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Moving to Nursing Home Tops Seniors’ List of Fears
By
Michael A. Piekarz
Spectrum Staff
Eighty-nine
percent of America’s seniors want to age-in-place and are willing
to use adaptive technology allowing them to maintain their independence,
according to a study commissioned by Clarity and the EAR Foundation.
The same study found that their boomer children share the same concerns
and are willing to support their parent’s efforts.
Senior citizens fear moving into a nursing home and the loss of their independence
far more than death. In a recent survey, seniors rated loss of independence (26
percent) and moving out of their home into a nursing home (13 percent) as their
greatest fears. Death was listed as a fear by only 3 percent of the respondents
questioned for the research study, Aging in Place in America.
“These findings tell us that, above all else, older Americans value their
ability to live independently,” said Peter Bell, president of National
Aging in Place Council. “As a society, we must find ways to help our parents
and grandparents live their latter years at home. We must make aging in place
a national priority and a reality for older Americans.”
Seniors cited three main threats to their independence. Health problems were
the main consideration followed closely by memory problems and the inability
to drive. Most seniors surveyed viewed themselves as extremely independent due
to the fact that they receive no assistance from their children and are very
content with that reality.
Most seniors stated an openness to new technologies that help them avoid nursing
homes. “Seniors are clearly more open to technology than many people believe,” said
Clarity president Carsten Trads. “They are very comfortable with familiar
devices like the telephone and will even try new technologies, like sensors,
if they help them age-in-place.”
The children of seniors, today’s boomers, were also interviewed regarding
their attitude towards their parents’ aging in place. Their answers echoed
the parental desires and concerns over aging in place and living independently.
The vast majority (94 percent) feel that it’s important their senior parents
are able to age-in-place. More than three-fourths (79 percent) are concerned
about their parents’ ability to do so, and more than half (57 percent)
are very concerned.
“We are all concerned about our parents’ quality-of-life as they
age; however, this study sheds light on the tremendous amount of anxiety the
baby boomer generation, in particular, experiences regarding this issue,” explained
Clarity’s marketing communications manager, Chris Dutton.
“They worry that Mom and Dad will be forced into a nursing home, and their
quality-of-life will deteriorate. They are contending with worries that their
parents will be sad, lonely, scared — or even worse — mistreated.”
Despite the boomers’ parents’ belief that they receive no support
from their children, 63 percent of the boomers surveyed stated that they are
providing some kind of assistance to allow their parents to age-in-place. Much
of the assistance reportedly provided by boomers was with household maintenance,
transportation, medical issues, help with financial decisions and financial support.
“Boomers are juggling a great deal of responsibility; raising their children
and caring for their parents at the same time,” said Trads. “It is
important that boomers have help and support to successfully manage their caregiving
role. Outside sources – such as technology – can help boomers receive
the necessary support they need to remain in their homes indefinitely.”
Surprisingly, senior parents appeared to be more open to aging-in-place technology
than their boomer children. Only 14 percent of the tech-savvy boomers have actually
looked into technological solutions to help them ensure the health and safety
of their parents. The benefits of this technology have not yet been realized
by boomer caregivers.
“From the iPod to the Blackberry, technology is such an everyday part of
baby boomers’ lives; however they have not yet realized the potential benefit
of technology to help care for their parents,” said Trads.
“More technology solutions need to be developed to allow aging in place
so that boomers and other caregivers have more options when trying to help our
aging Americans.”
This page and its contents ©2008
Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
