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My Book

Age in Place or Find a New Space: How to Create Beautiful Spaces That Promote Meaningful Interactions

What if preparing for the future wasn’t about fear—but about freedom?
Whether you’re 35 and thinking ahead, 65 and planning your next chapter, or supporting aging parents, Age in Place or Find a New Space offers a bold, refreshing roadmap for creating a life that works for you—today, tomorrow, and long into the future.

You’ll learn:

  • Why early planning is essential—and how it gives you more freedom, not less

  • How to create beautiful, barrier-free spaces without sacrificing your style

  • What aging-in-place really costs, and how to budget smartly

  • Who to have on your “aging dream team”, from designers to doctors

  • How to talk with your family about big decisions (without a meltdown)

  • And why aging well isn’t about “getting by”—it’s about living well, on your own terms

 

Editorial Review:

“Your house needs to change along with your lifestyle as your body declines, according to this insightful guide to age-supportive environments. 

Chiang, an occupational therapist and founder of Evolving Homes, argues that our surroundings, habits, and technology must adapt to the physical and mental impairments that come with aging. Much of the book explores home remodeling ideas, like widening doorways to facilitate wheelchairs, eliminating unnecessary steps, rugs, and other tripping hazards, vetting furniture—glass coffee tables are a low-visibility stumbling menace—and installing high-tech doors that open automatically for residents.

The author tours a workshop of new gadgetry, including smart faucets that can be verbally ordered to measure out six ounces of hot water and electrically powered pants that help with a hike in the hills. Fitness is a must for warding off illness and debility, she reminds readers, and she suggests a number of simple sit-and-stand and arm-raising exercises to get moving, along with tips on crafting easy-to-remember routines for preparing meals, taking meds, and staying hydrated.

Other chapters cover the special needs of Parkinson’s patients and the reluctance of some to make necessary accommodations like installing bathroom grab bars, which many regard as the Grim Reaper’s calling card. (Chiang suggests calling them “reassurance rails.”) 

The author’s discussion of these issues is comprehensive, lucid and detailed, and she includes easy-to-use checklists for readers to use when planning household revamps, along with lists of resources and companies who help with transitions.

The book is also a fascinating disquisition on how we interact with our homes in ways that have profound consequences that we rarely think about, conveyed in vivid prose that’s informed by subtle, telling observations. (“The oversized armchair completely swallowed this tiny woman,” she writes of one client. “Not only did it put her in poor posture, but she also had to use momentum to stand up every single time—a major fall risk.”)

Seniors and their families will find here a splendid blueprint for planning a more comfortable and fulfilling retirement. A warmly reassuring primer on environments that foster graceful aging.

–  Kirkus ‘Starred’ Review  “

testimonials

Praise for: "Age in Place or Find a New Space"

Carol Chiang is just absolutely amazing! She’s a skilled occupational therapist, a lifelong learner and innovator, and a wonderful mother, friend, and colleague. Her legacy of lending a hand to those who need help improving their functional independence will continue to go on for many generations.
Kenneth Ngo, MD, FAAPM&R
Medical Director, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital Medical Director, Brooks Center for Innovation
Society has missed the mark on how to prepare for the challenges of aging. Planning should be preemptive instead of waiting until an aging mishap occurs. Carol Chiang shares all her years of experience and is masterful in her discussion of how to prepare to age in place. Thank you, Carol, for the good you are putting into the world with this book.
Carolyn McClanahan, M.D., CFP®
Founder, Life Planning Partners, Inc.
Somehow, Carol approaches the topic of ‘aging’ with a rare blend of honesty and wisdom that invites us to let go of our fears and biases and instead step into the beauty that can exist in the process of growing older. Whether you’re a professional or simply finding yourself walking this path, there’s something here that will resonate and offer guidance.
Dawn Heiderscheidt, MOT
CEO & Founder, Aurora Independence
Carol Chiang’s book Age in Place or Find a New Space shatters stereotypes about aging and independence by revealing that older adults are not destined for isolation or helplessness but can make empowered choices that fit their unique needs and lifestyles. It is an essential guide for anyone navigating the complexities of aging and housing decisions. Chiang is a giver: with her expertise as an occupational therapist, she provides practical, compassionate advice that empowers readers to plan ahead, whether they wish to modify their current home or explore new living options. Her book is filled with actionable strategies and real-world insights that help individuals and families make confident, informed choices for a safer, more secure, and happier future as they age in place with grace.”
Patti Brennan CFP®
CEO Key Financial, Inc.
I struggle to recall working a shift without at least one patient needing an evaluation for fall related injuries. This practical, comprehensive guide can help individuals and families prepare before the first fall or re-evaluate a living space after a fall or major hospitalization. I plan to share these tips and recommend this book to my patients, friends, and family.
Kathleen Dumitru, MD
Emergency Physician

Why I Wrote This Book

 This book was born out of lived experience, quiet reflection, and a desire to help others evolve—at home and within themselves. It’s more than a story; it’s a companion for anyone navigating personal transformation.

Want to explore the journey behind the pages?
I’ve shared more of the “why” in a series of posts on LinkedIn.

Follow along on LinkedIn to read more about the moments, questions, and insights that shaped this work.