Making the right housing decisions as you age is about more than just finding a place to live—it’s about maintaining independence, financial security, and quality of life.
Fiona Somerville from Acquaint explores the key considerations for downsizing, home modifications, and care options that support ageing in place. Her expert advice highlights how thoughtful planning can ensure comfort, stability, and long-term wellbeing.
Read Fiona’s full article below:
Moving House as You Get Older
As you age, the question of how and where you should live becomes increasingly important. For some, staying in your own home might mean downsizing to a smaller, more suitable space. If that’s the case, planning for your later years before you move is essential.
Planning for Downsizing
If you’re considering downsizing from your family home, careful planning is essential. Think about accessibility, proximity to family and medical facilities, and maintenance requirements. When looking for a new place to live in later years, consider space for staff, such as carers who will be there as long as you need from a few hours a day to 24 hours, to ensure adequate support and comfort in the future.
Stay Happy
Ageing in your own home allows you to maintain independence and control over your daily life. Studies show that people who live at home experience higher levels of happiness and satisfaction compared to those in aged care facilities.
Maintain Your Health
Living at home is linked to better health outcomes, particularly when supported by appropriate home care services. Familiar environments reduce the risk of depression and anxiety, and you are less likely to contract infections compared to communal living settings.
Consider the technology you might need as you age—does your new home have a lift, keyless entry, good security, frameless door thresholds, smart lighting, or large bathrooms?
Preserve Your Wealth
Staying in your home allows you to preserve your assets rather than spending significant amounts on aged care facility fees. This can have long-term benefits for estate planning, enabling you to pass on wealth to your children and beneficiaries.
Buying the right property in the right location remains a valuable financial asset that can appreciate over time.
Support Your Local Economy
When you remain at home, you continue to contribute to your local community—supporting businesses, hiring services, and engaging in community activities. Additionally, family members who might otherwise need to take on caregiving roles can stay active in the workforce, benefiting the broader economy.
Stay Connected with Family
Remaining at home enables you to maintain close relationships with family, friends, and neighbours.
These social connections are crucial for mental and emotional well-being. Frequent visits from loved ones and continued participation in family events help combat loneliness and contribute to a sense of belonging.
Choose the Right Care for You
By moving to the right property as you age you can better access tailored care solutions that suit your individual needs and preferences.
Choosing private home care rather than government-funded home care offers even greater benefits. Private care eliminates long waiting lists and gives you more choice and control over who provides your care and for how long. This flexibility ensures that your care arrangements align with your personal preferences and lifestyle needs.
Private at home care services like Melbourne’s premium aged care provider, Acquaint, allow you to receive support without compromising your lifestyle.
The Benefits of Private Home Care
Australia’s aged care system is changing toward a consumer-driven model that places greater financial responsibility on individuals. Under the upcoming reforms, wealthier Australians receiving government-funded home care will contribute between 50 and 80 per cent of service expenses, meaning higher-income Australians will continue paying more.
Private In-Home Care – A Flexible, High-Quality Alternative
For many families, private home care offers a smarter and more effective alternative—allowing older Australians to receive high-quality, tailored care in the comfort of their own homes.
So Please, Stay at (Your New) Home!
With the upcoming aged care reforms likely to increase costs and reduce flexibility within government-funded home care, private home care presents a compelling alternative for those who can afford it.
Planning for your later years should be a proactive, well-informed conversation about maintaining quality of life, managing finances wisely, and securing the best possible future.
Now is the time to start that conversation.
