Aging Connection: December 2007 - Ohio Department of Aging

Aging Connection

December 2007

Study: Seniors Fear Loss of Independence More Than Death

Senior citizens fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than they fear death, according to a study, "Aging in Place in America," conducted by MarketingCharts.

When asked what they fear most, seniors rated loss of independence (26 percent) and moving into a nursing home (13 percent) as their greatest fears. Death was cited as the greatest fear for just 3 percent of seniors.

Other findings:

Most (89 percent) seniors want to age in place - or grow older without having to move from their homes. More than half (53 percent) are concerned about their ability to do so.
Seniors cite three primary concerns that could jeopardize their ability to live independently: health problems (53 percent); memory problems (26 percent); and inability to drive or get around (23 percent).
Four in five (82 percent) boomers fear their parents will be mistreated in a nursing home and 89 percent fear their parents will be sad.
Seniors living at home are determined to maintain their independence, reporting that they require and receive limited support from their children or other caregivers.
Three out of five boomers say they are providing some kind of help or support to their parents.
Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of seniors say they are open to using new technologies that enable independence, including having sensors installed in their homes to monitor their health.
Boomers have not turned to technology to assist their aging parents. Only 14 percent have actually looked for solutions that would help them ensure the health and safety of their parents.

The state of Ohio is working to ensure that adequate home- and community-based choices are available to all consumers as an alternative to more restrictive care settings. Officials are striving to create a long-term care system that employs a full array of providers from home-delivered meals to nursing facilities in order to meet consumers' wide spectrum of needs.

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