fearing more than death

As you all know... I take care of Seniors, in their homes. A new study was just done, and I thought that you would be interested in reading it.


U.S. SENIORS FEAR LOSS OF INDEPENDENCE MORE THAN DEATH
Seniors actually fear moving into a nursing home and losing their independence more than they fear death, according to a new study that examines the attitudes and anxieties of the nation’s older-adult population. This research is yet another indicator that Home Instead Senior Care is providing an incredibly valuable service to seniors and their families by enabling these older adults to remain in their homes as long as possible.

The “Aging in Place in America” research study, commissioned by Clarity and The EAR Foundation, also found that children of seniors also fear for their parents, with particular concern about their emotional and physical well being should they enter a nursing home. (A summary of the report is available at http://www.myhearinghealth.com/archive/2007/10/25/99.aspx, and a PDF of the full report can be downloaded at http://www.clarityproducts.com/research/Clarity_Aging_in_Place_2007.pdf.)

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

Other key findings included the following:
· 89 percent of the seniors wanted to age in place without moving from their homes, and more than half are concerned about their ability to do so.
· Seniors living at home were determined to maintain their independence, reporting that they required limited support from their children or other caregivers.
· Half of seniors were open to using new technologies to enable independence, including having sensors installed in their homes to monitor their health.
“These findings tell us that, above all else, older Americans value their ability to live independently,” said Peter Bell, president of National Aging in Place Council.

Pretty interesting huh? Guess that I am in the right business!