Psychological Aspects of Aging. Aging is not an easy process, especially when you have to do it alone. Housing is an important source of continuity in the lives of most middle aged and older people.
Aging is not an easy process, especially when you have to do it alone. Housing is an important source of continuity in the lives of most middle aged and older people. When a person decides to age in place, they prefer to age in there own home, mainly because this is where they feel most safe and comfortable. Although this is what is preferred, it's not always feasible. To speak in the ideal sense, housing choices are made to match the middle-aged and older lifestyle preferences but at the same time acknowledge and accommodate constraints stemming from changes in income, marital status, or functional status. After age 33, Americans do not change residence often, partly because of the feeling of comfort and ease that comes with living in a familiar environment.
Over 90% of older people live in fully independent housing such as detached single-family homes, duplexes, condominiums, manufactured homes, or apartments, semi-independent housing consists of fully independent housing units in which the residents have access to support services. However, aging in place is a rising phenomenon as older Americans express a desire to continue to live in the houses and neighborhoods where they raised their children. They value their Independence, are comfortable with their neighbors, and want to continue to live in surroundings with which they are familiar (Hartje, 2004). The U.S department of Health and Human Services Administration on Aging (AOA) encourages the development of housing and communities that allow citizens to age in place. Life expectancy for a person born in 1900 was less than 50 years old. Since that was the case, houses were designed for the 50 and under person (Berger, 2002).
