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If Your Aging Parent Does Any of These 5 Things, Check In

Infographic showing 90% of U.S. seniors report at least one barrier to aging in place, with 26% skipping needed medical care and 57% experiencing stress or anxiety, based on a 2026 national survey

Last updated: September 24, 2026

[Key Takeaways]

  • An estimated 90% of U.S. seniors report at least one barrier affecting their health, independence, or access to care
  • 26% skipped needed medical care in the past year, and 57% experienced stress or anxiety tied to aging in place over the past 12 months
  • Separate national polling from Pew Research (February 2026) found comparable patterns, adding independent confirmation
  • Reduced healthcare access, rising stress, and delayed medical care appear to reinforce one another rather than occur in isolation
  • This article outlines a five-point warning-sign checklist and concrete next steps for seniors and family caregivers
This article is intended for general informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a licensed healthcare professional regarding your own health situation.

It is written in the hope that it can be of even a little help to many readers.

Overview

Most older adults say they want to remain in their own homes as they age. New survey data suggest that goal is becoming harder to reach for a large share of American seniors. Reduced access to transportation and medical appointments, rising financial pressure, and growing stress levels are combining to put independent living at risk for many households. This article reviews the latest survey findings, explains why aging in place is becoming more difficult, and offers a practical checklist that seniors and family caregivers can use to spot warning signs early and respond before a small problem becomes a crisis.

What "Aging in Place" Risk Looks Like in 2026

Aging in place, remaining in one's own home rather than moving to a care facility, is the stated preference of most older Americans. A fifth annual national survey commissioned by Alignment Health and distributed via GlobeNewswire on 09/10/2026 suggests that preference is increasingly difficult to sustain in practice. An estimated 90% of U.S. seniors report experiencing at least one barrier that affects their health, independence, or access to medical care.[1] Within that same survey, 26% of respondents said they skipped medical care they needed at some point in the past year, and 57% reported experiencing stress or anxiety connected to aging in place over the past 12 months.[1]

[1] Alignment Health's Fifth Annual Survey (Ipsos/GlobeNewswire) (2026)

These figures matter because they point to a gap between what seniors want (to stay home) and what current conditions allow. A single barrier, such as a canceled ride to a doctor's appointment, may seem minor in isolation. When barriers accumulate across transportation, cost, staffing, and mental health, the cumulative effect can meaningfully increase the risk of adverse outcomes such as a fall, a missed diagnosis, or a preventable hospitalization.

The Survey Behind the Numbers

The Alignment Health survey is now in its fifth consecutive year, which allows for year-over-year comparison rather than a single snapshot. Independent national polling from Pew Research, published 02/26/2026, identified similar patterns among older U.S. adults regarding healthcare access and financial strain.[1] Because the two data sets come from different organizations, different survey methodologies, and different points in the year, the overlap in findings offers a degree of cross-confirmation that a single survey alone would not provide.

[1] Pew Research Center (2026)

Why Living Independently at Home Is Getting Harder

Survey researchers and geriatric care specialists generally describe the erosion of aging-in-place stability as the result of several pressures that interact with one another rather than a single cause. Below are the three factors most consistently identified.

Healthcare Access Barriers

Transportation shortages, longer wait times for primary care and specialist appointments, regional shortages of geriatric-trained clinicians, and out-of-pocket costs are frequently cited as obstacles to consistent care.[1] In many communities, a senior who no longer drives may have no practical way to reach a clinic that does not sit on a public transit line, and rural areas in particular may have few nearby providers who accept new patients.[1] Cost-related barriers, including copays, deductibles, and the price of medications, can lead some seniors to delay or forgo care even when a health issue is recognized.[1]

[1] Suntai, Won & Noh, American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care (2020); Commonwealth Fund (2023); Dusetzina et al., JAMA Network Open (2023)

Rising Stress and Anxiety Among Seniors

The 57% figure cited above reflects a substantial share of the senior population reporting stress or anxiety connected to remaining independent.[1] This stress is often linked to a combination of financial uncertainty, concern about falling or becoming injured without help nearby, and social isolation, particularly among seniors who live alone.[2][3] Anxiety of this kind is associated with poorer engagement in preventive health behaviors in some studies, which may compound the access barriers described above.[4]

[1] Alignment Health's Fifth Annual Survey (2026)
[2] Choi et al., Aging & Mental Health (2023)
[3] Choi et al., Journal of Applied Gerontology (2022)
[4] Lu, Kong & Shelley, Journal of Aging and Health (2021)

Skipping Needed Medical Care

Roughly one in four seniors surveyed, 26%, reported skipping care they knew they needed within the past year.[1] Skipped care can include delayed follow-up visits after a hospital discharge, postponed screenings, or discontinued prescriptions due to cost. Delayed care of this kind is associated with a higher likelihood of a condition progressing to the point where it requires more intensive, and often more expensive, treatment.[2]

[1] Alignment Health's Fifth Annual Survey (2026)
[2] Azubuike & Alawode, Healthcare (2024)

Warning Signs Families and Seniors Should Watch For

The following signs do not by themselves indicate a specific medical diagnosis, but they may suggest that a conversation with a healthcare provider, family member, or care manager could be helpful.

