Most people want to live in their own homes as they get older, but most don’t plan to take the necessary steps to ensure they can maintain their desired lifestyle.
While 96 percent of respondents in a survey say it’s important to be as independent as possible as they get older, only 21 percent of them plan to incorporate technology solutions, or to remodel and retrofit their homes in order to stay in place as they age.
Booming boomers: Perplexing problems
The number of Americans 65-years-of-age or older is predicted to grow to 83.7 million by 2050, almost double from the 43.1 million in 2012, according to the U.S. Census.
However, the survey shows that nearly 80 percent of 60 to 80 year olds aren’t thinking about, or aren’t sure, whether they’ll upgrade or update their homes. In addition, more than one-fifth of respondents don’t know where to start or what’s useful to them when it comes to upgrading their homes with technology.
Costly perceptions
The top barriers to making changes to one’s home are perceived cost and disinterest, indicating a lack of value in new technologies for the home.
- Nearly three in five respondents say they aren’t interested in upgrading their home.
- One-third say upgrades are too costly.
- 42 percent say upgrading in-home technology is too expensive.
- One fourth of respondents aren’t interested in upgrades.
Familiar technology
Aging Americans are willing to invest in new technology for things that they use regularly and are most comfortable with.
Half of respondents currently use technology to refill prescriptions. They also use it to access government services, 45 percent, and connect with doctors, 41 percent.
Fifty-eight percent would be interested in stovetops or ovens that automatically shut off to help them live at home as they get older. Respondents also are interested in a single remote control to manage everything in the home, 46 percent, and driverless cars, 41 percent.
As they age, respondents think the three most important factors for communities are high-speed Internet access, 87 percent; nearby grocery stores, 83 percent; and access to hospitals and medical centers, 77 percent.
The most important factors for home design features are a low-maintenance exterior, 58 percent; master bedrooms and baths on the first floor, 54 percent; and effective lighting throughout the house, 54 percent.
Philips, a technology company, and the Global Social Enterprise Initiative at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business conducted the survey. It’s their second study on the technology gap for aging boomers and seniors.
Results of the survey can be found at http://usa.philips.com/agingwellcommunities.
