Most people want to stay in their own homes as they grow older.
Fewer are convinced they’ll get to, according to AARP’s 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey. While 75% of adults want to live in their current home, 44% said they expected they’d have to move eventually.
Aging in place, or living independently and safely in your home isn't a single decision, but a plan with numerous moving parts and someone to carry it out. That’s the gap Kendal at Home is designed to close with dedicated care coordinators who help you plan to live where you want and make sure you have the support you need to stay there.
For many people, aging in place is financially beneficial, especially in the early and moderate stages of needing support. However, costs can climb quickly with extensive home care.
According to the most recent data from Genworth and CareScout, the national median cost of a home health aide is about $6,673 per month, while a private room in a nursing home averages nearly $10,800 per month.
Long-term care coverage and Medicare typically won’t cover these costs.
Learn more about the average costs of long-term care and how to pay for it.
As people grow older, they can face unexpected challenges that make it more difficult to stay independent, including:
About 27% of people 65 and over live alone. Living alone can increase certain risks because there may not be someone nearby to notice problems or provide immediate assistance. If an older adult experiences a fall, stroke, heart attack, or other medical emergency, they may not be able to call for help immediately.
If your vision is to stay in your home for as long as possible, a comprehensive plan is one of the best ways to make that happen. Your plan should include the following:
An effective plan accounts for your healthcare needs and daily routines may change over time. This includes having a plan for managing chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, or COPD. Because these conditions tend to complicate as they progress, it’s important to know how they will be monitored, treated, and managed to help prevent complications that could affect both your health status and independence.
Your plan should also consider any support you may need after an illness, injury or hospitalization. For instance, do you have a plan for arranging help within 24 hours?
This is especially important for individuals who live alone or have family members who live far away. Planning ahead can help ensure support is available when it's needed most.
Medication management and fall prevention are also key parts of protecting your health at home. Having a reliable system for organizing prescriptions, refills and medication schedules and a backup person who can assist if needed can reduce the risk of mistakes or interactions.
Kendal at Home care coordinators often become an extension of your medical team. They get to know you when you’re healthy so they may be more likely to recognize when something isn’t right, such as lingering issues after a fall or a hospital stay. They can help you manage medications and follow-up care plans if needed.
In many cases, they’ve pushed for follow-up tests that revealed something that wasn’t immediately obvious, like a fractured wrist or a heart condition that caused dizziness before a fall.
A safe and comfortable home is a key part of any aging-in-place plan.
As you think about your future needs, consider whether your current home layout will continue to support your independence if your mobility changes due to an illness, injury or surgery. Simple home modifications, such as creating a first-floor bedroom option, improving lighting, removing tripping hazards and ensuring clear pathways, can make it easier to move safely throughout your home. Features like zero-step entryways and accessible pathways can also reduce fall risks and make coming and going from your home more manageable.
Bathrooms are another important area to evaluate. Adding safety features such as grab bars, a walk-in or curbless shower, and improved lighting can help you complete daily tasks more safely while reducing the risk of falls.
An aging-in-place plan can also include technology. Tools such as medical alert systems, voice assistants, video calls, and telehealth services can make it easier to stay connected, manage health needs, and get help quickly when needed.
Fall prevention is equally important. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related deaths among adults age 65 and older. A fall risk assessment can identify concerns such as balance issues, vision changes, or home hazards, allowing you to make changes that support your safety and long-term independence.
Kendal at Home care coordinators help you prevent falls by performing home safety audits to identify common hazards and recommending updates, such as handrails or grab bars.
We also offer an evidence-based fall prevention program that has been proven to decrease falls by 31%.
An effective aging-in-place plan identifies who will be there when you need help and whether they have the time and capacity to provide it.
Think about who could respond quickly in an emergency, assist with everyday needs after an illness or injury, or help you navigate a longer recovery. While many family members and friends are willing to step in, it's important to have honest conversations about what they can realistically provide. Consider not only their willingness but also their responsibilities and proximity. It's equally important to identify backup caregivers or community resources in case your primary support person is unavailable.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 53 million people in the U.S. provide unpaid caregiving for a family member or friend. An aging-in-place plan can help ensure that caring for you doesn't become the sole responsibility of those closest to you.
