Mary Alexander: Hi! I'm Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care, and today I'm going to provide information about various housing options and how to choose the best one for your parents.

Two of the most important issues for seniors are to remain independent and in their own home. In fact, according to seniorresource.

com, some 70% of seniors spend the rest of their lives in the same place where they celebrated their 65th birthday.

But, the reality is that there are often some important barriers to seniors remaining at home, even if they are in good physical and mental shape for their age. For example, climbing stairs might not be so easy. Balance issues make it difficult in the bathroom or they might be uncomfortable driving at night. So they socialize less.

Another situation is that after friends passed away, they become lonely, because it's more difficult to get out and find new friends. So while your parents may want to stay in their home, it may not be the best option for them.

So what are the options available, and how do you go about helping your parents choose the best place for them? That's what we'll discuss in the following videos. We'll look at five housing options including first, aging in place, which means your parents continue living in their own home.

Second, living with family, also called family care; when either mom or dad living with you or you living with them; third, retirement and independent living communities, for seniors who are active and able to live without assistance. Four, Assisted Living, for seniors who might need day-to-day help with medication, meals or companionship. And fifth, skilled nursing homes; for those seniors loved ones who need round the clock medical care and assistance.

For each option, we'll discuss questions you should ask, the advantages, and disadvantages of each, possible cost, when it makes sense to choose a certain option, and how to know when your senior might need to move on to another type of facility or care.

Home Instead Senior Care, the national leader in providing in-home care for seniors is bringing you this video series to help you help your senior loved ones. Helping seniors is something Home Instead has been doing passionately now for more than 15 years.

I not only work for Home Instead, but I'm a Certified Senior Adviser. More importantly, I'm currently a long-distance caregiver for my dad, and I spent several months caring for my mom locally. Now, let's talk about what is likely to be your parents' first housing choice and that is aging in place.