Plan Ahead to Age in Place
Long Term Care
Most older adults would prefer to age at home. Start planning now to make sure you can.
“Aging in place” refers to staying in your home and living as independently as possible as you grow older. Nearly 75% of Americans over age 50 would prefer to age in their current home.1 However, doing so raises concerns about safety, mobility, and other day-to-day activities. Start thinking about how to age in place now – before you need care.
Long Term Care Insurance Provides Options
There are many ways to pay for care when you need it and where you’d like to receive it.
Prepare Your Home
Consider modifications to your home to prepare a safe environment to age in place. Among the challenges older adults face are (a) preventing falls and (b) maintaining mobility.
Here are some relatively simple home-modification tips:
- Declutter. Clear up space in your home’s pathways. Consider removing throw rugs that present a slipping hazard and keeping items off staircases.
- Brighten. Let there be light! Replace any burnt out lightbulbs and consider adding nightlights to halls and bathrooms.
- Hold on. Consider adding ramps and railings. Install grab bars near your bed and in the bathroom.
There are additional modifications to consider as your needs change, such as widening doorways for wheelchairs or walkers and installing walk-in bathtubs or stairlifts. Review the National Institute on Aging’s Home Safety Checklist to help identify potential hazards.
Look into Support Services
- In-home care services can be utilized on a short-term or long-term basis and can range from skilled nursing activities to non-medical care needs of daily living like bathing, dressing, meal preparation, and housekeeping.
- Local resources can include food delivery services and transportation to and from medical appointments and community centers. Your county website may provide a list of available programs for seniors.
- Reaching out to loved ones. Family and friends can be a big source of support. Talk with those closest to you before an emergency arises.
Get Long Term Care Insurance
Long Term Care (LTC) insurance can support your ability to age in place. Should you need LTC, a policy can help cover the costs traditional health insurance and Medicaid won’t cover. LTC insurance can be used to cover the costs of in-home care, informal caregivers, and may even cover costs for home modifications.
Speak with our Advisors to find a plan that can support your ability to age in place.
1 More Americans Have a Plan to Age in Place. The Wall Street Journal. www.wsj.com/lifestyle/relationships/americans-aging-housing-0e073f48, June 20, 2026.
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