Helping Older Americans “Age in Place”

With the Baby Boom, our nation’s population is aging at a rapid rate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030 nearly one in five U.S. residents will be age 65 or older. The number of people age 85 and older is expected to more than triple between 2008 and 2025.

As we get older we get wiser. Today, many aging Americans can – and want to – stay in their own homes. Yet for most, selecting the right home, or home modifications, is crucial to being able to comfortably “age in place.”

If you have aging relatives, visit their homes and attend to details like adding or strengthening handrails, ensuring bright lighting, installing light switches at the top and the bottom of the stairs, and adding grab bars in the bathroom. Elder care professionals can offer more useful tips.

You might also expand your business outreach by becoming a designated Senior Real Estate Specialist and helping counsel older homebuyers through major financial and lifestyle transitions. To learn more about the SRES, visit C.A.R.'s Center for REALTOR®Professional Development.