I have been learning about this growing trend of "aging in place", mainly because my 88-year-old mother is doing just that. What I didn't know was the infinite range of in-home services available; it is quite remarkable. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, "aging in place' refers to an alternative to assisted living or nursing home care for the elderly. It means the person is able to stay in their home with services brought to them.

The range of services are expanding constantly. In the last 6 months, my mother now has a "visiting physician" that makes house calls (!) complete with a mobile lab and xray unit, a visiting nurse, and a caregiver that comes in each day to provide cleaning services, meal preparation, bathing assistance and socialization. They also offer to take the client shopping or to adult day care programs if desired. And the best part: ALL of it is covered by Medicare. She also has her prescription drugs delivered (and administered by the caregiver) and her groceries delivered (she phones in her order). I compare it to living on a cruise ship without having to leave your home.

This is an interesting alternative to consider when doing your retirement planning, Boomers!

What have you been hearing about "aging in place"?