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What is aging in place, and how can I help my parent do it safely?

Aging in place means growing older in your own home. To help a parent do it safely: make the home safer, arrange support for the tasks that get hard, keep family connected, and plan for an emergency before it happens. Review the plan as their needs change.1

Updated October 2026.

The short version

  • Reduce trip hazards and improve lighting, especially on stairs and in bathrooms.
  • Arrange help for tasks that are getting hard: meals, medication, transport, housekeeping.
  • Keep a CareTeam so more than one person knows what is going on.
  • Plan for the worst day: a way to call for help and people who will hear.

Make the home safer

Falls are a leading concern for older adults living at home, and many happen on stairs, in bathrooms and on cluttered floors. Common steps include clearing walkways, securing loose rugs, adding lighting and night-lights, adding grab bars and non-slip surfaces in the bathroom, and keeping frequently used items within easy reach. An occupational therapist or your parent’s doctor can do or suggest a home safety assessment.

Arrange support for the hard tasks

Ask which tasks are getting difficult, and match help to them: meal delivery, pill organizers or reminders, a ride service, a cleaner, or a neighbor who checks in. Let your parent choose where they can. Help that they agreed to is help they will accept.

Keep the family connected

A shared CareTeam means no one person carries it all. With KinectedCare, the CareTeam shares notes and a CareLog, and, if your parent agrees, a daily snapshot of sleep, steps and stairs. See apps for long-distance caregiving and safer independent living.

Plan for an emergency

Decide in advance how your parent reaches help and who hears. KinectedCare gives your parent a HELP button on their phone or watch that alerts the whole CareTeam at once, and when a fall-detection-capable watch detects a fall, KinectedCare notifies the CareTeam.1 Keep a list of medications, doctors and emergency contacts where responders and family can find it.

Review regularly

Needs change. Revisit the plan every few months and after any fall, hospital stay or change in health. When the signs add up, our guide to the 10 signs a parent can no longer safely live alone helps you decide what comes next.

Questions people ask

What does aging in place mean?
It means an older person continues living in their own home, with the support they need, rather than moving to a care facility.
Is it safe for my parent to live alone?
It depends on their health, mobility and memory, and on the support around them. Watch for patterns of change, make the home safer, and talk with their doctor about concerns.
How do I make a home safer for an older adult?
Clear walkways, secure rugs, improve lighting, add grab bars and non-slip surfaces in the bathroom, and keep everyday items within reach. A home safety assessment from an occupational therapist can tailor this to your parent.
How can technology help?
A shared CareTeam app keeps the family informed, and a HELP button gives your parent a clear way to reach everyone. Choose tools your parent is comfortable using.
Does KinectedCare replace emergency services?
No. KinectedCare is not a medical device or an emergency service. If someone may be hurt, call local emergency services first.

Keep reading

Sources

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: older adult fall prevention. cdc.gov/falls

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