A number of reasons. We would like to reduce to only one car. We would like to be able to walk to places like the library, small downtown area, restaurants/coffee shops, the senior center and other activity places.
Right now…we live in the woods…I’m not exaggerating. We can walk to none of the above.
We probably wouldn’t walk everywhere but we would walk (or bike) to some places.
Another walkability issue goes the other way – can people walk TO you? We had considered moving Mom to a small first floor apartment on the same block as Local instead of staying in a home 4 miles away on 11 acres. It would have given her that extra bit of daily help and kept her independant/involved longer. Would have been great for both my folks but of course by the time someone is not okay mentally, you’ve lost the window to do anything easily; prior to that he wouldn’t hear of it because he was fine and “would know” when it was time to change.
Events escalate quickly. I want to pre-emptively move, not make my children help with a mad scramble. I’ve done that three times now, all different circumstances yet equally unpleasant for all involved.
The house we bought 4 years ago ( which I love) has 3 levels, no bedrooms on the main floor and 12 steps up in the front as well as 12 steps up in the back. But it was never intended to be a “ forever house “.
I have discussed here that my plan is to move into a rental apartment within my ( walkable) neighborhood in the next year or two. I am fully aware that at some point in my life it may be possible to make a move to AL. I prefer not to, but I am open to it if need be.
After reading the gift article, I am prepared to comment.
”They approached their children and grandchildren, seeing if any wanted to move in with them, help maintain the house and inherit it when they died. None did.”
Since they are in their 80’s, they have been thinking about this a long time. “They are in relatively good health, eat well and exercise often, but started exploring housing options while in their 70s. They talked about chairlifts and home elevators but decided those solved only one issue—mobility.” That is the main issue to be sure - but their solution leaves options for live-in care while enjoying what they want - currently using only parts of the house is not a ‘problem’, although they are paying taxes on a large home - although they may have prorated property taxes as seniors or with a disability status.
It is not that the house is undesirable or will not sell for a reasonable amount once the couple dies or chooses to sell - it has more to do with their children and grandchildren having independent lives and not wanting to commit to something they don’t want to follow through with for a long period of time (20 years?). They seem to be thoughtful people, and although eventually when their estate or a surviving spouse sells the home, the home value is going to be good although time will tell about the wisdom of these sunk costs. They don’t need care now and have not over their years thinking about their options.
They might not have any mortgage left and can cash flow the home equity loan payments. They don’t want to move and have found a way to continue to live in their home, preparing for less mobility and perhaps eventual care possibly moving in. Their financial resources perhaps will hold out for them to remain in their home until both are deceased - like many of us looking to 100-year life span with our financial resources. In a year or two, they may very well decide to pay off the home equity line of credit.
My brother hired a live in cook/housekeeper for my mom - this kind of help is available, but it takes networking. Mom had declining health in her 70’s and died at age 77.
This couple is active enough and aging. It seems they love their home and community, want to stay and have found a way to make the home work to stay with declining mobility and health. Yes, $300,000 is a lot more than most will need or want to spend. It is substantial but I think this is a one-time effort and within their means.
They don’t want to spend down with a move now to something in their area (like independent living/assisted living). They don’t want to trade off the costs to remain - they would be looking at higher costs at lesser living to move (their opinion and mine too). They don’t want to leave their home and are finding a plan and a way to stay. It seems the declining mobility is more of an issue for the husband (at this time) to have first floor master suite plans based on the stated physical activity the wife has. Say this arrangement works for the next 10 years - that is annually the $30,000/year plus the finance cost of the borrowed money, which weighs out against the options they don’t want at this point in time.
But as we all know, the health of people in their 80’s and upward can change quickly.
DH’s aunt and uncle both lived at home into their late 90’s. They were able to do so because there was transportation to their medical appointments and their daughter drove in and remained every weekend to do their cleaning/laundry and cook ahead food - there also was meals on wheels available. One son came for extended stays and one son lived in town. Aunt and uncle both were able to walk with walker for short distances and also used wheelchairs - the uncle didn’t need a w/c until after the aunt died. They had washer/dryer hook up/space in their kitchen area with new front load washer and dryer and had a generous back porch/sitting area with purchased metal ramps down to their detached garage/back-alley car access. It worked because of the daughter! The aunt was in a small BR on the main level, and the uncle still did steps to a bigger BR upstairs until after the aunt died and his eventual inability to do the stairs.
@MamaLilKat thinking of you and hoping there’s been a positive change for your mom.
Walkable areas usually would be centrally located, often with reasonable uber options to get to places that are close-ish but not walkable.
I can envision being able to easily age in place in the Toronto neighborhood my friend lived in for a time … everything was within very easy walking distance and the bus (which went everywhere) was a few steps away. I have never been anywhere else that would work so well, but I’m sure they exist. Just not in my state, where the car is king (and public transit, if it exists, is not the greatest).
For us, there is no plan to age in place. When we reach the point where stairs are an issue, we’ll move to a single floor condo. If AL is in our futures, we’ll find one. I guess our plan is to be flexible and not to fight our reality.
We moved 8 years ago from a ‘must get into a car’’ to do anything, to ‘can walk everywhere’ community. I sold my car and haven’t looked back.
I can walk to medical appointments (including the hospital, dentist and eye doctor), the library, the markets, the bank, the hairdresser, countless restaurants, shops, bakeries, public transportation, the beach, concerts, and sporting events.
I see countless senior citizens walking every day, some are very spry, some have walkers or are in wheelchairs but they are getting out. Our community also has an extremely active senior center with art classes, lectures, fitness programs, trips, etc… held all over and all accessible by either walking or public transportation. Much is free or highly discounted.
And yes, if I pull up my uber app there are at least a dozen available drivers within a 1/2 mile radius.
