Seniors often prefer to live at home for as long as possible. Since the decision to age in place versus moving to an assisted living facility can be complicated, your family should carefully think over the following considerations to determine if your loved one will be happiest aging in place.
Decide if Changes Need to Be Made to Increase Accessibility
Many older adults bought their homes years before when they were raising a family, and they no longer need a second story. Alternatively, your loved one may have fallen in love with a cute little condo, but it’s up three flights of stairs. Take a good look at your loved one’s current home to check for areas that need to be altered to fit his or her changing abilities.
While it’s normal to do things such as add a ramp or walk-in bathtub, your loved one may need to consider moving to a different house if the current home requires extensive repairs. Keep in mind your loved one can remain independent by choosing a single-family residence that’s better suited for an older adult.
Discuss Your Loved One’s Current Health Needs
In the past, seniors had to move to receive the care they needed to manage health conditions such as Alzheimer’s. However, this is no longer the case, and your loved one may only need some basic assistance to complete many daily tasks. Take a good look at your loved one’s current health to determine how having a caregiver provide assistance would be of benefit. For instance, your loved one could have someone provide transportation to the grocery store if he or she no longer feels safe driving.
If your senior loved one has been diagnosed with a serious condition and needs help with tasks like meal prep, transportation, bathing, and grooming, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading provider of at-home care families can trust. We also offer comprehensive care for seniors with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s.
Talk About Who Will Provide Care through Each Stage of Aging
Your family should anticipate your loved one’s health will change in the future. Create tentative plans now for how you’ll address these changes. For instance, you or a sibling could help your loved one out by inviting him or her over for meals or preparing meals he or she can heat up. You can also plan to hire an overnight caregiver if you anticipate your loved one being at risk for wandering.
Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Barrie, ON, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
Figure Out if It Makes Sense Financially
Finances are an important factor that families sometimes overlook when they just want to know their loved one is safe and happy. For seniors who have already paid off their homes or have low mortgage payments, hiring caregivers can be less expensive than moving to assisted care facilities. Although talking about finances can be stressful for families, you must consider how your loved one’s plans fit his or her budget.
Plan How Your Loved One Will Satisfy the Need for Socialization
Aging in place has many benefits for older adults, but one downside is that they have fewer opportunities for socialization. However, your family has plenty of options for making this a non-issue. Make sure your loved one has rides to community events, friends to drop by for lunch, and daily check-ins from a caregiver so he or she always has someone to talk to each day.
If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Barrie home care service. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. Home Care Assistance can be your trusted partner when your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging. Call us today at 647-970-3803 to learn about our high-quality in-home care services.