The luxurious ambience offered by many long-term care facilities, particularly assisted living facilities, never ceases to amaze. With massive chandeliers, antique furnishings and ornate tapestries, some of them are downright palatial! Although these swanky places can also be homey, they'll never really be home. Home is where you raised your children; home is where you have years of memories.

According to AARP, 83 percent of people 45 and older are homeowners. A survey conducted by the association in 2003 that found three quarters of those homeowners expect to remain at home for the remainder of their lives. Many continuing care retirement communities offer residents a chance to age in place right on campus, but aging in place without any relocation is trickier. With some planning, however, it can certainly be done. Many forward-thinking seniors remodel their homes to accommodate decreased mobility, dexterity, strength and stamina, along with reduced sensory acuity, even before they experience any of these symptoms.

10 Ways to Make it Happen
1. Make the ground floor of your home conducive to activities of daily living; plan to move your bedroom to this floor if necessary.
2. Make sure your home has at least one point of entrance with no stairs.
3. Widen doorways to at least 36 inches, which will fit a wheelchair.
4. Place electrical outlets 18 inches high instead of 12, and move light switches to 42 inches from the floor instead of 48.
5. Move your peephole to eye level.
6. >Install strobe light or vibrator-assisted burglar and smoke alarms.
7. Get an emergency response system.
8. Use levered door handles. Pressing down is easier than turning a knob if you have arthritis.
9. Use lever faucets with anti-scald valves and temperature-controlled tub and shower fixtures.
10. Install grab bars in the bathroom and wherever else you may need them.

How does technology fit in?
Proactive Health Research Technologies, in collaboration with Intel Research Seattle, is building an advanced home system that will incorporate four types of technology. The first type involves sensor networks, which can sense the location of people and objects, will help identify breaks in habits. Home networks are a good "check-in" system, and allow interaction through multiple touch points, including TVs, clock radios and telephones. Activity tracking systems, the third type of technology, analyze the completion of daily chores, which is helpful in detecting changes in behavioral patterns and the onset of dementia. The final component of the home system will include ambient display technology, which allows loved ones to check in on their elderly family members through a photo frame, for example.

In the future, these technologies will make aging in place a possibility even for people with critical illnesses. Until these options are available, there are other courses of actions to take. The National Association of Homebuilders maintains a searchable database that you can access to find a certified aging in place specialist in your area. Another resource that can help is the National Aging in Place Council, a membership organization that aims to bring awareness of home and community-based services that support independent living.