Aging My Way

This article was written for our sponsor, AARP North Carolina

North Carolina is changing and will soon have more people aged 65 and older than under 18, according to the state’s Department of Health and Human Services.

"We are at a time in history that has never been and will probably never be again because of the baby boom," said Joyce Massey-Smith, director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services for Health and Human Services. "We have major challenges, but we have tremendous opportunities."

To help address relevant issues, an AARP survey, Age My Way, asked North Carolina residents 45 and older about housing, health care, and transportation.

Initial findings were based upon the responses of 3,209 residents and were released in time for the Oct. 5 Age My Way Summit. The summit, held in Raleigh, convened policymakers, aging experts and advocates to discuss best practices and policies moving forward, especially concerning the ‘8 domains of livability,’ as discussed in AARP’s Livable Communities communications.

Those domains are:

1. Outdoor spaces and buildings
2. Transportation
3. Housing
4. Social participation
5. Respect and social inclusion
6. Work and civic engagement
7. Communication and information
8. Community and health services

"The main thing we're hearing when we survey people is that a vast majority want to age [within] their communities. They want to stay near friends and family," said Lisa Riegel, the manager for advocacy and livable communities at AARP North Carolina. "But the way we design and build and support our communities doesn't make that easy."

Creating and updating communities to accommodate all ages means neighbors won’t lose out on what older adults can offer.

"We don't always focus on the opportunities that come with aging and that should come with aging, and opportunities both for older adults themselves and for their ability to give back and their desire to give back to the community," said Massey-Smith. "We are really trying to turn ageism on its head and get people to really rethink, ‘you know, we're all aging.’"

Housing

In order to stay within a community, there must be housing options that fit a variety of situations.

One common theme discussed is the desire to downsize to a smaller home. Many North Carolina residents find that they don’t need as much space as they once did, and it simplifies life to have less square feet to manage.

However, that move in many communities is more cost-prohibitive than staying in their current home.

"If you want to downsize or move into a smaller home, it's very hard to find those smaller places and, because of that, they're more expensive sometimes," said Riegel.

That’s why advocates believe it’s important to change regulations that, for many years, have favored large single family housing and disfavored multi-family housing communities.

In these same communities where housing options are scarce, tax-values on older homes continue to increase.

"We need to look at any barriers to making the kind of housing we want and remove [those] barriers, change ordinances and zoning," said Riegel. "People that have large homes may not be able to pay the taxes on that home, and so we need to have options."

Cost isn’t necessarily always the issue. For many who want to age in their home, they are beginning to realize that modifications are needed. Several homes in North Carolina are modeled with multiple levels and stairs which can become difficult to navigate. Homeowners need to have access to information on how they can customize options within their home in order to avoid falls.

Also, there can be creative fixes to bathrooms, kitchens and closets which will all help homes become safer and more comfortable. For great tips, AARP offers a free HomeFit Guide that can help homeowners and their caregivers.

Health care

There’s no denying that aging coincides with a need for increased attention to one’s health. Access to great health care means that residents can continue to live fulfilling lives, getting the help they need when they need it. However, only 38% of Age My Way survey respondents said that their access to health care was "excellent, very good or good." That leaves the majority of respondents in the ‘less than good.’ response category.

In addition, only 28% of respondents said that care is affordable. According to AARP Research, "also ranked low, was the availability of affordable home care services such as personal care and housekeeping."

Developing policies that tackle such needs is an important part of Massey-Smith’s work. In fact, the DHHS Division of Aging and Adult Services is part of a nationwide Center for Health Care Strategies collaboration to develop a 10-year master plan that addresses the needs of aging people. One aspect of that plan would be to improve dementia care throughout communities.

"What that really means is that, if I go into a business or, say, the public library, their staff there have had training and understand some of the behaviors and issues that come along with having dementia and respond to that person in a respectful and dignified way," said Massey-Smith.

A helpful resource available now is North Carolina’s caregiver portal. This free learning platform goes beyond general information to offer in-depth lessons and support to caregivers, or anyone who wants to learn more about issues associated with aging.

Transportation

Advocates for senior-friendly communities have their sights set on transportation as a major issue. Too often, transportation infrastructure is focused on roads. However, vehicles become less of any option for many people as they age.

"We, on average, will outlive our ability to drive by about 10 years," said Riegel. "The way we build our communities is very car-centric."

Improving sidewalks and enhancing public transportation are two goals that would benefit not only the senior population but residents of all ages and abilities.

"When you make a sidewalk easy for an older adult with a cane or a wheelchair or who is just not as stable, you’re also making it better for little kids that are running or for a mom with a baby stroller," said Riegel. "So, it’s really better for everybody."

The idea of, ‘it’s better for everybody,’ transcends the notion of great sidewalks. As AARP North Carolina President, Dr. Catherine Sevier said at the Age My Way Summit, "AARP supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and rural areas to be great places for people of all ages. We believe that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; age-friendly housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents of all ages to participate in community life."

This article was written for our sponsor, AARP North Carolina