Aging at Home vs. Aging at an "Old Age Home"

   Aging at home vs. aging at an "old age home" is a decision an elderly or a family needs to make. Various people will have different opinions on this topic. Before talking about advantages and disadvantages, we need to always remember that either of the options should make a senior happy.

   Many people think that family is the best place for an elderly at their post-retirement life. If there is a possibility for a senior to live with his children and grandchildren then in many cases that is the best case scenario for them. Isn't a place where you are surrounded by your loved ones the best place ever to live, I am sure that most of the people will answer that it definitely is. Hearing school stories of grandchildren, talking with your loved ones and neighbors, helping your kids with daily routine and just being active and proactive is what helps seniors to continue living life when they are on a retirement. People need a flow of life to be going on. 
   
   Many seniors prefer aging at their own homes. Most prefer that so they can live by their own rules, leaving close to their families, where their family can come, visit and help with stuff around the house. Many seniors think they’ll be just fine without any help, but the government estimates that 70% of people who reach age 65 will eventually need long-term care. If a family isn't always available to provide the needed care for the elderly than there are lots of in-home care companies that are available. So why moving to an "old age home" is a choice for many people?

   In our modern and fast moving world, there are families that spend most of their time at work, which means that even if an elderly lived with a family, he would constantly be at home alone. There are lots of in-home care companies available, but most of them are expensive ones that are not covered by Medicare. The costs and burden on family often leaves seniors with no choice but to move to a care facility. Some seniors may say that living in an "old age home" is the best place for them, because they are constantly surrounded by people. They always have classes and activities going on and people to chat with. Another group of seniors will say the opposite and will suffer from various psychosocial and environmental problems including a feeling of neglect, loss of importance in the family, loneliness, and feeling of unwontedness in a family as well as society. As you see there are always two sides of a coin, but I am convinced that majority of people would prefer living in a home that they used to live or with a family that loves and cherishes them. 

"I've lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home."

Read more here:

https://www.aging.com/assisted-living-homes-vs-home-care-how-to-decide/

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place-growing-old-home

https://www.skylineseattle.org/resources/blog/aging-in-place-vs-retirement-homes-which-is-better/