Jim Guido's Blog

There appears to be a  new catch phrase among aging homeowners and that is “aging in place.” Instead of selling their homes and moving into retirement villages or assisted-living quarters, a growing number of older Americans are modifying their homes to make them more user-friendly as they age. This concept has caught on so successfully that there is even a  National Aging in Place Week, which falls on Oct. 11-16 this year. The reasons for the aging-in-place trend are demographic, economic and cultural. Baby boomers now reaching retirement age tend to be healthier and more independent than previous generations, and are not ready to give up home ownership when they retire. The weak economy means fewer Americans can afford the move into retirement facilities — even if they manage to sell their homes in this depressed market. And among some fast-growing ethnic groups, including Hispanic and Asian, it is traditional for older family members to share living quarters with the younger generations.