Aging in Place: Impressive Stats and Popular Trends Potential Franchise Owners Should Know About

One area of the home improvement market that has seen a huge spike in demand in recent years is the aging in place segment. This term refers to senior homeowners who want changes made that will allow them to maintain their comfort and independence by staying in their home. Research conducted by the AARP found that a full 90% of seniors want to stay where they're currently living. Even for people who require daily care, only 9% would rather live in a care facility. A big part of this is seniors are afraid that even if a facility provides a safe environment, they're going to be burdened by unwanted rules.

What Do Seniors Want?

Getting older creates a lot of mobility and safety challenges. Since seniors are aware of these issues, it shouldn't come as a surprise that they have strong opinions about what they want in terms of aging in place services. When surveyed, the eight improvements seniors feel are most important are:

·         Safety features (ex. non-slip floor surfaces)

·         Bathroom aides (ex. grab bars)

·         A way to call for help in an emergency situation

·         Entrances with no steps

·         Wider doorways

·         Doorknobs that feature a lever handle

·         Electrical outlets that are higher up the wall

·         Electrical switches that are lower on a wall

In terms of why seniors want these features, the most common is for their own safety. However, their decisions are also influenced by wanting to make their home more convenient for everyone, ensuring they can continue living independently, and providing features that another family member absolutely requires.

It's also worth mentioning that seniors themselves aren't the only people who are thinking about these issues. A full 88% of adult children think about their parents getting older on a regular basis. And of those, 54% feel strongly that their parents are going to need some form of help. Thanks to all these factors, the National Assocation of Home Builders believes this market will grow all the way to $25 billion in the near future.

Key Aging in Place Issues and Trends

Entering and exiting, going up and down stairs, and safely using the bathroom are three of the biggest issues related to aging in place. Because those issues present a wide range of challenges, many of the most popular trends address them in at least one way. For example, a lot of seniors are looking for ways to create a level entry and open up the space throughout their home so it's easier to navigate. This ties into many seniors' desire to be able to live on the ground floor.

Ensuring that storage is easy to reach and open is another significant trend that helps drive aging in place designs. This also influences many other design choices that enable someone to access what they need without having to bend. Also, creating bathrooms that balance comfort and safety plays a big part in satisfying the desires of aging in place customers.

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