How many times has this happened to you: you ask someone their goals for retirement and they say, “Get old, get sick, move out of my home, and die in a care facility”?
Can I hazard a guess as to the answer?
New Numbers, No Surprises
In a new study entitled United States of Aging, jointly sponsored by National Council on Aging, USA Today, Florida Public Television, and United Healthcare, 2,250 Americans aged 60 and older were queried on a variety of aging-related issues.
Turns out, a whopping 90% of respondents say they wish to age in place. And nearly 3 in 4, or 74%, plan to make adaptive changes to their home in order to make possible aging in place. ⁱ
I just have to ask: Does this surprise anyone?
Senior Strategies, Booming Business
Russell Glickman, Washington, D.C. area universal design specialist and winner of the National Association of Remodeling “National Remodeler of the Year” award, says:
I am seeing definite trends in remodeling. As clients make design changes they’re asking more about long-term, universal design, such as first-floor bedroom suites. Also, lot of Baby Boomers are asking about their parents. They’re not really focused on themselves yet, but they’re planning to move their parents into the home. Then later, when they are at that point, they’ll modify the space for themselves.
With many Americans projected to live well into their 90’s, staying in the home as long as possible is often the most significant cost-containment strategy available.
But containing costs is only half the equation. More available money is the other half.
Alicia Munnell, director of the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, says, “I see a future where people in their 60s are having dinner with friends and the conversation leads to: ‘Where are you getting your reverse mortgage?’ It will be the norm. It is going to take a while, but we will have a cohort of people entering retirement who only have $100,000 in their 401(k) plans.”ⁱⁱ
New Normal = “Old” Normal
We all are used to hearing the term “the new normal.” Truth is, “old” is the new normal, and we’re all – or soon will be – facing issues of aging.
And as we age, hopefully with grace, in dignity, and with financial soundness, the FHA Reverse Mortgage is likely to play a central role in helping many Americans achieve these goals.
Give me a call with your questions. I always love hearing from you.
Laurie
Laurie Denker MacNaughton [NMLS# 506562] · Reverse Mortgage Consultant · Middleburg Mortgage, a Division of Middleburg Bank · 20937 Ashburn Road, Suite 115 ·Ashburn, Virginia 20147 · 703-477-1183 Direct · LMacNaughton@MiddleburgBank.com · www.middleburgmortgage.com/lauriem
Visit my Informational Blog at https://middleburgreverselady.wordpress.com/
Laurie MacNaughton 703.477.1183 
Laurie,
Other than a reverse mortgage, here’s a solution to being taken care of in old age: Move all prisoners into nursing homes where they would get the treatment they deserve. Move all nursing home patients into jails and prisons where they would get: free housing, no utility bills, cable TV, three meals a day, free medical and dental care, medicine delivered to them, exercise, a bed, clean sheets, a nice library, all kinds of classes, a job if they want, fresh vegetables from their gardens, and security. What could be better than that?
Terry
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