A hard choice: Aging in place

83% of seniors say they want to stay in their homes
By KRISTEN WEST McGUIRE

John and Agnes Schoessow live in the same Mequon farmhouse where he was born 88 years ago.

Staying put, as the Schoessows are, is the way that 83% of seniors want to live out their golden years, according to a recent survey of members of the American Association of Retired Persons.

But the logistics and cost of "aging in place" can outpace a family's resources.

With plenty of senior housing options, some decide to move out of the family home before a crisis forces the issue, while others bring services in-house.

Often, sale of the house coincides with failing health or the death of one spouse, tangling the logistical and legal considerations with emotional and financial implications. It's a complicated transition, especially when it comes to figuring out how the family home fits into the senior's future financial stability, selling the house and engineering the move.

Because there are so many complications to this transition, specialists are ready to assist seniors and their families: universal design remodeling consultants, geriatric care managers, elder law attorneys and financial planners, senior move managers and Senior Real Estate Specialists.

Sorting through the options and costs - fees range widely and can be per hour, per project or on commission - is a job in itself....

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