home-based services.
So why does staying home matter so much?
Independence
Remaining at home can help older adults maintain a greater sense of autonomy and control over their daily lives.
Familiarity & Comfort
Home provides continuity—a familiar environment, established routines, and connections to the places and people that matter most. Research has found strong relationships between attachment to home and the desire to age in place.
Family & Community
Aging in place can allow people to remain connected to family, friends, neighbors, and their broader community rather than having to leave familiar surroundings.A Cost-Effective Alternative
Aging in place can allow families to avoid the significant expenses and disruption that can come with moving to a new home or making a major lifestyle change. In many cases, a relatively simple home modification can help make an existing home safer and more accessible as needs change.The Right Changes Can Make a Difference
Aging in place doesn't necessarily mean leaving a home exactly as it is. Home modifications can help make a home safer and more accessible as needs change. Recent research has found that home modifications can support fall prevention and functional independence.
Aging doesn't have to mean giving up the home you love.
Sometimes, it simply means adapting your home so it can continue to work for you.
That’s what aging in place is all about.
Stay where you’re comfortable.
Stay connected to what matters.
Make your home work for you
What does aging in place look like in practice?
Small, thoughtful changes often make the biggest difference. Grab bars in the bathroom, better lighting in hallways, a walk-in shower, or a stairlift can remove the everyday obstacles that make a familiar home feel harder to navigate.
Start with a simple walkthrough of the home.
Note where movement feels unsteady, where reaching or bending is difficult, and which rooms are being avoided. Those moments point directly to the modifications worth prioritizing first.
Works Cited
Alders, Peter, and Jeroen Schut. “The Aging-in-Place Agenda: Why It Matters.” Journal of Housing for the Elderly, vol. 36, no. 1, 2022, pp. 1–17.
Bookman, Ann. “Innovating Aging in Place: Building Resilient Communities and Supportive Networks.” The Gerontologist, vol. 53, no. 1, 2013, pp. 20–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gns116.
Cutchin, Malcolm P. “The Process of Environmental Gerontology: A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Aging in Place.” The Gerontologist, vol. 44, no. 3, 2004, pp. 312–321. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/44.3.312.
Golant, Stephen M. “Aging in Place, Revisited: Reconsidering a ‘Difficult Process’ in Later Life.” The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, vol. 74, no. 4, 2012, pp. 283–306. https://doi.org/10.2190/AG.74.4.b.
Greenfield, Emily A. “Supportive Environments for Aging in Place.” The Gerontologist, vol. 56, no. 5, 2016, pp. 896–906. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnw097.
Iwarsson, Susanne, et al. “Housing and Health in Later Life: The Role of Home Modifications.” Journal of Housing for the Elderly, vol. 23, no. 2, 2009, pp. 117–137.
Oswald, Frank, and Hans-Werner Wahl. “Housing in Later Life: A Cross-Cultural Perspective.” Journal of Housing for the Elderly, vol. 17, no. 1–2, 2003, pp. 13–31.
Sixsmith, Judith, and Andrew Sixsmith. “Ageing in Place in the United Kingdom: Policies, Practices and Experiences.” Ageing International, vol. 32, 2008, pp. 219–235.
Wiles, Janine L., et al. “The Meaning of ‘Aging in Place’ to Older People.” The Gerontologist, vol. 52, no. 3, 2012, pp. 357–366. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnr098.
#AgingInPlace #SeniorSafety #IndependentLiving #HomeAccessibility #AgingAtHome #Stairlift #SeniorCare #AccessibleHome