  • Missed or mixed-up medications. Finding unused pills past their scheduled date, doubled-up doses, or confusion about which medication to take when may point to a need for a simplified medication routine or additional support.
  • Unopened mail or unpaid bills. A pile of unopened envelopes, unusually late utility payments, or notices of overdue bills can be an early indicator that daily household management has become harder to keep up with.
  • Repeatedly canceled or postponed medical appointments. A pattern of rescheduling or skipping appointments, rather than an isolated cancellation, may reflect the transportation and access barriers described above.
  • Decline in household upkeep or personal hygiene. Noticeable changes in cleanliness, laundry, grooming, or the general condition of the home are often considered a signal that a closer check-in or home visit may be worthwhile.
  • Social withdrawal and reduced outings. A senior who used to attend regular activities, visit friends, or run errands independently but has scaled back significantly is exhibiting a change that caregivers and clinicians commonly consider a warning sign worth following up on, regardless of the underlying reason.

These signs are meant as prompts for a conversation, not a diagnostic checklist. A licensed healthcare provider is best positioned to evaluate what any of these changes may mean for a specific individual.

What Seniors and Caregivers Can Do Now: A Practical Checklist

Addressing these pressures does not require waiting for a crisis. Small, proactive steps taken now may help reduce risk over time.

For Seniors: Small Steps That Help Today

  • Do a basic home safety walkthrough. Check for loose rugs, poor lighting on stairways, and grab bars in the bathroom, all of which are commonly associated with fall risk.[1] This is especially worth prioritizing for seniors who live alone.
  • Ask about telehealth options. Many primary care practices now offer video or phone visits for follow-up care, which can reduce the need for transportation to every appointment.
  • Set up a simple medication system. A pill organizer, phone reminder, or pharmacy blister-pack service can help reduce missed or duplicate doses.
  • Establish a regular check-in routine. A daily or weekly call or visit with a family member, friend, or neighbor can help catch problems early and reduce isolation.
  • Review advance directives. Having a healthcare power of attorney and advance directive on file ensures personal wishes are documented and can be accessed if needed.

[1] Lee & Lim, Innovation in Aging (2023)

For Family Caregivers: Questions to Ask and Resources to Contact

Caregivers who live at a distance, or who see an aging parent only occasionally, may want to ask directly: Have any appointments been postponed recently? Is transportation to appointments a consistent challenge? Are medications being taken as prescribed? Has mail or bill payment fallen behind?

Local Area Agency on Aging offices, whose service areas cover most of the U.S., can often connect families with transportation assistance, meal delivery, in-home support services, and benefits counseling.[1] A primary care provider's office or hospital discharge planner can also refer families to a geriatric care manager, a professional who can help coordinate services and evaluate a senior's needs in the home.

[1] Administration for Community Living, Area Agencies on Aging

When to Consider Additional Support or Care Options

If warning signs persist despite the steps above, it may be worth exploring additional support before a health event forces a faster decision. Options generally fall into a few categories: in-home care services, which provide help with meals, hygiene, or medication reminders while a senior remains at home; adult day programs, which offer supervised daytime activity and social engagement for seniors who live with family but need support during the day; and assisted living communities, which provide housing along with varying levels of personal care for seniors who need more consistent support than a home setting can provide.

Because needs and circumstances vary widely, a conversation with a geriatric physician or a professional care manager is generally the most reliable way to match the right level of support to an individual's specific situation, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all recommendation.

References

  1. Alignment Health, "Alignment Health's Fifth Annual Survey Finds Seniors Falling Further Behind: Aging in Place Challenges Continue to Rise as Support Gaps Widen" (Ipsos/GlobeNewswire, September 10, 2026). https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3359411/0/en/alignment-health-s-fifth-annual-survey-finds-seniors-falling-further-behind-aging-in-place-challenges-continue-to-rise-as-support-gaps-widen.html
  2. Pew Research Center, "Most Older Adults Who Live at Home Want to Age in Place, but They Aren't Entirely Confident They'll Get There" (February 26, 2026). https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/02/26/most-older-adults-who-live-at-home-want-to-age-in-place-but-they-arent-entirely-confident-theyll-get-to/
  3. Thorpe JM, et al. (2011). "Patterns of Perceived Barriers to Medical Care in Older Adults." BMC Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-11-181
  4. Suntai Z, Won CR, Noh H. (2020). American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049909120959634
  5. Commonwealth Fund. "Helping Older Adults Age Well in Rural America." (2023). https://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/2023/nov/helping-older-adults-age-well-rural-america
  6. Dusetzina SB, et al. (2023). JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.14211
  7. Choi SL, et al. (2023). Aging & Mental Health, 27(11). https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2023.2243446
  8. Choi NG, et al. (2022). Journal of Applied Gerontology, 41(12). https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648221119464
  9. Lu P, Kong D, Shelley M. (2021). Journal of Aging and Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/08982643211002084
  10. Azubuike CD, Alawode OA. (2024). Healthcare (MDPI), 12(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12222271
  11. Administration for Community Living / National Association of Area Agencies on Aging. Area Agencies on Aging. https://acl.gov/programs/aging-and-disability-networks/area-agencies-aging
  12. Lee H, Lim JH. (2023). Innovation in Aging, 7(6). https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igad055

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