The conversation that comes with aging is never an easy one to approach, but with a little planning, growing older on the farm doesn’t have to be a stressful situation.
The average age of a farmer continues to rise, with data from the USDA showing the average American farmer is 57.5 years old. Some at that age are eyeing retirement in the near future, and some aren’t.
However, as farmers age beyond their 60s, a natural slowdown is to be expected, and a little bit of planning can help.
Aging doesn’t necessarily mean moving away from the farm.
“We find overwhelmingly that farmers want to age in place and stay at their farm or home,” said Megan Schossow, outreach director and center coordinator with the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center, which operates through the University of Minnesota School of Public Health. “But we also know that those farm homes can be a real nightmare because they aren’t designed for an aging person.”
She called the issue of aging on the farm “multifaceted” because of challenges unique to rural areas. Farms are often the home and workplace, and continued impediments to access to affordable health care make it tough for those in rural areas, especially those with health conditions, to get the help they need.
“There are a lot of folks in rural parts of the Upper Midwest that are traveling several hours to get specialty care, regardless of what it looks like,” Schossow said. “Often farmers are self-employed so that could affect insurance situations as well.”
That accessibility extends from clinics to assisted living facilities, which may not be as close to a farmers’ home and family if they are forced to choose that option. Schossow said she personally has had to deal with those issues as she has a grandfather in transitional care. It has been tough.
“COVID really shined a light on the assisted and nursing home care challenges we have, especially when it comes to staffing,” she said. “I don’t know if I have seen a lot of improvement myself, and it has been incredibly challenging.”
Part of the dangers of aging on the farm aren’t just in the way a house is designed, but managing the work that may come with older farmers operating equipment. Schossow said some of the top concerns she hears about are physical.
Click here to see more...