About this episode
Homes hold memories. They hold family history, meaning, and for many, a lifetime of love. But as we age, the very places that once felt secure can quietly become harder—and riskier—to live in.
Most homes in the U.S. were never designed for aging bodies. Yet many older adults feel emotionally and financially locked in. The result? Families delay important housing decisions until a crisis forces change.
Today, we were joined by Harlan Accola, who leads the reverse mortgage team at Movement Mortgage, about a lesser-known option that may help older adults move into safer homes—without taking on new required monthly payments.
The Hidden Danger: Falls at Home
Falls are far more common—and costly—than most people realize.
Roughly 30 million older Americans fall each year. About one in five of those falls results in serious injury, often leading to hospitalization. The direct medical costs alone total nearly $50 billion annually. But the emotional and lifestyle costs for families can be even greater.
What’s sobering is where these falls happen. Not in extreme situations—but in ordinary places:
Stairways
Bathrooms
Entryways
Narrow hallways
These everyday features become obstacles as mobility changes.
Why So Many Homes Don’t Fit Aging Adults
Most homes were built decades ago for young families in different stages of life. Only a small percentage include basic accessibility features such as:
Step-free entries
Main-floor bedrooms
Main-floor bathrooms
Wider doorways and hallways
As a result, stairs, tubs, and tight spaces often push older adults toward assisted living or nursing homes—not because they want to move, but because their homes no longer support their safety.
Why Many Families Feel “Stuck”
Even when homeowners recognize their house isn’t ideal anymore, they often hesitate to move.
There are two major reasons:
1. Emotional Attachment
This is the home where children were raised, and milestones were celebrated. Letting go isn’t easy.
2. Financial Lock-In
Many retirees either:
Have very low mortgage rates (2–3%), or
Own their homes outright
They worry that selling means taking on a new mortgage payment—something they might regret later in life. So they stay…often until something goes wrong.
A Little-Known Option: Reverse Mortgage for Purchase
Many people assume a reverse mortgage is only for accessing equity in their current home. But there’s another option: using a reverse mortgage at the point of purchase. Here’s how it can work:
A homeowner sells their current home.
They use the proceeds to purchase a new, safer home.
A reverse mortgage h
