Aging In Place: Fixing Homes So Seniors Can Stay In Their Home
Irene Turntine has lived in her two-story home in East Cleveland, Ohio, since the 1960s. Now, at almost 95 years old, she can hardly climb the stairs because there are no handrails.
Turntine said she has to either crawl or use her arms to balance against the walls to go upstairs. Yet, Turntine refuses to move out of her beloved home because “inside of her walls is a lifetime of memories,” she told Spectrum 1 News.
When the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging heard about Turntine’s story, they jumped into action and installed hand rails in her home free of charge.
“We need to understand that home is where people want to be,” Doug Beach, the agency’s CEO, told Spectrum 1 News. “It’s the cheapest alternative to anything, when you think about assisted living facilities or nursing homes or things like that. This is the place that provides the most bang for the buck and if we can extend that, that is what we try to do.”
Turntine said it means a lot to her to stay in her home.
“I told my daughter already, do not take me out of my house,” Turntine said. “If I get sick enough, get someone to take care of me. I want to stay right here. I kept my husband here. I want to stay here.”
Turntine echoes the sentiment of thousands of seniors nationwide who do not want to move to a senior residential community but want to stay in a home that means the world to them. But also like Turntine, older adults find it challenging to remain independent.
Aging in place may be an ideal concept, but the ability to do it successfully requires careful thought and preparation, not just by seniors but their family members.
It’s a significant risk for seniors to stay in their homes, which is why family members must have “huge conversations” about making a plan to do this, according to Amanda Leggett, an assistant professor in the Institute of Gerontology and Department of Psychology at Wayne State University in Detroit and an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
What’s more, these conversations should take place before aging-related complications occur.
“It’s a hard thing to talk about and to discuss and we don’t always like to get into the ‘what ifs’ and ‘what will I do?’ But truly the sooner we can have these conversations as families the better,” Leggett said in an interview during the Created Equal podcast.
Daughter Builds ADU For Her Elderly Mother
Los Angeles resident Julie Zemel was worried about her mother, Mimi, and wanted her to move to California. At the time, Mimi lived alone in an apartment in Chicago and often stayed inside, primarily due to the weather.
“It was clear she was becoming increasingly fragile, physically and socially isolated, with no relatives or friends living nearby,” Zemel told The San Diego Union-Tribune. “It wasn’t safe for her to live so far away from me.”
Zemel convinced Mimi to move, but she had trouble finding an affordable place to live.
When Mimi first arrived, Zemel found a one-bedroom apartment in Northeast Los Angeles. However, Mimi eventually had to leave when the landlord told all the tenants he was renovating the complex and that they had to move out.
Zemel said she had trouble finding another place, even though she offered to be a co-signer for her mother. However, landlords refused to rent to Mimi, citing her age and Zemel’s mortgage debt.
Zemel wanted to move her mom into her small 1890 Victorian home, but the two bedrooms were upstairs. So, Zemel and her partner, Vladimir Gallegos, decided to build a 650-square-foot Accessory Dwelling Unit behind their house so that Mimi could remain independent.
The $400,000 project started four years ago and is almost completed. Zemel is waiting for the last permit and hopes that Mimi, now 89 and lives in a nursing home, can move in by the end of the summer.
“She’s managing where she is,” Zemel says, “but she really wants to live in her own space.”
Are Home Improvements Needed?
In many cases, aging in place means keeping homeowners safe by making home renovations and adding safety features, such as:
- Grab bars in the bathroom
- Handrails
- Replacing door knobs with lever-style handles that are easier to grip
- Widening doorways to accommodate a wheelchair
According to home remodeling site Fixr, the national average for aging-in-place renovations ranges from $3,000 to $15,000. However, many factors, like the type of renovations needed, will determine the final cost.
Can You Care for Yourself, or Do You Need Help?
In some instances, aging in place requires seniors to have help with daily tasks such as sweeping, cooking, and making a bed. Family members are usually the first ones to assist, but sometimes, professional caregivers are needed.
In-home caregivers work in shifts during the day or night. However, some seniors prefer having live-in caregivers who live with their clients 24 hours a day. Live-in caregivers have a designated room in their clients’ homes and are allowed to sleep at night but are available when needed.
Caregivers, whether live-in or those who work in shifts, provide essential services such as helping seniors with bathing, dressing, grooming, and running errands. Caregivers also provide companionship, which is particularly important for those who live alone.
Strategies For Aging In Place
It’s important the seniors who want to age have a plan in place for emergencies. For instance, Joan Foster, a Montreal-based community nurse, suggests that when a crisis occurs and emergency responders arrive, seniors can hand them an envelope that contains:
- A medical insurance card
- A list of medications
- The name of an emergency contact
- Names of family members, the family doctor, pharmacy, and the hospital, if you use one
Dr. Michael Bihari of Falmouth, MA, says it’s essential for seniors aging in place to combat loneliness, and he offered strategies to do that:
- Join an organization or program that aligns with your interests, such as books, crafts, or cooking.
- Join a faith-based organization that will help you deepen your faith and engage in activities and events with other people.
- Participate in online social activities like taking classes or joining support groups.
- Volunteer in the community.
Most importantly, Dr. Bihari advises:
“Remember to take the time to stay connected to people who are already in your life—family, friends, former work colleagues, or neighbors. Try to schedule some time every day to get in touch with at least one person—write a letter, send an email, make a phone call, or meet for coffee.”
Source Links:
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/07/25/-95-year-old-woman-receives-upgrades-to-stay-in-her-home-
https://wdet.org/2024/07/29/the-risks-and-benefits-of-aging-in-place/
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/07/27/aging-in-place-adu-a-soft-landing-for-mom/
https://www.housingwire.com/articles/the-most-effective-aging-in-place-renovations-according-to-experts-and-retirees/
https://medicalresearch.com/how-senior-home-care-empowers-aging-adults/
https://www.mitchelladvocate.com/life/senior-living-how-to-prep-for-emergencies-as-you-age-in-place
https://www.capenews.net/falmouth/columns/aging-in-place-strategies-for-staying-connected/article_16a8705f-ed37-5e72-bf2f-73dce8691602.html
