Different times of year can mean different dangers, but the changing seasons can also bring new opportunities to light that could increase both safety and livability at home. So let’s take things one season at a time. Leo Tolstoy wrote in Anna Karenina that “spring is the time of plans and projects.” For someone striving to age in place …

There’s a lot of buzz about aging in place in the research sector, where social scientists, economists, and even interior design experts are interested not just in this movement, but in finding the best ways to use design, technologies, and other resources to help the largest number of people. We’ll be taking a periodic look at these types of research as they develop, and letting you know how the findings of these projects might affect you. Today, we’ll examine an Iowa State University project that …

Colorado is known for its “Rocky Mountain high,” and the Centennial State does, in truth, have many elevated features, from the “Mile High City” of Denver to the country’s highest suspension bridge (Royal Gorge), the highest point on America’s interstate highway system (the Eisenhower Tunnel), the country’s tallest sand dune (at Great Sand Dunes National Park), its highest-elevation incorporated city (Leadville), and the simple fact that Colorado has the highest mean altitude of any of the 50 U.S. states.

And, as you might expect, Colorado has a fittingly high level of federal- and state-funded services that provide support to help its seniors live independently as they age.

Connecticut has not one nickname, but four. And like its many identities, Connecticut also has a multitude of options for people who are looking for help with their efforts to”age in place” in their own homes and communities. Just like residents have a choice of nicknames when deciding what to call their state, they can choose among several options for help with home modifications. Here is a look at the state’s main offerings.

Utah-based Evolve Emod, LLC, has inked a new agreement with one of Delaware’s major Medicaid Managed Care Plans to manage the minor home modification benefit for Delaware residents. The agreement will open up new options in safety and accessibility to help beneficiaries “age in place” rather than move into a nursing home or assisted-living facility. It also shows that the word is out about how effective Evolve’s innovative service platform is in bringing together benefits administrators, qualified contractors, and people who need help, said Spike Cheever, director of business development for Evolve. “The humbling and exciting thing about this new agreement is that Highmark approached us,” said Cheever.

Here are a few tips to help you plan holiday gatherings that will make your elderly loved ones feel cherished—and, honestly, that might make the holidays work better for everyone, young and old!

Delaware is small, but don’t make the mistake of assuming that means there’s not much going on there. The First State is America’s second-smallest by area (it’s 1,982 square miles, with only Rhode Island being smaller—compare that to the largest state, Alaska, which has 570,641 square miles), and the sixth-least populous, with about 990,000 people. But get this: it’s also the sixth-most densely populated state, at 93 residents per square mile (Alaska’s density: 1.28 residents per square mile). And its services for aging or disabled people who want to live independently for as long as possible are pretty big, offering …

This weekend is Halloween, and the whole country is shivering—either in anticipation, or as fall’s cooler weather really takes hold. Fans of real scares look forward to the weekend’s scary movies, haunted houses, and other spooky activities, while the littlest among us—and those of us who enjoy seeing them!—look forward to trick or treating. The spooky season has us thinking about a few frights that can come up when contemplating the home adaptations that might be needed …

According to Census bureau figures, there are more than 52 million Americans aged 65 and older in the United States. But they’re not exactly spread evenly throughout the country. In fact, the Census reported in 2018 that more than 25% of all older Americans live in just three states: California, Texas, and Florida. And another 25% live in just seven other states …

The first day of fall this year was this past Tuesday, Sept. 21. But if the National Council on Aging got its wish, that would be the last day that any older American suffered from a preventable fall. The NCOA’s annual Falls Prevention Week Campaign, held during the first week of autumn, focuses on a simple but powerful message: Falls are not a normal part of aging, and you can take steps to prevent them …

Just like a good peach cobbler, Georgia’s services for seniors who want to live independently as long as possible include a mix of ingredients that make sure every service an aging or disabled person might need—including home modifications—is covered. Georgia has several …

We spend a lot of time on this website talking about grab bars, ramps, and walk-in showers. That’s because these are some of the most common types of home modifications people receive to help them continue to live independently in the community.

However, it would be a mistake to think that that’s all there is to home modifications. We’ve been looking …

Hawaii is an unusual state in many ways. The Aloha State is one of two not directly connected to the “Lower 48,” and the furthest state from any other; this archipelago of about 137 volcanic islands spans 1,500 miles of Polynesian Oceania about 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland. It’s the only U.S. state with more than one official language, an effect of once having been a kingdom and of being the ancestral home of the native Hawaiian people.

It’s also unusual in that …

Today we’re going to talk about two organizations that, in some ways, seem very similar. Both use the same acronym, PACE. Both aim to help people get services they need—improvements that could help them age in place and continue to live independently. Both are especially focused on helping disabled and/or low-income people. And yet …

Idaho’s nickname—no, it’s not “Famous Potatoes”—is the Gem State. This nickname, back in Idaho’s territorial days, was at first a bit of hype meant to attract settlers, investment, and statehood. But it’s turned out to be pretty accurate, as nearly 250 different kinds of minerals have been found in Idaho. And speaking of gems …

When the National Association for Home Care and Hospice hosted a recent webinar on home adaptations, they did more than provide information. The event highlighted one of several recent proposals that show both growing awareness of how important home modifications can be to help Americans age in place, and some creative ideas that could …

In addition to a thorough but fairly standard home and community based (HCBS) Medicaid waiver, Illinois has some unique state-run options to help its residents age in place. These options run the gamut from help moving out of a nursing home and into a private residence to assistance from the housing authority.

Bathroom remodel to greatly improve the safety and accessibility for this member in Virginia. Way to go, Jack and team! Beautiful!