Knowing where you want to live as you age is one thing. Having a plan to make it possible is another.
You don't need to predict exactly what life will look like years from now. A useful plan starts with a few basics: what matters to you, whether your home supports the way you want to live, who you can turn to, and what resources are available if your needs change.
Home Instead research has highlighted an interesting gap between wanting to live at home and planning for it. In a survey of North American homeowners ages 55–75, one in three had given minimal to no thought to what they would need to continue living in the same home as they aged. Only one in four had a specific plan for where they would live as they grew older.¹
You don't need to have every detail figured out. Starting a plan now can give you and your family more time to discuss your preferences, understand your options, and make informed choices along the way.
Step 1: Decide what matters most to you
Start with the life you want—not a list of potential problems.
Ask yourself:
- Where would I like to live?
- What makes me feel at home?
- Which people and activities are most important to me?
- How important is staying in my current community?
- What would independence look like to me?
These answers can help guide the practical decisions that follow.
Step 2: Take a fresh look at your home
Next, think about whether your home can continue to support the way you want to live.
Pay particular attention to entrances, stairs, bathrooms, lighting, and commonly used rooms. Think about how you move through those spaces and whether everyday tasks could become more difficult if your needs changed.
Home Instead's Home Safety Checklist recommends evaluating the home room by room and looking at everyday routines to identify potential safety or accessibility concerns.
You don't have to change everything today. Identifying what may need attention can help you decide what to prioritize over time.
Step 3: Think beyond your front door
Planning to live at home as you age isn't only about the physical home.
Think about how you'll stay connected to your community. If driving became difficult, how would you get to appointments or the grocery store? Are family members or friends nearby? Are there opportunities to stay socially connected? What services are available in your community?
A home that works for you over time should also connect you to the people, services and activities that matter to you.
Step 4: Talk with the people you trust
You don't have to figure out the future on your own.
Talk with family members or other people you trust about where you'd like to live, what matters most to you, and what kind of help you'd be comfortable with if your needs changed.
You don't have to cover everything in one conversation. Start with a few questions about what matters most, and keep talking as needs and circumstances change.
Not sure how to begin? Home Instead's What's Next Toolkit offers conversation starters and action plans for talking about living choices, health, finances, driving, relationships, and future care needs.
Step 5: Consider what help could look like
Planning to age at home doesn't mean assuming you'll need care. It means knowing what options exist if your needs change.
Think about who might help with transportation, meals, household tasks or personal care. Consider what family members realistically can—and want to—provide. Then explore other resources that could help fill any gaps.
Home Instead Care Pros can provide personalized support including companionship, personal care, respite care, and memory support, helping make everyday routines at home easier.
Understanding those options now doesn't mean deciding you need them today. It simply gives you more information to work with if your circumstances change.
Step 6: Revisit your plan
A plan for living at home isn't something you create once and put in a drawer.
Homes change. Families change. Health, finances, and priorities can change, too. Revisit your plan from time to time and after significant life changes.
Talk with the people involved, make adjustments when needed, and make sure your plan still reflects what matters most to you.
Thinking ahead can give you more choices.
You don't need to have all the answers to start planning. Begin with one conversation. Walk through your home. Write down what matters most to you. Talk with the people you trust about where and how you want to live as you age.
Your needs and plans may change over time—and that's okay. The goal isn't to predict the future. It's to think ahead so you can make informed choices along the way.
If you're exploring how home care could fit into your plans, your local Home Instead team can answer questions and help you understand the options available in your area.
Previous: Should You Move or Stay in Your Home as You Age?
Sources
¹Home Instead, Inc. fielded an online survey of 1,000 North American homeowners ages 55–75, including 899 U.S. and 101 Canadian respondents. The survey was fielded November 21–30, 2018, excluding the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
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