What exactly is aging in place? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines it as "the ability to live in one's own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income or ability level."
Of course, that definition does not oblige you to age in your current place. The smart move is to assess your current location -- and make a move if necessary.
That is the plan recommended by gerontologist Stephen M. Golant in his new book "Aging in the Right Place" (Health Professions Press, February 2015).
He challenges the orthodoxy about aging in place, explaining why it is not always realistic to stay where you are. In particular, he makes the case that a home must get a cold-eyed assessment as a financial asset, with an eye toward the cost of living in it (mortgage, taxes and insurance) and any possible repairs or remodeling that might be needed to adapt the home as you age.
But that can be a tall order, considering the emotional ties to place that we all develop.
"It's one of the biggest issues people face, and they don't have a lot of information about these issues," Harrell says. "People do build emotional ties to friends and community, but they also need information to help them make sound choices."
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