Do you know anyone in their 90s who lives at home independently?

[Meltingchocolate]

I know one person in their 90s who lives at home and has carers four times a day. He can’t go out alone and depends on a wheelchair.

I know one couple who are quite independent and still mobile eg do all their own shopping. They don’t need carers but they help each other.

It was part of a discussion with my elderly parents (early 80s) where they assumed that most people in their 90s would be living in a care home. I was wondering how common it is for people in their 90s to still live in their own home?

My Dad is nearly 92 & he does. He's just stopped driving but he walks to town most days.

My MIL lived alone until she died when she was 96. She had a cleaner, and I did online shopping deliveries. No carers, no medication, no real problems apart from mobility in her last 9-12 months.

My gran lived independently up until turning 95. And it wasnt mobility that was the issue at this point, it was cancer. She had a cleaner and a gardener.

She's being nice. Don't be so uptight.

My Gran did until she was 94. Her last year or so she needed carers.

My Nana is 93 and still lives in her own home. She has a gardener to mow the lawn and I do a big food shop for her every so often but that is it.

She walks a mile each way to her local shop every day and does all her own cleaning and cooking, even painting her fences every summer!

2 early 90s ladies at my bridge club. Both live alone, both still drive, don't think they have carers coming in.

My nan lived on her own home until she passed away at 94. She only died a couple of years ago. She didn't have any carers or help either.
Exh nan did as well, and she passed away at 93. She did have carers come in daily though.

Yes my grandma, she’s 91 and a Wonder Woman! Just given up driving as she feels she isn’t as sharp as she once was, but still as fit as a flea out walking her dog twice a day and fiercely independent. My DM and aunt go to see her regularly and she has wonderful neighbours who look out for her. Hoping I look that good at 91!!

My Grandparents are 92 and 94 and still live at home together. My auntie does their shopping but they're self sufficient apart from that.

My nan is turning 90 this year and in her own home without carers.

My mother is nearly 95. She lives alone, no carers. She has a cleaner 2 hours a week and a gardener, does her own shopping and cooking, still drives (albeit only local trips), plays bridge twice a week, does all her own washing and ironing and regularly has her grandchildren to stay. I hope I am like her in my 90s.

My grandparents do. Ages 96 and 92. They have a cleaner and someone who brings them meals a few times a week but no carers. They don't drive but go for miles on their mobility scooters.

I know a couple both in their 90's who live together. They just have help with the garden. He drives, do own shopping.
I know two women both 93 who live alone. Both ok in mind and body but like anybody need help from time to time.

A surprisingly small percentage of people ever live in a home.
None of my relatives did. Two aunts died 91, one uncle at 97. All living at home (aunts had husbands who helped and went on to live independently after their wives died). One uncle 95 still doing well on his own, though I believe his son checks in pretty regularly now.

My neighbour is 92, still driving, does an exercise class in the village once a week. She goes for regular 5km walks by herself. All set to fly to Italy on her own in the summer to visit her son - asked for help buying a sarong online as she has tried on her swimming costume and felt it showed too much skin..! She’s an inspiration, spends her days painting, yoga and entertaining her friends. No carers, just a cleaner and gardener once a week.

My grandmother is 95 and lives independently. She drove until about 2 years ago, now she gets about town on her mobility scooter. No carers as such, just a weekly cleaner and someone who helps with odds and ends. Family have to help quite a bit with admin and house stuff from time to time. She's had two strokes in the last couple of years but medically is very well.

All of my grandparents lived independently at home into their mid 90s until in each case a short illness; 3 died in hospital, 1 at home.

the only concession one grandma made when she was 90 was to get a fortnightly cleaning lady for a couple of hours.

According to Figure 1 in this ONS report, 21% of women and 10% of men over 90 in England and Wales live in care homes.

www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/ageing/articles/olderpeoplelivingincarehomesin2021andchangessince2011/2023-10-09

Both my grandmothers lived at home until their deaths in their late 90s. My maternal grandmother had carers in once a day, my paternal grandmother managed by herself.

Yes. Ages 92 and 86. No downstairs loo, so up + down stairs. Still do absolutely everything for themselves apart from being driven to Sainsbury's once a week (not on the bus route).
92M down a little now (but still up step ladders in the garden on a nice day!)

My great uncle is 98. He still drives. 🙈

He got up on his roof to fix his tv Ariel a few months ago. 🙈

Every time I phone him he starts the conversation with " I don't need any help".

He walks to the nearest town to get his messages (shopping) nearly every day.

My mum 92 lives alone since my dad died 7 years ago. She has a cleaner once a week, goes to church, goes to play croquet, plays bridge online, gardens, pub quiz team, lunch with friends.

Due to the war she grew up separated from her parents and is still fiercely independent.

She is a feisty bird!

My gran will be 102 next week and is still living independently. She has a cleaner and a gardener, but otherwise does for herself. She slipped on a patch of ice and broke her wrist in December (out delivering bloody Christmas cards), which we worried might slow her down or cause some decline, but she just carried on as normal whilst complaining that she couldn't put her hair up properly with her cast on!

Yes I know someone. Her house has a steep flight of concrete steps up to it, that concern me. I was astounded when I discovered she was 90. I thought she was late 70's. However both of her closest friends have died recently, and she's understandably taken it very hard.