Many families and individuals choose to consider aging in place or to stay in their home as opposed to taking up residence in a senior facility.
Several senior centers have been grossly impacted by Covid and the pandemic. The potential for contracting the deadly virus from visitors and the sheer number of persons an individual may come in contact with is highly possible for anyone in a facility. As a result of this, we will likely see more and more seniors “aging in place,” to mitigate the risk that a long-term care facility may present. Some other factors that may come into play when making this decision include, the ever rising cost of healthcare, and the fact that Baby Boomers were significantly more active than older generations and ultimately tend to be more independent. If you, your family or your loved ones are considering aging in place, check out our adulthood and aging in place information HERE and then read on as we share 5 tips to help you make a well rounded decision.
5 Tips for Aging in Place
- Make and keep plans with friends and family to help avoid feelings of isolation. If you cannot get out or are not comfortable during the pandemic you also have options to still feel connected. Consider using technology to stay connected with loved ones who may live far away (i.e. facetime, skype, zoom meetings).
- Seek out and accept help with activities of daily livingPersonal care tasks such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, and eating/feeding. A person’s degree of independence in performing these activities is a part of determining appropriate level of care and service needs. More.
- Be prepared to modify your home as necessary. There are many ways to ensure your home is safe and accommodating. Adding grab bars in the restroom, removing rugs to prevent falls, ensuring there is at least one entrance/exit that does not have stairs and even widening doorways to make the home more accessible for wheelchairs are a few ways to modify the home for aging in place.
- Be sure to do some things to stay engaged and active. Take advantage of different offerings for seniors in the community at the local recreation centers or the library. Extra added bonus, there are usually some senior discounts for these events.
- Of course, needs will inevitably change as you age or your health fluctuates. Work collaboratively with family, caregivers and treatment team to make a plan to reassess your needs on a regular basis.
If you have any questions about consumer directed care and how this may help with the process of aging in place, contact us today!