“Aging in place is a term used to describe a person living in the residence of their choice, for as long as they are able, as they age. This includes being able to have any services (or other support) they might need over time as their needs change.”
Many aging adults prefer aging in place. There’s been quite a movement toward it, and for good reason. We all want to be home! And that makes sense for a lot of people, but it doesn’t happen by accident.
What you should really know about aging in place is that you have to plan for it.
Aging in place doesn’t just happen. If you want to stay home, you need to have thought through and planned for the needs that come along with staying home.
For example:
- Accessibility – Does your current home have stairs? Or, even if you don’t have to go from floor to floor, are there stairs to get into the home? What about your bathroom (toilet, shower, tub)? And your kitchen and other rooms? Is your home adaptable to different physical needs? Can you afford to address those needs? The answer is often YES, but only if you plan ahead.
- Transportation – What will you do when you can no longer drive? How will you get to the store or doctor? Can you rely on friends or family? Is there a service available? Again, there are many options, but it’s easier to make your case to stay home if you’ve thought this through.
- Assistance – From health care aids to housekeepers, meal prep to groceries, there’s a good chance that if you want to stay home, you’ll need help. It’s not fair to put all the burden on family and loved ones, so making a plan for that help is key. There’s a lot available (and some covered by Medicaid/Medicare), but not if you’re too late.
You have a lot of options to age how you want to and how your health allows. But like a broken record, we’ll keep telling you that you have to have a plan in place. There’s no accident here: staying home, healthy, and with the support of your loved ones takes a good plan. It takes everyone understanding and being onboard. For many children of aging parents, they want to make sure you’re well taken care of. Often that means assisted living, but it doesn’t have to. Especially if you can show them you’ve thought of everything!
We can help you make a plan for aging in place and how to pay for it. We want you to be content with how you’re spending your time and where you live. No matter what you choose, it takes planning ahead to make it really work, so contact us today. We’d love to help you out.