The other advantage of being in a walkable place is that well, you walk! I average 5 miles/day without thinking about it. That should hopefully keep me a lot fitter as I age. This is the healthiest I’ve been in a long time with zero meds.
That all said, we are in a four story house with no bedroom or bath on the main level. It would not be practical to age in place here, although I guess we could install a chair lift for the stairs and have a ramp to get in… One of the previous owners did stay here until they were in their mid 90s but that isn’t our plan. I want to downsize to the city to a condo. I’d like to cut our square footage by at least 1/2 and have something much easier to maintain, and be able to close up and travel. If by the time that happens one of us needs more care, that condo will be in a CCRC.
When I was referring to not understanding the walkability issue it was because the circumstance described was an older couple (mid to upper 80’s?) and indicated that they do not or should not drive. To me, that scenario describes a more limited couple physically - and perhaps mentally (may not be true but MAY be true) that physically walking a few blocks or crossing neighborhood streets might be challenging.
I FULLY support walkability in a lifestyle! I agree that a small town or even a big city with things very nearby are probably more accommodating than the suburb lifestyle or a mid sized city where you have to jump in a vehicle for any needs.
So I was referring to a not fully mobile, diminished physical and mentally challenged 85+ couple.
I hope to age in place in our current home. It is a single-story home with a walk-in shower in the ensuite bathroom. Our plan (much like the people featured in the WSJ article) is to spend some money making modifications to accommodate future mobility challenges. We plan to make those investments sooner than later, though.
Our neighborhood is “somewhat walkable” (score of 60/100) with little to no public transportation options (except as described below). That said, everything we need (restaurants, stores, banks, doctors and hospitals) are within a 5-10 minute car ride. Our town offers a pretty robust free transportation service for seniors (medical appointments and shopping), so between that and Uber I think we could manage here if we couldn’t drive.
Of course, I plan to remain flexible and if IL or AL makes more sense due to circumstances, I’m open to it.
It’s good to hear all the different viewpoints.
We also hope to age in place for as long as possible. We are planning to move laundry to the first floor this year with a bathroom Reno and that will make our home basically accessible to STAY on the first floor even though we have a second floor and a basement.
Yard maintenance could become tricky but that can be hired out. I am in a household where H is NOT even thinking of these things nor does he really want to talk about them! All of our parents (luckily) were able to be in their “regular” homes until they passed - I think he does not think otherwise. That makes it a little tricky. He is not one to look ahead.
Driving would be tricky. We don’t have good public transportation. We could manage with resources within 10ish minutes or so of a drive but still a drive. I do believe there are some senior “ride” options available. We currently have one of our kids/his wife in town here and I expect they will stay here.
We downsized a few years ago to an apartment in a very walkable area. It is a 55 plus building, but there are a lot of 80-90 year old tenants. Some can’t drive (for example one guy who is in his 60’s who can’t get a license do to a medical condition). He can live here no problem, walk to Walgreens, restaurants, library, train station to travel to the city, etc.
I prioritized walkability when we moved and it has been good for us - including the health benefits of walking 3 miles a day. We are in our 60’s but imagine being able to walk places for decades to come.
On the flip side, since we are a short walk to the train station, out daughter who lives without a car in the city, can easily come visit us (and visa versa).
The house we sold, where we raised our daughter and lived for 35 years, was in a place where we hopped in a car for everything (couldn’t even walk to school). We love this lifestyle now for this time in our lives.
Unfortunately hiring out yard maintenance is not that easy ( ask me how I know). I contacted several recommended companies for lawn cutting and only 2 contacted me back. The one I hired will also do weeding, but we ( my sister was here at the time) had to supervise the person they sent out to do that. They don’t do anything about weeds in grass so I need to find another business which will get rid of the clover that is taking over my grass and I guess re seed. And I have a small lawn!
IMHO it’s a sort of magical thinking that if you can afford to have maintenance done you simply call, they show up, the work is done and you pay. It takes time to manage. I saw this with my parents. My dad insisted on staying in the house ( which he loved) but there was constant management of cleaners, yard people, appliance repairs, handyman , etc. My mom moved out to AL voluntarily within six weeks after my dad passed. She was done with it all. It’s a lot for a person in their 80’s even with ample financial resources.
YMMV
YES! And that’s if you can even find them!
I live in a very walkable area with public transportation close by. Our townhome does not have a bedroom or full bath on the first floor so we know at some point we will have to move.
Our neighbors moved to an assisted living place about a quarter mile from here. They are in their late 80’s and the stairs were too much for them. H and I still see these two on walks. He now has a walker and they told us they no longer have a car. Their facility has transportation they can use to go grocery shopping and to all kinds of activities around town. I can see H and I moving to a place like this.
Maybe finding some of these services is regional - I can walk .5 mile down my street any day in the summer and see half a dozen lawn care services in action.
But no doubt there is still time along with money involved in having others do upkeep.
Oh I can walk down my block and see trucks from several lawn care services. But that doesn’t mean they will be able to take on more business.
Yep, sometimes getting help is hard. For some reason in our home, we could never get a reliable snow removal service (others on the block had snow removal services but they were either busy, or would end up not being reliable, etc.)
I’m sorry that’s a problem for you, frustrating.
We get a couple flyers a week at our door and many on our neighborhood pages/groups for local companies recruiting jobs.
This is why all our circumstances can be both the same and very different. No one solution for all, for sure!
There’s also the issue of being particular. And being shocked by the pricing. My mil suffers from these problems
My husband and I are going to his mother’s on Friday. She is turning 90. My husband is planting rose bushes for her. Local hires out all his lawn and maintenance. Mil doesn’t want to pay what he does.
I am calling this her gift.
My yard on the other hand needs mowing bad! We will see if that gets accomplished today because H has plans until Sunday.