Aging well, together.
A home that works. People to count on. A way to get where you need to go.
Aging & Community brings together research and practical guidance for building a good life in the place you call home. Explore the decisions that matter—how to stay connected, organize support, get to healthcare and adapt when needs change.
Explore the guides · See what the research says
Start with the decision in front of you
Can living at home still work well?
Look beyond the address. Consider everyday tasks, the people available to help, the cost of support and what would happen if your usual arrangement stopped working.
How will I get around without driving?
Keep the destinations that make life yours: healthcare, groceries, friends, faith, volunteering or simply a place you enjoy. Plan the outward trip, the return and the help needed between the front door and the vehicle.
What could a community program offer?
A Village, a NORC program or a neighborhood support network may sound promising. The useful questions are more specific: Who can join? What help is actually available? What happens when you need more?
Understand Villages and NORC programs
How do we organize help without one person doing everything?
Turn “let me know what you need” into a workable arrangement. Name the tasks, agree on responsibilities and give the person receiving support a clear voice in the plan.
Create a caregiver support plan
What needs to be ready after a hospital stay?
The ride, the front door, the first meal and the next appointment belong in the same conversation. Work through a practical handover before departure.
Research worth understanding
A finding is most useful when you know who was studied, what changed and what remains uncertain. Our research library puts those details beside the result, with a link to the original source.
Confidence and health are different outcomes. A Village follow-up study found increased confidence about aging in place, but not improvements across every measure. Read the finding.
The home and the person can be considered together. A trial of coordinated home modifications, occupational therapy and nursing tested that approach to everyday difficulties. Explore the CAPABLE study.
Getting to care deserves a plan. A review of transportation interventions examined missed appointments—and explained where the evidence was still limited. See the transportation review.
Connection is more than a full calendar. Research on loneliness distinguishes structured interventions from a general invitation to socialize. Compare the findings.
A useful first step: plan one ordinary week
Before making a major decision, write down a typical week. Include meals, laundry, medication routines, appointments, errands and something enjoyable. Beside each activity, note what works, what requires help and what would happen if that help were unavailable.
This exercise is a starting point, not a score. It can reveal whether the next conversation should be about a safer entrance, a dependable ride, more company, paid assistance or a different living arrangement.
Use the weekly support worksheet
Explore by topic
Home and daily life: Aging in place · A safer home
Mobility and care: Life without driving · Medical ride checklist · Hospital to home
People and community: Staying connected · Caregiver support · Villages and NORCs
Evidence and resources: Research findings · Foundational reports · Where to find help
Keep your options open
Staying in a familiar home and choosing a different home can both be thoughtful decisions. The aim is a life with dignity, meaningful choice and support that fits—not proving that someone can manage without help.