Cisneros tackles aging-in-place issues in new book

Former HUD secretary Henry Cisneros takes on the growing issue of aging in place in Independent for Life: Homes and Neighborhoods for an Aging America (University of Texas Press), which he co-authored and edited. The book was officially released on Thursday.

The book discusses the various challenges associated with aging in place, and presents a wide range of solutions, conceived by Cisneros and a team of experts in aging; architecture; construction; health; finance; and politics. Much of the focus sits on adapting existing homes and neighborhoods to fit the needs of older populations, particularly in terms of accessibility.

In addition to presenting solutions, the authors provide a series of case studies to illustrate how some of the solutions could be — and in some cases have been —implemented. They argue that coordinated efforts between local, state, and national policy makers are key to these implementations, outlining action plans for working with these assorted bodies and individuals.

The book closes with an extensive list of resources available to those interested in pursuing the topic further, including a to-do list ordering aging-in-place priorities and an individual home assessment exercise.