Ask most seniors what they want when it comes to aging, and the answer is often to stay right where they are. To wake up in their bedroom, cook in a familiar kitchen, tend the same garden, keep thriving in the place they call home. In other words, it’s to “age in place.” That desire to remain in the home that holds their memories, their independence, their sense of self, is exactly why ElderHelp is here to support seniors. Every ElderHelp program is built around the goal of keeping seniors safe in their own homes for as long as possible.
According to data from the past fiscal year (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026), clients in our programs transitioned into long-term care at an average age of 88. This is about five years past the national average of 83 to 85, according to Caring.com’s assisted living research. That’s five more years of living independently thanks to the support from ElderHelp staff and volunteers. Five more years in the homes they know, surrounded by the neighbors and communities they love. It’s the simple, powerful dignity of choosing how and where they want to age.
This carries real financial weight, too. Based on the estimated annual cost of skilled nursing facility care, a five-year delay translates to roughly $950,000 in postponed long-term care expenses per client. (This is an estimate derived from typical skilled nursing costs; actual savings vary depending on the level of care a person would otherwise need.)
Keeping seniors safe, connected, and independent at home takes consistent, hands-on support. ElderHelp’s work advances well-being through programs that help prevent a crisis before it begins. Our programs provide transportation to medical appointments, home safety modifications, friendly visits that catch small problems while they’re still small, and care coordination that connects seniors to the resources they need to maintain their dignity.
If you’re a donor, partner, volunteer or support our work in another way, thank you! Every extra year that one of our seniors gets to stay home is counted as a win — for the client, for their family, and for those that believe that growing older shouldn’t mean giving up the place you call home.
Data source: ElderHelp of San Diego client database, FY26 internal reporting (not publicly published). National long-term care transition average: Caring.com Assisted Living Data.