AARP’s Home Safety Checklist can help you identify and address various hazards around your home. Every year in the United States, nearly one-third of people age-65+ experience a fall. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. More than half of all fall injuries among older people occur inside the home, and an additional 23 percent happen outside, but near the home.
The October issue of PN Magazine contains a great article that explores the economic benefits that we as a society could gain by investing in Aging in Place. Written by Charles Schwab, AIA, CAPS, GCP, the article argues that creating tax incentives for Universal Design remodeling and new construction products will encourage more people to adapt these features in their homes.
Are older Americans financially prepared for their retirement years? Do they feel optimistic about the future? Several recent news articles have tackled the issue, but with all of the contradictory statistics its hard to draw a clear picture. A recent telephone poll conduced by USA Today in partnership with UnitedHealthcare and the National Council on Aging suggests that many older Americans are feeling optimistic about their lives and the future.
This report by the Milken Institute, a nonprofit, nonpartisan economic think tank, explores the best cities for aging in the US. The report looked at 359 metro areas across the US and generated a composite ranking for each, based on eight sub-components (general indicators, health care, wellness, living arrangements, transportation/convenience, financial well-being, employment/education, and community engagement). Additionally, they recognized that a 65-year-old’s needs likely differ from those of an 80-year-old. By using the same data but weighting the indicators differently, two indexes were created, one for ages 65 through 79 and another for age 80 and up. For instance education/employment was considered to play a bigger role for residents ages 65-79 than for those who were 80+. Their top picks might surprise you.