Living at home is important to the elderly. The majority prefer to stay in their own home rather than relocate to an assisted living facility or other type of senior living community. Aging in place, as it is known, is valued by older adults for numerous reasons.
Many aging adults have lived in their own home for decades. Calling a place home for thirty or forty years makes it difficult for any other type of housing to be considered comparable. Fortunately, with extra support, seniors can fulfill their wishes to continue to reside in their own home.
Seniors who continue to age at home may stumble upon various obstacles. The stairs become intimidating for those suffering from arthritis or experiencing mobility issues, such as using a wheelchair or walker to get around. Reaching up into the kitchen cabinets can now be physically impossible.
Such concerns about safety, mobility, and functioning independently may arise. But with sufficient planning, discussions with healthcare providers about how chronic diseases impact living at home and support from elder care professionals, seniors can experience the following benefits of aging in place.
1. Allows continued independence
People who have remained self-sufficient all their adult lives may not want to stop once they get older. Being able to shop for groceries and other essentials or buy clothing is a task many seniors prefer to do on their own. Fulfilling everyday tasks independently improves their quality of life.
Aging in place allows seniors to continue to live an independent lifestyle, albeit with some help. Professional caregivers, for instance, give the elderly an opportunity to perform activities independently when it is safe to do so, thereby boosting their confidence and self-esteem.
2. Helps seniors stay connected with the community
Since plenty of older adults have lived in their own home for decades, it’s no wonder that they’ve forged strong bonds with their community. Friends, family, and members of faith organizations are people seniors have come to rely upon, trust, and find solace in.
Continuing to live in a community that has provided seniors with meaningful social outlets is vital. The elderly may visit the local community center, where card games, dances and festivities keep them socially active. Seniors who don’t drive can rely on a caregiver for transportation.
Leaving their home means departing from the community they prize. But aging in place allows older people to continue to maintain connections with the people, places, and things they hold dear. Social engagement with others helps prevent cognitive decline, making it healthier to remain at home.
3. Offers opportunities to remain financially secure
Relocating to a senior living facility comes with hefty financial costs. Living at home, however, gives seniors an opportunity to live on their fixed income. About one-fifth of people over 65 own their own home, so they are not faced with the financial burden of paying a mortgage.
Alternately, elderly homeowners can convert their home’s equity and reap the monetary rewards, which gives them the financial means to continue aging in place. Advanced planning with financial counselors or geriatric care managers can help seniors balance budgets and remain financially secure.
4. Promotes safety
While walking from room to room was no problem in their younger years, seniors may have to be extra careful. Trips and falls could lead to severe injuries. But modifying the home to meet the needs of their current capabilities helps seniors fulfill their dream of aging in place.
Home modifications can be simple, such as adding additional lighting for seniors with impaired vision or switching round drawer knobs to levers for older adults with arthritis. Similarly, non-slip mats can be placed in the bathroom to prevent slips on the slick, wet floors.
Elder care professionals from home care agencies often make recommendations to help their care recipients live safely. Caregivers also take the initiative to clean the home, removing clutter that could pose as a fall hazard. Cords and wiring are moved to safer locations to prevent trips.
5. Enhances physical and emotional health
Aging in place is especially important to seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia. Older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia feel more secure when they live in familiar surroundings. Relocating to a senior living facility, on the other hand, causes disorientation.
Aging in Place with In-Home Care
Seniors with other chronic conditions can also safely remain at home with the support of home care agencies. Caregivers provide medication reminders and are available for in-home post-surgical care. The high quality of care provided by experienced home care professionals accelerates recovery time.
Living at home for as long as possible means healthy eating is a must. Balanced meals provide the elderly with the vitamins and minerals they need to fight off infections. Home care professionals prepare nutritious meals in accordance with the senior’s dietary restrictions.
Aging in place is important to preserve a senior’s physical and emotional health. When your elderly loved one expresses a desire to live at home, choose Assisting Hands Home Care for the best in senior care. Our caregivers ensure care recipients continue to experience fulfilling, healthy lives.
Dedicated caregivers from our home care agency support seniors with the activities of daily living. Our professionals are instrumental in helping seniors with personal hygiene tasks, preparing balanced meals, shopping for groceries, giving medication reminders, serving as companions, and providing transportation. We approach caregiving holistically, which provides excellent results.
Our comprehensive elder care services cover the nonmedical needs of seniors. Care options are flexible and varied, too. We offer respite care for families that require intermittent care. Overnight care, 24-hour care, live-in care, post-op care, hospice care, and compassionate in-home memory care are also available.
Seniors wishing to age in place are encouraged to utilize the reliable home care services from Assisting Hands Home Care. We continue to support countless satisfied seniors living in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Call us at (610) 541-2515 to schedule a complimentary in-home consult and start quality elder care today.
