New aging-in-place book gives seniors control of home decisions

TheSeniorTechie Press has released a new book by Paul Wilczynski aimed at adults 55 and older who want to stay in their homes and the family members helping them. The book argues that aging in place works best when older adults make informed decisions before a crisis forces choices for them.

Why it matters: - Roughly three-quarters of Americans over 50 say they want to stay in their own homes, according to AARP. - The book argues that wanting to age in place is not the same as having a workable plan. - The core issue is control. Older adults can lose decision-making power during hospital discharges, family interventions or default technology settings. - The book is designed for adults 55 and older, plus adult children who want to help without taking over.

What happened: - TheSeniorTechie Press announced the release of On Your Own Terms: Taking Charge of Aging in Place by Paul Wilczynski. - The book is available now in print for $19.95 and as an ebook for $9.95. - Wilczynski is a retired systems developer who lives in Asheville and is aging in place himself. - The author says the book is partly a report from inside that experience.

The details: - The book opens with a fictionalized example of Frank, a retired electrician who returns home after knee surgery and finds cameras his daughter installed without asking him. - The story is meant to show how good intentions can still strip older adults of control in their own homes. - The book’s 13 chapters cover taking stock of a situation, preparing the house, preventing falls, managing health, staying connected and protecting money from scams. - Other chapters address getting around when driving becomes harder, understanding costs and payment sources, choosing help and recognizing when staying put no longer works. - Each chapter ends with a checklist readers can reuse as their needs change. - The book uses a three-part test for decisions about home, health, money or help: the choice should be informed, deliberate and the reader’s own. - The book is published by TheSeniorTechie Press in 2026. - Paperback edition details: ISBN 979-8-9955017-4-9. - Ebook edition details: ISBN 979-8-9955017-5-6. - The book is available at TheSeniorTechiePress.com.

Between the lines: - The book frames aging in place as a planning problem, not just a housing preference. - The emphasis on adult children reflects a common tension: families often want to help, but help can become control when decisions are made without the older adult. - The data points on falls and fraud make the case that delays can have real safety and financial costs. - The CDC reports that one in four older adults falls every year. - The FTC says reported fraud losses among adults 60 and older rose from about $600 million in 2020 to $2.4 billion in 2024. - Wilczynski writes that a parent who is visibly and competently running their own plan can give adult children genuine relief. - He also writes, “Staying in your own home is a strategy, not a default.”

What's next: - The book’s checklist format suggests readers can revisit the same decisions as health, mobility and finances change. - Wilczynski’s approach points to early planning before a crisis, rather than reacting after a fall, hospital stay or scam. - The broader takeaway is that aging in place works best when older adults set the terms before someone else does.

The bottom line: - On Your Own Terms makes a simple case: seniors can stay home longer and with more dignity when they make the plan themselves, early and deliberately.