Aging in place means continuing to live in a home and community that work for you as you grow older. And that doesn't necessarily mean staying in the same house forever.
You might remain in the home you've lived in for decades. You might move to a smaller, more accessible home, an apartment, or closer to family. The address can change. What matters is having choices about where and how you want to live.
For many people, home represents more than four walls. It's where routines feel familiar, memories have been made and everyday life feels like your own.
And wanting to stay connected to home and community is common. According to AARP's 2024 Home & Community Preferences Survey, 75% of adults age 50 and older want to remain in their current homes as they age, while 73% want to remain in their communities.¹
Aging in place doesn't have to mean staying put.
The term "aging in place" is often associated with remaining in the same house for the rest of your life. But there's another way to think about it: living in the home and community that work for you as you grow older.
That could be the house you've lived in for decades. It could also mean moving to a smaller home, condominium, apartment or multigenerational household.
Home Instead research has found a similar distinction. In a survey of North American homeowners ages 55-75, one in four respondents planned to find a new home as they aged.²
The address may change. The goal—maintaining choice, comfort and independence—doesn't have to.
Why does home matter so much as we age?
Home is connected to everyday life. It's where you know which cabinet holds the coffee cups, which neighbor waves from across the street and where the sunlight comes through the window in the afternoon.
That familiarity can become especially meaningful with age.
But living at home as you age involves more than an emotional connection to a house. It also means considering whether your home, community, and support system can continue to work for you if your needs change.
That might mean taking a fresh look at your home's layout and safety, thinking about transportation and nearby services, or considering who could lend a hand if you needed one.
Your plan for living at home can be your own.
There isn't one "right" way to live at home as you age.
For one person, the plan might involve adding grab bars and improving lighting in a longtime family home.
For someone else, it might mean moving into a smaller, single-level home that's easier to maintain.
Another person may want to live closer to adult children, other family members, or friends.
And some people may decide that a little help at home makes everyday life easier. That could mean support with meals, transportation, personal care, companionship, or other daily routines.
Home Instead offers personalized home care that can adapt as individual needs change.
What matters is finding an arrangement that supports the life you want.
Start thinking about your future home today
You don't have to predict exactly what life will look like five, 10, or 20 years from now.
Instead, start with a few questions:
- Where would I most like to live as I get older?
- What do I value most about my current home and community?
- Would this home still work if my mobility changed?
- Who is nearby if I need help?
- What services or support could help me remain independent?
- If this home no longer worked for me, what would I want instead?
Having these conversations before there's an urgent need can give you and your family more time to explore your options.
Not sure how to begin? Home Instead's What's Next resources offers conversation starters and action plans to help you talk about living choices, health, finances, driving, relationships, and future care needs.
Keep exploring your options.
Knowing where you want to live is an important first step. Next, consider whether your current home can support the way you want to live over time—or whether another home could be a better fit.
Next: Should You Move or Stay in Your Home as You Age?
Sources
¹AARP Research. 2024 Home & Community Preferences Among Adults 18 and Older. National survey of 3,090 U.S. adults age 18 and older, including findings for adults age 50 and older; fielded June–July 2024.
²Home 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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