Do the elderly want to continue living at home longer?

What do seniors themselves want when it comes to living at home?

November 18, 2024

With an increasingly older world population, and more and more people who are both getting older and in need of care, and fewer and fewer people working in healthcare, the pressure on healthcare will increase enormously in the coming years. We only hear about this problem in the news.

But how are we going to solve this problem?

In previous articles we already discussed the pros and cons of living at home longer. But older people themselves also have strong preferences when it comes to their living conditions. This article examines what older people themselves want with regard to living at home longer and the necessary support.

1. Independent living with support
Research shows that elderly people want to live independently for as long as possible, but are prepared to move to small-scale housing if care is available there, as long as they can maintain their independence and privacy.

2. Important factors for quality of life
Elderly people value physical and mental health, social contacts and control over their own lives. A prerequisite is that they have access to suitable housing, sufficient financial resources and mobility.

3. Precarious balance
Care providers emphasise the importance of a balance between health, mental well-being and social networks. Small changes can disrupt this balance.

4. Communication and cooperation
Good cooperation between care providers and the older person themselves is essential for providing appropriate care. This requires open communication and involvement of all parties.

Conclusion
To get a good picture of the right solution, it is important to weigh up both the advantages and disadvantages. That is why we discussed the advantages and disadvantages of elderly people living at home longer in an earlier article. Finally, it is of course important to consider what elderly people themselves think and want.

The wishes and needs of elderly people should be central to policy and care. This not only helps to improve their quality of life, but also to safeguard their autonomy and dignity. The question of whether living at home longer is better will always depend on the individual needs of the person.