6 Steps to Take to Prepare for Aging in Place
With the Aging in Place movement gaining momentum, seniors around the country are preparing to age in their own homes. If you or a loved one are hoping to join the movement, the best thing you can do is plan ahead. Here are six steps that should be a part of everyone’s plan:
1. Evaluate your health
Your physical, mental, and emotional health should all be considered when you are looking into aging in place. Are you still relatively independent? Are you able to get around on your own? Do you have a support system nearby? The independence and comfort that come with aging in place are very appealing, but you need to ensure that you can do so safely.
2. Contact a home care agency
Staying in your own home doesn’t mean you are completely on your own. Home care agencies can provide help with daily chores, meal prep, personal hygiene, and provide clinical care like physical therapy, nursing, and telehealth monitoring. Atrio Home Care also provides a free home safety evaluation to ensure your home is optimized for aging in place
3. Make a transportation plan
Getting to and from appointments, the grocery store, the shopping mall, the bank—it all requires transportation. As you age, driving yourself may not be an option. Talk with your caregivers, loved ones, and neighbors to see who might be willing and able to help you get around. It’s also a good idea to look into transportation services like the ones Atrio provides for times when your other caregivers are unavailable.
4. Befriend technology
With isolation being one of the biggest reasons for seniors’ decline, technology can keep you connected, informed, and even entertained. And apps for grocery delivery, food delivery, and transportation services make maintaining your independence easier.
Technology can also be implemented around the home to make aging in place safer, especially if you live alone. Atrio can help you with tools such as dark-activated night lights, auto shut-off stoves, raised outlets, fall detectors, and personal emergency response systems. To learn more about our technology offerings and partnerships, watch our webinar here.
5. Look into long-term care insurance
Long-term care insurance helps cover the cost of long-term home care that regular health insurance and Medicare don’t. Your health can change quickly as you age, and it is better to be prepared than not. If you do see a decline in your health, having long-term care insurance will make it much easier to get the extra care you need.
6. Create a contingency plan
Aging in place may not work for everyone. You may try it out for a little while and realize that it isn’t for you, or a decline in health could make it more difficult. Either way, it’s good to be aware of other options, such as moving into a senior living community or with a loved one. The sooner you do the research and have the conversations, the better and the smoother the transition.
When it comes to decisions that revolve around aging, people tend to put them off. It’s something that they think can wait for another day but, before they know it, they are faced with reality and are ill-prepared. The truth is, it is never too early to think about how you want your life to look as you age. Whether you see yourself staying at home, living with loved ones, or moving into a senior living community, each option takes careful planning and research. It can seem overwhelming. Giving yourself plenty of time to take it one step at a time is the best way to take control of how you age.