Professional support, such as care coordinators or geriatric care managers, can assess needs, coordinate services, connect you with trusted providers, and advocate on your behalf, allowing family and friends to focus on spending meaningful time with you rather than managing every aspect of your care.
While geriatric care managers often provide care planning and coordination on a fee-for-service basis, Kendal at Home care coordinators build ongoing relationships with members. This continuity helps you anticipate changing needs, coordinate services, and ensure your wishes are followed if circumstances change. It can also ease the responsibilities placed on family members by providing consistent support as care needs change.
Successful aging in place includes a realistic strategy for paying for care if your needs change over time. The cost of extended home care can add up quickly, especially if you require daily assistance for months or years. Consider whether your retirement income, savings, and other financial resources could support ongoing care without disrupting your long-term goals. Planning ahead gives you more flexibility and allows you to make decisions based on your preferences rather than financial pressure.
It's also important to understand how insurance fits into your plan.
Long-term care insurance can help offset the cost of care, but benefits often begin only after an elimination period and may not cover every service or expense. Many people are also surprised to learn that Medicare generally does not pay for long-term custodial care, such as ongoing assistance with bathing, dressing or other activities of daily living. Understanding what your insurance does and doesn't cover can help you identify gaps and plan for additional resources before they're needed.
Financial planning should also include the cost of creating a safer, more accessible home. Depending on where you live, financial assistance may be available through local, state, or nonprofit programs to help pay for accessibility improvements. Many state housing finance agency programs offer low-interest loans or grants for qualifying home modifications, making it easier to add features that support long-term independence. Exploring these assistance options early can help you make important safety upgrades while protecting your overall financial plan.
With Kendal at Home, you have the option to choose care coverage that includes daily benefits based on your needs and your budget. That means you can plan for future care costs while you’re healthy, when you have the best options and lowest costs.
You can prepay in today’s dollars for care you may not need for years and protect your retirement assets if you need more extensive care later.
And you’re pairing that financial protection with a care coordinator who will recommend a trusted provider from Kendal at Home’s network. That means you’re not worrying about finances while researching care options during a stressful time.
Kendal at Home’s initial membership fee and monthly fees may also be tax deductible, so you’re making a smart choice that benefits you now and for years to come.
An aging-in-place plan should reflect not only your care needs but also your personal wishes for the future. Important legal documents, such as a healthcare power of attorney and living will, should be current, easy to access, and shared with the people who may need them during a medical emergency. Having these documents in place helps ensure that important decisions are guided by your preferences if you're ever unable to communicate them yourself.
Planning for the future also means thinking beyond healthcare. If you stop driving or your mobility changes, how will you remain connected to the people, places and activities that give your life purpose? Identifying transportation options, community programs, volunteer opportunities or technology that supports virtual participation can help you continue enjoying meaningful social connections. And if you travel frequently, spend part of the year in another location, or anticipate relocating in retirement, consider whether your care plan can move with you. A portable plan that supports continuity of care, wherever life takes you, can provide greater confidence, flexibility and peace of mind for the future.
Kendal at Home’s care coordination and care coverage are designed to move with you, so someone is there for you whether you decide to move across the country or travel the world.
You don't need to have every part of an aging-in-place plan figured out before you get started. Most people have some pieces in place but need guidance to bring everything together.
Kendal at Home care coordinators help members build a personalized plan across all five pillars, connecting them with the support services and resources they need to successfully age in place. Then they make sure you have the support you need to put the plan into action.
Care coordination and care coverage begin the day you become a member, so if something unexpected happens, you don’t have to scramble to find care in a stressful situation or worry about whether a long-term care policy will cover it.
You’ll just make one call to your care coordinator, and they’ll make sure everything is covered, from the care you need to recover to helping you maintain the everyday things you love about your life, including your relationships with family and friends, your pets, and your home.
Take the 20-Question Care Planning Assessment to see where your plan is solid and where there are gaps. Then, talk to a Kendal at Home member advisor about next steps.