There is a belief that “aging in place,” or remaining in the home that someone has lived in over time, is always the best option. People will even congratulate older adults for staying in their own home, saying, “Good for you, you are still living independently.” If it is a good situation, that is wonderful; but countless times I have seen the downside of remaining in a home that no longer meets someone’s needs.

I have been working with older adults and their families for over 35 years, and I believe that the greatest barrier to maximizing our quality of life as we age is not choosing to live somewhere that matches our life situation. Many people are existing in their homes rather than having a rich, full life. Because of that, I promote, “Aging at Home” instead of “Aging in Place.”

Staying in the home that you have lived in for a long time works under a specific set of circumstances:

• 两人中有一人或两人都足够健康，可以处理日常的家务，比如做饭、买菜，以及更大的维护工作。这并不意味着他们必须做所有的工作，但他们必须能够保持在这些事情的顶端，并在他们不能做实际工作时支付帮助。
• There is easy opportunity to see other people and socialize. This may mean continuing to drive and/or having friends nearby who are also healthy enough to get together
• If there are care needs, there is another healthy family member in the home or very nearby to manage home care. From both personal and professional experience, I can tell you that it can be very difficult to keep someone who has significant care needs in their long-term home if there is no one there to manage care.
• The environment is safe. Safety might be compromised by mobility issues, cognitive issues, and features of the home, such as steep stairs or a lack of good lighting. It’s true that many homes can be retrofitted to be safer; but in my experience serious safety concerns are often overlooked.

Retirement living is an option that addresses all of those concerns. There is a home-like environment that is safe, provides meals and housekeeping, as well as the opportunity to socialize and have friends right where you live.Easy socializationis one of the best aspects of retirement living. No one should spend their later years isolated and lonely.

既然有这么多的福利，为什么没有更多的人选择退休生活呢?One reason is that people mayconfuse long term care with retirement living. A retirement residence is not a nursing home, yet this confusion has led many people to think retirement living wasn’t safe during the pandemic. Unlike the situation for older adults isolated in their homes, people in retirement residences had staff available if they had a need or an emergency, and fellow residents to stay in touch with in socially distanced ways.In fact, in a survey of residents, 96% felt their Chartwell residence took important measures to keep them safe during COVID-19.

I believe the goal is to “age at home,” with home being defined as somewhere we choose to live that feels safe, nurturing, and allows us to continue to explore life and be engaged with others. Right now, many people may be missing out on the opportunity to call a retirement residence home because of misinformation. The media can unwittingly contribute to this confusion too. For example, they may speak about long term care and retirement residences as if they are the same. That’s why it’s important to get the facts for yourself. You don’t want to let inaccurate information dissuade you from making a decision that can make your life better.

为什么我对这个有强烈的感觉?在我的鼓励下，我的父母搬进了退休生活。起初，父亲有些犹豫。然而，在他们搬进来大约六个月后，我和父亲一起散步，他说了一句我听过无数人说过的话:“我希望我们能早点搬到这里。”这是我们所能做的最好的事情。”

Remember, retirement living IS aging at home. A home where you can continue to live your best life.