“Aging in place” is a relatively new term in the grand scheme of things. People today are living for 30 or 40 more years than was long considered the norm. This is wonderful, but it has become quite apparent that the “third age” has to be examined in a whole new light. In the past people did not expect that they would have thirty or more relatively productive years ahead of them. They worked until they could retire and then full expected to drop dead shortly thereafter. They considered themselves lucky if they succumbed before being asked to relocate to a rest home.
No doubt about it, people are healthier and they are living longer. Cutting edge medicine and the knowledge that goes with it, created a whole new age. We now actually divide old age into young-old age, middle-old age, and then finally old-old age. Increased longevity has made each and every one of us aware that a little more planning is going to be needed than we once thought. How, when and where we are going to live figures high on the list of things to do. Many seniors do not want to live in a retirement community, abhor the thought of senior housing, and do not want to move in with their kids. So, what is left? Members of the Baby Boomer generation are opting to “age in place.” Fortunately, most of us are well aware that this means more than just “getting by” until we can’t anymore.
“Aging in place” means growing older at home amidst familiar things and surrounding. We still want to be able to call the shots, but have come to recognize that we need to be somewhere where help is available at a moments notice. If you want to age in your own place and on your own terms, you definitely need a support system. Available options might include in-home care, retirement communities, assisted-living communities, adult family homes granny-flats, nursing homes or staying right where you are. The majority of people interviewed in various surveys wanted to stay in their own homes as long as humanly possible.
Old age and institutionalization are not synonymous. However, independent living is not something that can be taken for granted. It requires planning, and that planning has to be done long before a crisis occurs. I think everyone is getting the idea that preventive health care is the key. Health care professionals work hard to educate the public about the need for physical activity, proper nutrition, socialization and of course not smoking.
You need to be strong, active, and mobile in order to clean, cook, shop, do laundry and get out of the house to work or socialize. Not only do you have to adapt and manage chronic disease conditions but you have to figure out how and where you are going to live. Thoughts about selling or modifying the home front need to be taken seriously. You can still live independently if you decide that a one story house or apartment might be a good option for you. You seriously need a house that is readily adaptable to your changing needs.
In addition to the physical house, you need to be near a network of caregivers or a family support system. Your support system could consist of friends or family members, but you may also need hired professionals. A Geriatric Care Manager can help older adults and families create a plan of care that is palatable to all. Companions, homemakers, personal care givers and health care professionals are available to assist with various levels of care. Your health and activity status can now be monitored by all sort of technological devices, but first you need to have a satisfying home situation. It all depends on how determined you are to stay in your own home. Home care is expensive but probably less so than residential care situations. It is all a matter of what length you want to go to live out your life on your own terms.
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