There is a certain time with aging that feels like a turning point. This is when you are retiring from your career job and life is starting to slow down. Many people are wondering where the right place to age is. Is it in the home that they currently live in or is it somewhere else?
Aging in the Right Place
The term “aging is the right place” is gaining popularity among experts that advise older adults. The idea is to take a close look at where you want to retire, what the place might offer, and what type of community you need.
For example, maybe you have been in the city and want a place on the water. So you choose a state with beaches or a place near a lake.
Another example could be more community related. Like when you stay where you are, because you have established a large community that can care for you.
Being Willing to Move
Many older people are not willing to move, even if their current location is not the best one for them. According to Rodney Harrell, director of livability thought leadership at the AARP Public Policy Institute says,
“People are not considering those home and community features that they are going to need,’’ he said. “They are focusing on their needs today, not needs over time.”
This means things like transportation, access to health care, personal safety, and social networks. Older people like consistency, they don’t like things to change. Hopefully this will change with the latest generation of older adults.
There are other factors that can cause an unwillingness to move. The biggest being have to care for aging parents.
You can read more about aging in the right place here.