Most older adults prefer to age in place, choosing to remain in familiar surroundings close to family and friends, a decision that offers significant benefits. However, achieving this goal requires thoughtful planning. In this guide, we discuss five practical ways families can support seniors in preparing to age in place.

According to AARP’s 2021 research, 77% of adults aged 50 and older would choose to stay in their own homes if given the opportunity. This preference is reflected in a declining number of older adults residing in nursing homes, highlighting a growing trend toward maintaining independence and staying connected to cherished communities.

What Is Aging in Place?

Aging in place is defined as residing in a community-based dwelling during the later years of life. The senior may live in a childhood home or one in which they raised a family. The home may be an apartment or a downsized residence with fewer maintenance needs and expenses.

Some elderly individuals elect to move in with family members or friends to fulfill their wish of aging in place. This form of aging in place allows them to maintain their independence while enjoying the social and financial benefits of co-housing.

How Do Families Help Seniors Plan to Age in Place?

Older adults who choose to age in place must consider a number of factors to make this transition. A number of community supports should be available to ensure their safety and promote their health as well as help them maintain their dignity while aging in place.

1. Modify the Home

The home is an older adult’s sanctuary. However, it must be modified to become senior-friendly. Safety is paramount and making home adaptations is crucial. For example, families should install grab bars in the bathroom to promote stability and add ample lighting to counter seniors’ poor vision.

Accessibility is equally important. If the aging loved one relies on a wheelchair, add ramps so they can maneuver from room to room. Widen doorways so a mobility device can fit through them. When possible, move the senior’s bedroom to the first floor so they don’t have to navigate steps.

2. Work with a Financial Planner

A financial professional who reviews the senior’s savings, pension, and investments can help them make sensible financial decisions that support them through retirement. It’s vital that the elderly be able to sustain their choice to age in place while preparing financially for unexpected expenses.

Eligible seniors should consider Medicaid or Medicare, federal programs that can provide financial assistance with aging in place. Those who have served in the military are advised to look into the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which offers financial programs that support older veterans.

3. Prepare Legal Documents

Older adults should prepare legal documents, such as a will, revocable trust, health care power of attorney, financial power of attorney, and medical directive. A will provides instruction on how the senior’s assets are to be distributed after their passing. Unlike a will, a revocable trust is private.

A health care power of attorney gives the appointee the legal power to make decisions if the senior becomes incapacitated. A financial power of attorney allows the attorney-in-fact to manage the older person’s financial affairs. A medical directive lets loved ones know if artificial life support is wanted.

4. Build a Support Network

Aging in place successfully requires ongoing social support from friends, family, and the wider community. Explore community resources designed to assist the elderly, such as the local Area Agency on Aging, which provides information on housing and food assistance and disaster services.

The Florida Department of Elder Affairs offers community support to seniors, too. The state’s elderly residents receive free legal advice through the Florida Senior Legal Helpline. Community Care for the Elderly provides medical supplies, therapeutic services, and emergency alert responses.

5. Utilize Home Care Agencies

Planning for the future also includes exploring home care agencies that serve the elderly. Professional caregivers are tasked with a wide array of in-home services that support seniors with the activities of daily living and their mission to live independently for as long as possible.

Home care agencies offer flexible care options that range from short-term to long-term. Seniors who are released from a hospital stay, for example, may rely on professional respite care during their recovery. Alternatively, older adults with a chronic health condition may need home care indefinitely.

Aging in place requires an examination of expected changes to health, finances, legal paperwork, and accessible social support. Families can help their elderly loved ones make this transition to ensure they live safely and happily in the comfort and familiarity of the home environment.

In-Home Care from Assisting Hands

The host of psychological and physical benefits of aging in place is invaluable, making this the preferred choice for seniors. When your elderly loved one plans to remain at home, Assisting Hands Home Care can turn their wish into reality. We offer a wide range of quality in-home care services.

Our non-medical care services are designed to assist seniors with the activities of daily living. Professional caregivers are responsible for shopping for fresh groceries and preparing healthy meals in accordance with the senior’s dietary restrictions. We serve beverages to ensure hydration, too.

Caregivers provide discreet assistance with hygiene tasks, like bathing, toileting, and grooming. Reliable transportation and escort to the medical clinic or pharmacy are included. We perform light housekeeping and remove clutter and other fall hazards to keep the home clean and safe.

Our professionals are also pleasant companions who prevent the elderly from feeling lonely or isolated. We engage socially with the elderly by playing stimulating games, holding light conversations, taking them on safe outings, and participating in hobbies or other enjoyable recreational activities.

Care options at Assisting Hands Home Care are flexible and range from occasional respite care to live-in care. Serving  BallenIsles,  Boynton Beach, Jupiter, Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Singer Island, Wellington, West Palm Beach, Florida, our highly regarded senior home care agency supports your loved one’s preference for aging in place. Call us at (561) 566-5989 for a free in-home consultation today to learn more.