The 3 Essentials To Be Able To Age In Place As A Senior
The goal of just about everybody when they retire is to be able to live independently and in their own home. It’s called aging in place and can actually be a challenge for some people. As we age, things we used to take for granted become more difficult and the risk of having to go to assisted living gets greater. There are ways to put that day off sometimes even indefinitely.
The trick is to make a plan and find some ways to make sure that you are able to get the most out of your elder years. There are certain useful products that can help you and even just some changes to your lifestyle or environment that work too. In this article, we will give you several tips to help make sure that you are able to live independently for many years to come.
1 – Modify the house
The biggest barrier to aging in place is usually the house you live in. it was not designed and set up to assist you when you are older. This is why it has to be modified since your needs have changed considerably. A family home that no longer has children and now houses an elderly person who is at risk of falling needs to be updated to reflect those changes.
It is a good idea to put handrails around the home so walking around is not an issue. It is easy to lose balance and fall so if you can use a handrail to stay steady when passing from one room to the other then this is ideal. Make sure that you are using ADA-compliant handrails since they are designed to prevent falls, unlike guardrails. You can read more about handrail vs guardrail to make sure that you know the difference.
The next area to upgrade is the bathroom since it is a wet and slippery area that poses a risk of falls more than any other room. Replace the tub with one that has a door so you can walk into it without needing to step over the side. They usually have a built-in seat that allows you to sit and wash so you don’t risk falling in the shower.
A bidet for the elderly is also a great modification to the bathroom since it is easy to get injured when trying to wipe after using the toilet. These bidets are hands-free since they use a jet of water to clean you up and then blast some warm air to dry you.
2 – Use technology
There are a lot of technological advances that help elderly people take better care of themselves. Things like hearing aids are essential especially since they now have a lot of new features that ones in the past didn’t. For instance, many of the newest generations of hearing aids will have a fall-detection feature. This will send an alert to the emergency services that you’ve fallen and are unable to call for help. The alert will also be sent to a loved one so they can go and check on you too.
Fitness trackers are also a huge help for seniors since they act like a coach that lives on their wrist. These trackers will create an optimized exercise plan that is perfect for the abilities of a senior so they can stay fit and healthy. They also send reminders to get moving if you sit for too long so you don’t end up sedentary.
Your house can also use a technological update to make life smoother. For instance, you can retrofit the house with a smart security system to keep you safe at home. These systems include things like a doorbell camera that detects motion. When it senses somebody is there it will send an alert to a smartphone so you can see what is happening live.
3 – Ask for help
Taking care of a house and yourself can be quite exhausting and time-consuming. It is alright to ask for some help with things that you are not able to take care of. If you have grandchildren then asking them to come by once in a while to do some yard work is something to consider.
If you don’t have family around then hire a cleaner to come by once in a while and do some of the deep cleanings at home. Even getting some takeout once in a while so you don’t have to cook is a form of help that makes it easier to live independently.
