3 Signs That Aging in Place Isn’t Working Anymore

Rose Traub • May 20, 2020

If your senior parents want to age in place, they’re not alone: Three out of four seniors prefer to stay in their home as long as possible.

However, what an aging parent wants and what they need isn’t necessarily the same thing. How can loved ones recognize when aging in place isn’t working out, and how can you convince a senior who is insistent on staying put that they need to move? If you’re concerned about an aging parent living at home, look out for these three signs that it’s no longer safe to age in place.

1. Getting around the house is becoming dangerous

Does it seem like your elderly parents are testing fate every time they walk through the house? Families have a lot of options for aging-in-place remodeling or downsizing to an age-friendly home, but if you’ve taken these steps and your parent is still struggling with mobility problems, it may be time for a much bigger downsize.

2. Your parent is growing confused and forgetful

Mobility isn’t the only factor that determines a senior’s ability to live at home. Cognitive impairment can also make home a dangerous place. Seniors with dementia may forget about food on a stovetop, fail to pay the heating bill in mid-winter, or wander away from home. While many seniors can continue to live at home in the early stages of cognitive decline, more help is needed as dementia progresses.

3. Your parents need help, but there’s no one to provide it.

This is a common problem for seniors with long-distance loved ones. While millions of seniors rely on unpaid family caregivers for help at home, those who can’t are faced with a hefty bill: Full-time home care costs over $4,000 a month on top of a senior’s other living costs.

How to Talk About Senior Living

Often, families recognize the need for help before a senior does. As a result, it’s up to loved ones to broach the senior living conversation. How can you do it sensitively and productively? These tips can help.

1. Understand the senior living options

It’s important to go into the senior living conversation informed so you can focus on the facts. Understand the types of senior living, including assisted living, independent living, memory care, and continuing care retirement communities. While independent living sounds appealing to many seniors, it may not provide enough hands-on care for your loved one. Independent living offers senior-friendly housing and amenities but not the caregiving services found in assisted living. Meanwhile, memory care facilities exclusively serve seniors with dementia, and continuing care communities provide a variety of care levels in one setting.

2. Don’t force the issue

It’s important to understand the options, but that doesn’t mean you should start the conversation talking about assisted living. Instead, discuss the challenges your senior parents are facing at home and how they can solve them. Use examples of other seniors who have hired help or moved to senior living to demonstrate how people you know are managing the challenges of aging.

3. Hear your loved one’s concerns

Even if a senior recognizes assisted living as the right choice, they may have fears about moving. Listen to their concerns and offer reassurance and solutions. For example, you could help find a pet-friendly community, hire a senior move manager to help downsize, or set up a regular time when the family will visit.

Senior Living Resources

To learn more about senior living, turn to these helpful resources:

Remember that the assisted living conversation may be a long one. It takes time for seniors set on aging in place to come to terms with accepting help. Start the conversation before it’s urgent so your senior parents can get the help they need when they need it.

Image via Unsplash

February and the Heart

By Donna Nichols • February 2, 2026
Small Habits That Make a Big Difference February brings a soft reminder to pause and check in with the most loyal companion we have — our heart. It beats for us without asking, carrying us through decades of joy, loss, laughter, and change. American Heart Month invites us to honor that steady work with simple habits that help us feel stronger, more energized, and more connected. The Power of Small Steps Heart health doesn’t require dramatic resolutions or strict routines. In fact, the most meaningful changes are often the smallest ones — the ones we can weave into our day without feeling overwhelmed. A ten‑minute walk after breakfast. Choosing water before coffee. Stretching your arms and shoulders while waiting for the kettle to boil. Turning on a favorite song and letting your body sway a little. These tiny choices add up. They support circulation, boost mood, and remind us that caring for ourselves is still possible at every age. Movement That Meets You Where You Are Not everyone can take long walks or join a fitness class — and that’s okay. Gentle movement counts. • Marching your feet while seated • Rolling your shoulders to release tension • Standing up and sitting down a few times to strengthen your legs • Reaching toward the ceiling to open your chest Every bit of movement helps the heart do its job with less strain. Food That Loves You Back Heart‑healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Think in terms of adding rather than restricting. • Add a handful of berries to breakfast • Add a few colorful vegetables to lunch • Add a sprinkle of nuts or seeds for healthy fats • Add one extra glass of water during the day Small additions feel doable — and they nourish the body in ways you can feel. Connection Is Heart Medicine, Too Loneliness can weigh on the heart just as much as physical strain. February is a wonderful time to reach out. Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Share a memory with a grandchild. Join a community activity, even if just for an hour. Let someone know you’re thinking of them. Human connection is one of the most powerful heart‑protective habits we have. A Month to Celebrate Your Strength Your heart has carried you through so much — every milestone, every challenge, every moment of joy. This month is not about perfection. It’s about honoring your resilience and choosing one or two small habits that make you feel good. A healthier heart doesn’t happen overnight. It happens in the quiet, steady choices we make each day. And February is the perfect time to begin.

Connection Is the Resolution That Lasts

By Donna Nichols • January 12, 2026
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A Fresh Start Doesn’t Mean Starting Over

By Donna Nichols • January 9, 2026
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