More than 70 percent of seniors aged 50 and over wish to age in place, according to a 2021 survey conducted by AARP. Creating a supportive environment by making home modifications and increasing social support fulfills their desires to remain at home as they age.
Living in their familiar home environment provides the elderly with several benefits. Familiarity is one clear benefit, as the seniors are surrounded by cherished mementos and familiar faces. They may have a routine, and dementia patients, especially, thrive with routine.
Older people may have friends in their community or participate in activities, like volunteering for a meaningful cause. Faith organizations in the area can be a major part of their lives. Giving up these life-enhancing aspects and moving to assisted living or a nursing home is undesirable to seniors.
What are challenges to aging in place?
Though seniors have many incentives to age in place, it comes with certain risks. As the elderly grow older, several obstacles stand in the way of aging in place successfully. Seniors may need assistance with completing the activities of daily living, like bathing, cooking meals, or transportation.
Fall risks increase as people age. One in four seniors falls each year—and these falls can lead to injury, hospitalization, or a reduction in physical activities. But families can make minor adjustments to create a more senior-friendly home where risks are low, and safety levels are high.
What home modifications support aging in place?
1. Install Grab Bars
Grab bars installed in the bathrooms provide seniors with the necessary support. Bathrooms with slick floors are risky areas that can lead to a fall. Opt for mounted as opposed to suction grab bars, as they are sturdier and safer. Mount them near the toilet and in the shower.
2. Add Ample Lighting
Seniors frequently deal with poor vision, which can lead to falls and accidents. Add extra lighting to improve visibility in key areas, like the hallways leading up to the bathroom and the stairs. Motion sensor lights are ideal in bathrooms, so seniors don’t have to fumble with the light switch.
3. Clear Clutter
A well-maintained, clutter-free home is safer for seniors, as fall risks are reduced. Clear walkways of items, such as loose rugs, extension cords, and furniture with sharp corners. Keeping the home clutter-free can be achieved with the help of family members or professional caregivers.
4. Provide Assistance with Hygiene Tasks
Good personal hygiene is critical to preventing skin infections and other health issues. Seniors who experience difficulty bathing or toileting independently might resort to a family caregiver. If helping with intimate tasks is uncomfortable for either party, a professional caregiver is the solution.
5. Increase Social Opportunities
Staying social is vital to healthy aging. Access to social outlets keeps seniors active and engaged, thereby reducing loneliness, isolation, and depression. Families should socialize with the senior through video chats, phone calls, and in-person visits. Alternately, a companion caregiver is a source of social support.
6. Address Cognitive Issues
Older adults may experience memory problems as they age. Whether due to dementia or other cognitive health concerns, memory issues can interfere with aging in place. For instance, seniors may forget to take their medications or no longer remember how to cook.
A senior-friendly environment, however, combats problems related to cognitive decline. Families can provide the senior with an alarm to remind them to take medications or hire a caregiver to provide medication reminders. Jot down important doctors’ appointments on large-print calendars.
7. Start Telehealth
When seniors experience mobility challenges or suffer a chronic illness, getting to the doctor’s office can be difficult. But telehealth is a viable way to receive necessary medical care from the comfort of the senior’s home. In-home medical visits are another way to meet health care needs.
8. Use Home Delivery Services
Similarly, when mobility issues pose a challenge, seniors can rely on home delivery services. Meals, groceries, and medications can be delivered to the older adult’s front door. Or consider a professional caregiver for help with grocery shopping and reliable transportation to the pharmacy.
9. Install Smart Devices
Fit the senior’s home with smart devices. Families can remotely switch off an oven with a smart stove. Or opt for a less-expensive motion sensitive device that automatically turns off the stove when it is unattended for a set time. Smart microwaves can be turned off remotely from an app.
A smart thermostat detects when the home is empty and adjusts the indoor temperature settings to save on energy bills. Smart speakers are also useful, as seniors can instruct them to open the smart blinds, turn on the news and weather reports, or switch on the coffee maker.
Elderly Care from Assisting Hands
Today, aging in place is more accessible than before. Families that make minor adjustments to the home ensure it supports healthy and safe aging. Elder care from Assisting Hands Home Care can also be incorporated to give seniors the much-needed, helpful human touch.
Professional caregivers from our reputable home care agency are tasked with a variety of in-home care services designed to support the daily, non-medical needs of older adults. Our hands-on care promotes the physical, emotional, and social health of the seniors we’re privileged to serve.
We assist with personal hygiene tasks, shop for groceries, and prepare balanced meals. Caregivers provide medication reminders and transportation to the medical clinic and pharmacy. The friendships we forge through conversations, games, and outings give seniors vital social engagement.
Care options are varied, ranging from occasional respite care to long-term live-in care. No matter your elderly loved one’s care needs, we can customize a flexible care plan. Our caregivers are trained in CPR and first aid and know how to respond during an emergency.
A supportive, senior-friendly environment allows the elderly to age in place. Licensed, bonded, and insured caregivers from Assisting Hands Home Care provide quality in-home care to older adults in Frisco, Plano, Allen, Little Elm, Prosper, TX, and the surrounding areas. Call us at (214) 609-1340 to schedule a free in-home consultation today to learn more about our services.
