According to a Home and Community Preferences survey, 77% of adults over 50 years old want to age in place or stay at home for as long as they can. The American Association of Retired Persons said that this percentage has been consistent for over a decade. Of those over 65 years old, 90% of them want to grow old in their current home.
With preparation and proper care, seniors and older adults can get their wishes.
The Benefits of Aging at Home
As they say, there is no place like home. This will not change with old age. Here are the reasons older adults prefer to age in their humble abodes:
Comfort
A familiar environment provides the utmost comfort at any point in life. Aging in place is more comfortable because seniors know it inside and out. They can walk around blindly and find everything they want and need.
More importantly, they continue to keep all of their possessions, many of which are attached to positive memories of their lives.
Independence
Supporting the elderly so they can remain at home will help them maintain control over their life. Because they know the area so well, seniors can also navigate the neighborhood on their own to buy food, toiletries, and other basic needs.
Community Connections
Aging at home allows seniors to maintain contact with their social circle. Community connections are essential for older adults because they provide a much-needed sense of belonging and support.
Retirees may also need help navigating life after work and losing their professional connections. But staying in their neighborhood will give them familiar people they can regularly communicate with.
Social relationships, and the satisfaction and support that come with them, are said to lower the risk of dementia.
Practical
Many older adults own their homes, so it’s more practical to stay put. Some of them may even earn some income through the Federal Housing Administration’s Home Equity Conversion program.
By staying at home, they maintain control over their monthly expenses so they won’t overspend.
Concerns Over Seniors Growing Old at Home
Understandably, families of older people will have concerns over their parents, grandparents, or granduncles and aunts aging at home.
Families have the following anxieties:
Mobility at Home
Mobility is one of the most common concerns for older adults. It is concerning if they have to go up and down stairs at home, which could become quite dangerous.
Limited bathroom access and narrow hallways are also significant limitations, especially when seniors need a wheelchair or walker to get around. Home modifications and home care for the elderly in their own homes must be discussed and prepared for.
Personal Care
Seniors may have difficulty washing their hair, getting dressed, or maintaining healthy levels of hygiene. Families could arrange for someone to drop by regularly to help them with their personal care needs.
Another option is to call for a companion care service, which can be tailor-fit to the exact needs of the person who wants to remain as independent as possible.
Household Chores
Seniors with limited mobility are discouraged from doing chores that could compromise their health and safety. Housecleaning, yard work, and laundry are some activities that others should do.
Health Care
Most of the elderly must take prescription medications. Fortunately, most pharmacies now deliver medicines to patients. It’s one less taxing activity to worry about.
Still, families must monitor their relative’s health to ensure their medication is still working. Some may forget to take their pills daily or may stop responding to what their doctor prescribed.
These are all valid concerns for people aging in place. There is one viable solution for them: in-home care for the elderly.
Why You Should Get In-Home Care for the Elderly
Getting in-home care for older adults who want to age in place hits two birds with one stone. The seniors can continue living at home, and their families can maintain peace of mind that they are well cared for.
Here are the benefits of in-home care:
Personalized Care
Not all people need the same type of care. Some seniors may only need help with strenuous household chores, while some need assistance for most of their daily activities.
Older adults must be given the agency to personalize the care they want to receive. This will help preserve their sense of independence, and they can get the support they need.
More Economical
Staying at home and getting care assistance is more financially viable than any alternative. Home care is customizable, so those who need minimal care may just call for it on certain days or a few hours a day.
Families Are More Involved
When seniors are aging in place, their families can be more involved with their care. They can drop in anytime for a visit, either just to chat or provide assistance.
If family members are not available at certain times, they could call in-home care. The arrangement is versatile, and it works for everybody concerned.
Skilled Service
Seniors who prefer to age at home can seek some assistance from a neighbor or a relative. But they can get skilled help when they get support from a legitimate in-home service. Skilled care includes medical aid, wound care, nursing care, injections, hospice support, catheter care, and more.
Peace of Mind
Family members have their own lives to tend to, so it’s hard for them to drop everything to go to an elderly relative’s home to provide them with the assistance they need.
With home care for the elderly in their own homes, the family will have the peace of mind to go on with their professional and personal tasks.
Bottom Line
Grant the elderly the dignity to grow old at home. It will preserve their independence, give them comfort, and provide a sense of belonging in the community they know intimately. Through in-home service, they can get the care they need while enjoying the ease and familiarity of their home.
365 In-Home Care provides quality and dependable care to seniors based on the type of support they need. Schedule a care consultation here.
