You Can't Make Us

 

We’re not moving. Do we have to say it again? You can’t make us.

Two out of 3 adults aged 55 and older plan to stay in their current homes and age in place. Quite a departure from the retirees that preceded us. They largely downsized or moved into one of those “adult” communities.

It’s not helping the housing shortage either. Thanks to rising home values, many boomers can afford to stay right where they are.

It helps if you’re in a reasonably sized house all on one floor. Some boomers are going to being facing some substantial renovations if they hope to age in place. When AARP surveyed homeowners last year, 70% of them indicated they would need to modify their bathrooms to reduce shower steps and add grab bars. The same percentage indicated that their homes had other significant accessibility issues, both inside and out. Making those renovations could entail a substantial cost, but on the upside, it will make the house more valuable to the next batch of boomers when the time comes.

Hell, we’ve already replaced almost all the doorknobs with levers, so we must be halfway there. Now we just need to screw handrails to every doorway and hallway, and we will be set. Wait a second. We will need brighter lights too. Oh, yeah, and one of those smart thermostats so we don’t have to mess with little dials. And smart showers and smart doors and blinds. Check. And one of those bathtubs with a door on it. Check. Medication reminders. Check. Medical alert for fall detection. Check.

This is starting to add up to some serious spondulix! But that’s okay. Because remember we’re not moving. They can’t make us.

Jay Harrison is a writer and creative consultant for DesignConcept. You can also visit his author page here. His newest mystery novel, Rio Puerco Demise is available on Amazon. His first mystery novel, Head Above Water, is also available on Amazon.