Aging in Place and Staying Connected: The Impact of Rebuilding Together
Aging in place is one of the most personal and important public policy issues of our time. It sits at the intersection of housing, health, and human connection but is often overlooked. As our population ages, effective aging in place policies define the difference between aging at home with dignity or facing a move into assisted living that few can afford.
A recent piece by Dan Koeppel in Wirecutter, a publication by The New York Times, highlights the creative solutions older adults have developed to age in place. Through the experiences of older adults navigating retirement, illness, isolation, and home repairs, the article made something clear that we see every day at Rebuilding Together: aging in place requires more than savings. It requires safe housing, social connection, and the humility to ask for help.
In Nevada, Dick Stoddard, a veteran and retired broadcaster living with Parkinson’s disease had done everything right financially. He owned his home and had stable income. But as his balance worsened, simple daily routines became risky. The greatest threat to his independence was the physical barriers inside his own home. When Rebuilding Together Northern Nevada installed a ramp and a walk-in shower, the transformation was immediate. He regained the ability to live independently.
Our research confirms what stories like his suggest. Among neighbors who had previously — or nearly — fallen, the majority did not fall again after our repairs. That is more than a construction success; it is a health intervention. Falls are one of the leading reasons older adults lose their independence. Preventing even one can mean the difference between remaining at home and facing a move. It also makes economic sense. According to a survey of Medicare recipients, in 2020, non-fatal falls cost taxpayers $80.0 billion.
Yet aging in place is not only about physical safety. It is also about emotional security.
Koeppel’s article underscores the quiet weight of isolation. Our neighbors can feel profoundly alone when mobility declines or routines disappear. We see how much that isolation is tied to the condition of a home. When steps are crumbling or a roof is leaking, stress becomes constant. Among neighbors who reported feeling highly nervous or stressed about their home, 67 percent told us that this stress decreased after repairs were completed. The home shifts from being a source of anxiety back to being a place of refuge.
In New Mexico, Doreen Goodlin described being shaken by online scams, which left her wary of using her computer and more cut off from daily interactions. At the same time, she faced mounting home repair needs on a limited income. Rebuilding Together Sandoval County addressed critical structural issues — stabilizing her roof and improving essential systems — but the deeper outcome was restored confidence. A safe home allowed her to reengage with her community on her own terms and building stronger connections in-person rather than relying on online interactions.
That connection matters. Sixty percent of neighbors reported to us feeling a greater sense of inclusion in their neighborhood after our repairs. When entryways are safe and basic home systems function reliably, people are more likely to step outside, greet neighbors, and participate in community life. A repaired home becomes a bridge, not a barrier.
Accessibility is another defining factor. In North Carolina, Hattie and Cookie McKinney, a mother and daughter described in the article, were confronting a house that no longer supported their changing needs. Crumbling steps and an inaccessible bathroom made navigating the home more challenging. Following repairs and modifications from Rebuilding Together of Greater Charlotte, the shift was tangible. According to our research, eighty-six percent of neighbors who previously struggled to enter and exit their homes report that it becomes easier after our work. That ease — moving freely across one’s own threshold — is foundational to health and dignity.
Perhaps most telling is what happens to people’s outlook after repairs are complete. Nearly 90 percent of neighbors who had not planned on aging in place tell us that afterward, they consider it very likely. In other words, safe housing doesn’t just address present danger; it changes future expectations. It restores possibility and deters displacement.
None of this work would be possible without the generosity of donors and corporate partners. Materials, tools, volunteers, and dollars allow our affiliates to tackle projects that many homeowners could never afford on their own. Every ramp built, roof repaired, and grab bar installed is made possible by communities that choose to invest in their neighbors. It is the combination of these partnerships and the dedication of our local affiliates that transforms houses into safe, accessible, and welcoming homes.
The benefits of aging in place are profound: continuity, familiarity, autonomy, and often much lower costs than assisted living. But the challenges are equally real. Homes age just as their occupants do. Fixed incomes leave little room for unexpected repairs. A lack of information can delay reaching out. And isolation can compound every other vulnerability.
What both Koeppel’s reporting and our own experience affirm is that aging in place is not an individual endeavor. It is a community achievement. It depends on neighbors, volunteers, corporate partners, and local leaders working together to ensure that safe housing remains accessible to those who need it most.
It’s also not a “nice to do”. For the price of just one home modification, we can keep up to twelve families from being displaced. The lack of affordable housing and the high cost of assisted living facilities, combined with a set income, often means that if Rebuilding Together cannot help, there might not be anywhere else to go for our nation’s aging population.
Across our national network, I see daily evidence that modest interventions can yield profound results for individuals, communities and our country. Falls are prevented, stress diminishes, community connection rises, disease rates decline. Aging in place is not simply about staying where you are. It is about ensuring that home remains a place of safety, health, and connection. When communities invest — through donations, partnerships, and volunteer support — they are not just repairing houses. They are strengthening neighborhoods, preserving dignity, and expanding the horizon of what is possible for millions of older adults.