How to age in place Planning for a happy, independent, and financially secure retirement

Psychologists Languirand and Bornstein (When Someone You Love Needs a Nursing Home, Assisted Living or In-Home Care) penned this guide after concluding that there was "no comprehensive, user-friendly book" that addressed postretirement living, which may mean remaining in one's own home or moving to a new residence where one can live (and age) as independently as possible. In easy-to-navigate chapters, the authors cover topics including finances (IRAs, annuities); services (health care and accessible shopping); and housing options (including how to "retrofit" for future needs). While part one ("Making It Work") focuses on the nuts and bolts of setting a stage for secure retirement, part two ("Making It Count") presents options for retirees, such as taking a course, volunteering, or even writing a book. Although the book's tone is cheerful, readers should be prepared for frank discussions about dementia, hospice, assisted living, and "the D word." Older readers will find a wealth of practical suggestions from the authors-a couple who, nearing retirement age themselves, amicably confess to having given up spicy wings and to taking a "tumble" while out conducting their own neighborhood "walkability" test. Agent: Joelle Delbourgo, Joelle Delbourgo Associates. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

With millions of baby boomers getting older, retirement is a hot topic. As authors Languirand and Bornstein (coauthors, When Someone You Love Needs a Nursing Home, Assisted Living, or In-Home Care) assert, most retirees today wish to live as independently as possible, staying in their own houses and communities rather than in retirement homes. To assist in that desire, the authors have put together a comprehensive plan for seniors that addresses concerns such as financial planning, safe housing, proactive medical and mental health care, and opportunities for civic engagement. However, this book goes beyond the practical, presenting a philosophical vision that focuses on developing new attitudes toward aging and appreciating how older adults can contribute to society; it also discusses the creation of innovative models of elder care services that make aging at home economically viable for both the individual and society. VERDICT An excellent, much-needed resource for readers exploring their options as they approach retirement age. (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

What Is "Aging in Place"? Aging in Place is a national movement aimed at enabling older adults to remain in their own homes by making available the social support, health care, and home maintenance services that people need to live safe, happy, productive lives in the community. Aging in place may mean continuing to live where you have lived for many years, or moving to a new residence (or new locale) that maximizes your ability to live independently. Aging in place involves confronting some practical issues. If left undone, these issues can interfere with independent living: * Financial planning * Safe housing * Neighborhood safety and "walkability" * Accessibility of services (a pharmacy, for example, or nearby grocery store) * Proactive medical and mental health care * Opportunities for community, cultural, and civic engagement * Sustainability to ensure long-term cost effectiveness Beyond the practical issues, aging in place represents a philosophical shift--a social movement--which includes: * Developing a new vision of healthy aging--a new attitude regarding needs of people in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, and the myriad ways in which older adults can contribute to society * Creating innovative, efficient models of eldercare services that make aging in place economically viable for the individual and society As you can see, aging in place requires some planning. But arranging those services that will enable you to live independently, safely, and comfortably, and stay active and engaged throughout your retirement, will help make aging in place the "new normal." Excerpted from How to Age in Place: Planning for a Happy, Independent, and Financially Secure Retirement by Mary A. Languirand, Robert F. Bornstein All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.