Aging in place is the ability of seniors to live as long as possible in their homes and neighborhoods with the help of family, friends, and home care services. As people are living longer than ever, planning for aging in place is crucial for individuals and families.
The following advice will help loved ones and seniors prepare for aging in place by ensuring seniors are surrounded by a support team that understands their needs and desires.
Assess the Home to Ensure Successful Aging in Place
It is essential to examine the home to assess for any obstacles or potential risks that might make it more difficult to move around securely. This involves assessing the layout, lighting, and functionality. Loved ones can help seniors make necessary alterations, such as placing grab bars in the restroom, a stairlift, or wider entrances to accommodate wheelchairs. Home care aids can help with this process by offering knowledgeable advice.
Remember that this might be an emotional time for seniors, who may feel like losing control when the home changes. Making them part of the discussion and helping them understand why the changes should occur is essential to their overall acceptance of the changes. Patience and care need to be a part of this process.
Assess Support and What is Needed
Identify relatives, friends, and neighbors who can offer help and support when required. Will those people be able to assist consistently? Possibly, but more often, the answer is no. Also, loved ones might feel bad asking for help continuously. It is vital to realistically evaluate current and future needs.
These needs might include increased transportation to doctor visits or assistance with cooking due to mobility or safety issues. Being open to support from various areas will help seniors and loved ones create a plan that works for everyone involved.
This is where home care shines, providing much-needed stability. Home care can provide assistance with housework, transportation, or errand running. They can also ensure that seniors follow their care plans, receive socialization, and get consistent physical activity.
Assess Physical and Mental Needs
Keeping seniors involved is essential for their physical and mental health. Look for chances to get them involved in something they’re interested in, like signing up for a fitness class or volunteering with a neighborhood charity. They can maintain social connections or make new ones this way.
These social connections are much more important than people might think. Consistent socialization for seniors is key to ensuring they feel valued and decreasing depression. This is another reason why home care support is essential. Even when seniors’ mobility declines, a personal companion at home provides socialization and encouragement.
Assess Daily Living Skill Needs
As seniors age, the support they once needed increases. When this happens, loved ones can lean on home care to provide assistance with daily living skills. This may be assisting with cooking or cleaning around the house. Still, it might also mean helping with bathing or incontinence issues.
Home care can provide many services that might not have been considered when first discussing aging in place with loved ones. When creating a plan that supports aging in place, utilizing home care services is a must.
Amelia Home Care provides traditional in-home care services, along with virtual caregiving and Home Care. Our service area includes Brooklyn, Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island, Yonkers, and Westchester County. Call today at (929) 333-3955.
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We proudly provide non-medical home care services to individuals with disabilities, injuries, difficulties with mobility, or illnesses. Our team is composed of highly trained and competent staff members who are dedicated and experts in delivering home care services in the comfort of our client’s home.
Through our personalized care plan, we can give you the needed care services that are all intended to cater to your unique personal and health needs. With us, we ensure around-the-clock services and supervision to help you achieve optimum health and wellness.
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