A Guide to Aging in Place
The famous phrase, “There’s no place like home,” may be a line in a song and a movie, but it’s also the sentiment of older adults who want to age in place. Aging in place refers to older adults remaining in their homes for as long as possible, rather than moving to a senior living community.
Statistics show 77 percent of adults 50 and older want to stay in their homes for the long term, according to AgingInPlace.org, which provides free online resources for all aspects of aging at home. But there is a drawback. One-third of older adults said their current home would require modifications for themselves or a loved one to remain in the house.
Changes in a home are necessary due to the physical and mental changes that occur as people age. However, creating a guide to age in place can help address issues as they arise.
The ideal time to consider whether you want to age in place is before you need extensive care. Aging in place specialists say planning ahead while you are still capable allows you to maintain control over decisions that will impact your future.
Who Should Consider Aging in Place?
Aging in place is ideal, but it may not be realistic for all seniors, especially those with chronic health issues or cognitive decline that make daily tasks unsafe and difficult. According to the United Disabilities Services Foundation, you might be a good candidate for aging in place if:
- • Your home is accessible or can easily be made accessible.
- • You have a solid support network of friends, family, and doctors.
- • You’re a proactive person who likes making your own decisions.
- • You have access to private or public transportation.
- • You’re in relatively good health and are comfortable living independently.
Will You Need To Modify Your Home?
“The home that worked for you when you were 60 may not work when you’re 80,” Dr. Rosanne M. Leipzig, a professor of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, told AgingInPlace.org. “If you injure yourself while living alone, it could be days before someone finds you. If your memory is slipping, you could accidentally leave the oven on or the door to your home open. Is this a home where you can age in place?”
AgingInPlace.org offers a few tips for evaluating your current living space:
- • Are your living quarters, primary bedroom, and kitchen on the ground floor?
- • Can you move freely about your house without the use of stairs?
- • If your home has stairs, can they easily be replaced with ramps?
- • Are your door openings wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair?
- • Do your appliances have automatic shut-offs in case you forget to turn them off?
- • Are your outlets placed at a height that won’t pose a fall risk later?
- • Is your home well-lit?
Bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchens are the rooms usually modified to improve safety while aging in place.
Who Will You Turn to for Help?
When planning to age in place, consider what kind of help you might need later, and who will provide it for you. Family, friends, and neighbors are the first ones older adults rely on when they need help with running errands, going to the grocery store, doing household chores, and attending medical appointments.
The National Institute on Aging suggests discussing with those close to you how you will meet your needs and whether you can rely on them for help.
If you have a chronic health condition that may worsen as you age, you may want to find out what type of home-based care and other services are available in your community, as well as the cost of those services.
Some home care agencies provide caregivers who work in shifts during the day and overnight, especially for clients requiring 24/7 care. Some agencies offer live-in care, where caregivers reside with clients who require assistance with daily activities, personal care, and household chores. By providing continuous care, live-in caregivers help older adults stay at home rather than move to a residential facility.
Is Technology An Option for You?
Betty Falkner, a retired accountant, lives with her husband in a bungalow just outside Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. A few years ago, Falkner said she developed an essential tremor. This hereditary condition caused her hands to shake so severely that it became difficult for her to write, brush her teeth, eat, drink, and perform other daily activities. She also found it hard to dial a phone, fit a key into a keyhole, and cut up her food.
Now, she uses a smart glove designed to stabilize the wrist joint. The glove, developed by Toronto-based Steadiwear, Inc., helps reduce shaking for people with essential tremor or Parkinson’s disease.
“I am just thrilled with it,” Faulkner told The Globe and Mail. “It’s made such a difference in my life because I have control of my hands again.”
Technological devices make it easier for older adults to handle tasks independently or to make it more convenient for caregivers. For example, the QBii robot, developed by Quantum Robotic Systems in Toronto, carries heavy loads around the house and up and down stairs.
Technology enables door locks, appliances, lighting, thermostats, home security systems, and other household items to become smart devices that can be a valuable part of an aging-in-place design.
Will You Need Financial Help?
Aging in place also means establishing a budget for various issues. For the most part, older adults rely on a variety of financial sources, such as:
Personal funds, including savings, a pension or other retirement fund, income from investments, or proceeds from the sale of a home.
Private financing, including reverse mortgages, annuities, trusts, and specific life insurance policies.
When it comes to paying for home modifications, the costs will vary, with some being expensive and others surprisingly affordable. Community agencies, as well as state and local governments, may offer programs to assist seniors in modifying their homes. There may also be assistance for aging in place designs from your local Area on Aging or state Housing Finance Agency.
It’s important to have some savings in case of unexpected medical needs. More often than not, older adults generally pay for medical services with Medicare, Medicaid, or out-of-pocket.
Some older adults purchase long-term care insurance, which covers costs that traditional health insurance usually doesn’t cover, such as facility-based living, adult day care, hospice services, and home health aides.
Understanding your current situation and anticipating future changes will help you see the big picture and enable you to plan ahead for aging in place.
Aging in Place Experts Are Available to Help
Creating a plan to age in place may seem overwhelming. Still, help is available from Certified Aging in Place specialists, as well as local Area Agencies on Aging, and the National Aging in Place Council, which offers a network of local professionals who provide the services and support needed to thrive at home.
Source Links:
https://udservices.org/aging-in-place-design/
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/long-term-care/paying-long-term-care
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/article-more-seniors-want-to-age-in-place-heres-how-technology-can-help/
