Retirement looks a lot different than it did just a few decades ago. There was a time when growing older meant moving in with your adult children or settling into a senior home. Then came the era of retiring to sunny destinations with golf courses and palm trees. But today, a growing number of retirees are choosing something much simpler: staying put.

According to AARP, roughly 90% of Americans over age 65 say they want to age in place. And 82% say they’d prefer to receive care at home if medical needs arise. That’s a big shift—and it’s changing how many people are planning their retirement.

So how do you know if aging in place is the right choice for you? Here are a few key signs.

First, you’ve built a strong network where you are. Staying connected is essential to a happy retirement. If you have friends nearby, family close enough to visit often, and a community you enjoy, that’s a major reason to stay. In fact, studies show that having a solid social circle—whether through work, volunteering, church, or hobbies—can improve your physical and emotional well-being during retirement. Moving away from children, grandchildren, or even great-grandchildren can be incredibly difficult, and for many, not worth the trade-off.

Second, you’ve already established trusted service providers. That could mean your primary care physician, a specialist familiar with your medical history, your dentist, or even your mechanic and hairstylist. When you’ve built these relationships over time, it can be hard to start over somewhere new—especially if you’re managing health conditions or relying on regular care.

And third, maybe selling your home just doesn’t feel right. Even with Colorado’s strong housing market, there are personal and emotional reasons many people don’t want to part with their home. Maybe it’s been in the family for generations, or it’s been customized to fit your needs. Or maybe selling just sounds stressful.

The good news is: you don’t have to move in order to afford retirement. For many homeowners, a reverse mortgage has made aging in place not only possible, but practical. These specialized loans are available to homeowners aged 62 and older, including married couples, and come with built-in protections like required third-party counseling to help borrowers make fully informed decisions.

A reverse mortgage lets you access the equity in your home without taking on a monthly mortgage payment. You stay in your home, keep the title, and use the funds however you choose, whether that’s covering day-to-day expenses, upgrading your home, helping loved ones, or simply breathing easier financially.

And for those looking to relocate, maybe into a more accessible home or a smaller one nearby, there’s also a reverse mortgage for purchase option that allows you to buy your next home and live in it mortgage-free for life.

Whether you’re already retired or planning for it soon, aging in place is more possible than ever—and with tools like reverse mortgages, it may be easier than you think.

Jan Jordan and Kelsey Jorck are Reverse Mortgage Specialists serving Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Longmont, Dacono, Erie, Boulder, and surrounding areas across Colorado’s Front Range.  Click here to contact them and learn if reverse mortgage is right for you.