What families commonly miss when planning for aging in place

The useful part

Anthony Zizza of Element Care advocates planning early for aging in place, integrating housing and healthcare. PACE coordinates medical care, therapy, transportation, meals and home assessments so seniors remain safely at home. He urges families to evaluate fall risks, heat, costs and equity decisions before emergencies force choices.

How it works

• Zizza sat down with HousingWire to discuss how PACE helps older adults age in place, and what homeowners should look for today to make their homes safer and more.
• How is the growing demand for aging-in-place services changing the way we think about housing for older adults — and how can PACE help address the challenges retirees face in remaining safely at home?
• We call the people we serve participants because they should have a voice in their care and in how they live.
• What should retiree homeowners be thinking about today to make their homes safer and more suitable for aging in place — and how does Element Care help identify and coordinate the support they need?
• Would the home still work if they needed a walker or had trouble climbing stairs?

What to take from it

Zizza: I would encourage homeowners and their families to look at the home now, before an emergency makes the decisions for them. Falls are one of my biggest concerns because a single fall can change someone's ability to remain at home. Fixing a hazard in the home will only address part of the problem if someone is also weak or dizzy.

Example or evidence

• A federal analysis published in March 2026 found lower hospital and emergency department use among PACE participants than among similar people enrolled in nonintegrated Medicare Advantage plans.
• Anthony Zizza, the question of whether older adults can remain in their homes isn't just about housing — it's about healthcare, planning and coordination.
• As chief medical officer at Element Care, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) and managed care provider for Senior Care Options, Zizza has spent more than a decade serving seniors in New...
• A Harvard-trained leader in geriatric medicine, he believes families too often make decisions about assisted living or nursing homes after a fall or hospitalization, when everyone is under pressure.

Details worth keeping

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Anthony Zizza: I think the growing demand for aging in place is making us look at housing beyond the home itself. We have to consider whether someone can continue to live there safely as their health and abilities change, and whether the services they need are available.

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