Fears: how they affect older-adult wellness and how to overcome them by Marilynn Larkin, MA

What do older adults fear most? “Loss of independence” tops the list in a recent survey of Boomers and adults ages 65 and up.1 Commissioned by technology company Clarity and The EAR Foundation, which formed an alliance to educate the public about the needs of the growing older-adult population, Aging in Place in America is the third in a series of surveys aimed at better understanding the health and lifestyle needs of this group. Among its findings, the Aging in Place in America survey shows that 89% of respondents want to age in place—that is, grow older without having to move from their homes. Yet 53% of those surveyed are concerned about their ability to do so.