Most older adults wish to stay living in their own home as they age.
On surveying people about ageing and caregiving, the Pew Research Center found that:
- 60% of older adults wish to remain in their home and have someone care for them in situ, if necessary
- 18% said they would want to move into an assisted living property
- 11% would want to move in with a family member
- 1% would want to move into a nursing home.
With so many of us wishing to “age in place”, whether you’re supporting an elderly friend or relative, or thinking about your future living arrangements, here are some practical steps you could take to enable you to remain as independent as possible at home.
Assess your home from top to bottom
For adults aged 65 and over, falls are the leading cause of injury – in the US, official figures show that 1 in 4 older adults report falling every year. So, review each room in your home to identify potential hazards you need to eliminate before they trip you up.
Look at every room afresh and see where you could improve the:
- Lighting. Ensuring each room has adequate lighting will help you move about more confidently, as obstacles and hazards will be easier to see if it’s well lit. Consider installing motion sensor lighting so you don’t have to fumble for the light switch when walking into a room or getting out of bed.
- Flooring. From threadbare carpets to well-worn rugs and stair treads, identify where you could upgrade your floor coverings to help prevent slips or trips.
- Kitchen storage. If you have high and low cupboards and shelves, and find yourself reaching for crockery, pans, or groceries every day, rethink where and how you store what you need most often to optimise storage space. Ideally, make sure what you need is within easy reach – having to stretch or use a step to get what you need could lead to an accident. Clever storage solutions, like rotating trays and tiered or stackable shelves, could help you better organise your space.
However big or small a job may appear, a professional can help you to modify your home and ensure it remains safe as you age, particularly if your mobility decreases.
While planning, you may wish to consider widening doorframes to ensure easy access for a wheelchair or walking aid, installing grab bars in the bathroom, or investing in a motorised stairlift.
Work out if renovating is viable
You may consider your house to be your “forever home” and insist that you’ll be carried out in a box, but it may not be possible to make all the adjustments you may need to keep it safe.
Plus, even if you did manage to make the adaptations required, would you still feel the same way about your home?
It’s not always easy to imagine how a space might look with the changes that might be needed, but if you live in a beautiful period property with original features, the alterations you may need to make to continue living comfortably (and safely) may cause you to think again.
Alternatively, the changes needed and the cost of making them may give you pause.
Either way, once you take everything into consideration, you may decide that relocating is a better option.
Invest in tech and smart devices
From smartphones and tablets that help you stay socially connected to voice-activated devices; there are many ways technology could help you remain more independent for longer.
As well as motion sensor lighting, which we mentioned earlier, you may benefit from:
- Discreet sensors that can monitor activity without using cameras – such as motion sensors or door sensors
- A personal emergency alarm – a device that connects you to 24/7 help
- A fall-detection watch or pendant.
Ask for help
While the type and quality of care you can access in later life varies depending on your location and budget, there are multiple ways to access additional help that you may need to continue living in your own home.
It’s not always easy to rely on support from willing friends and family, so look into whether you might qualify for support from your local government.
Alternatively, where funds allow, there is an increasing number of private and agency care workers who will take on a whole range of tasks.
With options available to suit your needs, you can pay for a 24/7 live-in carer or else simply have someone pop in once or twice a week to help you with everyday tasks.
Here are just a few ways an at-home carer could provide welcome support:
- Housekeeping – including cleaning, laundry, and running errands
- Grocery shopping
- Meal preparation
- Personal care
- Medication assistance
- Looking after pets
Last but by no means least, a good carer can offer companionship. If you’re fortunate, you may be able to find someone who will join in with the things you love – whether that’s playing cards, Scrabble, or chess to keep your brain active, taking you to the theatre, or ensuring you meet up with friends and family regularly.
Get in touch
To find out more about how we can help you plan to meet renovating costs or to pay for at-home support, please email enquiries@alexanderpeter.com or call us on +44 1733 916909.
.jpg)
