For the past three plus months, we have all “sheltered in place,” but have you heard of “aging in place”?
Aging in place — or growing older at home as opposed to aging in a retirement community — is increasing in popularity. Aging in place allows you to maintain your independence and your social connections, but it has to be done safely.
Many seniors want to stay in the home they have built over the years, and if stairs to negotiate — either to second story bedrooms or to basement laundry facilities — are not an issue, then aging in place might be a viable option for you.
Of course, with fairly simple renovations, most homes could be converted to make one-floor living accessible. A bed can be placed in a family room or den, and laundry can be put in the kitchen or garage. Grab bars in the shower, a ramp at the entrances, and easy-to-turn doorknobs are a few simple changes you can make in your home to make it easier for you to live in.
If you think you might want to age in place, you need to plan now for help you might need down the road. Do you live alone? Is there a family member who would move in with you to help you? Is there a place for a caregiver to live?
Following are a few things for you to think about as you decide if aging in place is a better choice for you then moving to a retirement community. Either way, A Simpler Life Now can help you prepare for whichever option is right for you.
How will you address simple self-care tasks like bathing, washing your hair, and getting dressed? Caregivers are available to come into your home and assist with a range of tasks. Some might even be covered by your insurance plan.
Medical
There are special apps and pill boxes that can remind you when you have to take your medicines. You should always bring someone you trust to your doctor appointments, especially if you will be getting a lot of information on that visit like test results. That person should not be afraid to question the doctor; they are your advocate so they should speak up. Ask the doctor to put instructions in writing so you can be clear about them and refer back to them.
In case of emergency, make sure you have health proxy advanced directives and a living will signed so that your loved ones can make health decisions for you if you are unable to act on your own behalf.
Chores
Grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions are something to consider. With everyone sheltering in place the past few months because of COVID-19, we have learned that it is actually quite doable to not go to the store. Groceries, drugs, dry cleaning, and just about everything else can be ordered online and delivered to your home. Check with your medicare plan to see if you are eligible for a walker, scooter, or wheelchair if needed.
Taking care of the home
You need to think about a housekeeper, a gardener, a handyman, and other service providers as simpler tasks grow more difficult to accomplish.
Meal preparation
The groceries can be delivered, but what about cooking? Many of my clients cook full dinners well into their 90s and entertain too. But if you don’t want to cook every night, there are plenty of food-delivery options, as well as meal kits that get sent to the home with heat-and-serve options. Perhaps a friend or neighbor will “co-op” with you and you can share meal-preparation responsibilities. It’s also nice and social to go to a senior center, church, or synagogue to share meals with friends new and old. Many towns have organized “meals-on-wheels” food delivery services for their seniors. Your local community or senior center should have information.
Paying the bills
If you don’t have a child or other relative that can help you out, there are plenty of small businesses that specialize in helping seniors with their paperwork. Other small firms will help you negotiate the maze of healthcare and medicare forms. Start by searching for a geriatric care manager. If you don’t have it already set up, they can help you pay your bills online automatically each month.
Avoid scammers
As much as we hate to think about it, there are plenty of people out there who prey on seniors and try to scam them out of their savings. Don’t ever click on a link in an email. Be suspicious! If you receive a message from your bank or credit card company that you think you should act on, type that company name into your browser and enter their website that way as opposed to clicking on a link in an email. Never give out your passwords or social security number to anyone over the phone. Go through your bill statements to make sure that you recognize all of the charges. Watch out for any “free introductory offer” you may have signed up for that is now charging you monthly or annually. It is very easy for these charges to slip through!
Growing older at home is an option, but you just have to plan for it so that you are not caught off guard by anything that arises. There is nothing nicer than living where you are comfortable, with all of your well-loved possessions, in the place you call home.
Give us a call at A Simpler Life Now and we can create your aging-in-place plan, and make some fixes in your home — like reducing your clutter to make your space more livable, efficient, and safe. Let’s talk about what will make aging in place a good choice for you.