6 Pieces of Advice to Help Elderly People Age in Place

Helping an elderly loved one age in place is one of the best ways to ensure he or she gets the most enjoyment out of the senior years. With the right types of support, your loved one can continue to live at home, where he or she benefits from a familiar environment in close proximity to family and friends. Preparing seniors to age in place involves working through several different steps to make sure they have everything they need to be successful. 

1. Get a Full Medical Report

You need to know as much as possible about your loved one’s health to plan for his or her immediate and future needs. If it’s been a while since your loved one had a medical exam that included screenings for common conditions such as diabetes, now is the time. Once you have a good idea of your parent’s overall health, you’ll be able to make better decisions about the need for additional care at home. 

2. Expect to Make Some Home Modifications

Even healthy seniors benefit from making things more accessible in their homes. Seniors tend to lose their sense of balance as they age, and your loved one might face challenges with things such as walking up steps. Try to replace steps with ramps that are easier to manage. Walk-in showers and tubs are helpful in bathrooms. A senior home assessment can reveal other areas you might want to modify for safety reasons. 

3. Delegate Specific People to Provide Assistance

Families often make the mistake of telling their loved ones to let them know if they need help. While seniors tend to have a lot of people who are willing to pitch in, it’s possible your loved one might feel embarrassed about asking for help. Make a list of people who will help with specific aspects of your loved one’s care. By making these plans now, your loved one will benefit from not having to feel like a burden. 

4. Have a Contingency Plan

Seniors who age in place should have multiple people they can rely on. While you might be the primary family caregiver, you need to consider what could happen if you get sick or injured. Your loved one’s care plan should have additional people who can step in at any time.  Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional home care seniors can trust and rely on.

5. Remember the Importance of Socialization

Aging in place may mean your loved one will be spending more time alone. Isolation is a real concern you can easily prevent by making plans for your loved one to socialize. Fill your loved one’s calendar with regular visits from other caregivers and public outings so he or she always has people to see and things to do.  For families living in Irving, respite care can be a wonderful solution when their aging loved ones need companionship and socialization a few hours a week or just need minor assistance with daily household tasks. At Home Care Assistance, we thrive on helping seniors maintain their independence while living in the comfort of home.

6. View This as an Ongoing Process

With seniors, things can rapidly change if they develop new health conditions or get hurt. Keeping your loved one’s care plan flexible allows you to make adjustments as time goes by. You may also find it helpful to review the care plan every couple of months so your loved one never goes without the assistance he or she needs to thrive.  If your elderly loved one needs help maintaining a high quality of life while aging in place, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a trusted provider of Irving in-home care. Our caregivers provide transportation to and from medical appointments and social events, nutritious meal preparation, assistance with daily exercise, and help with everyday tasks like bathing, grooming, and light housekeeping. To learn about our high-quality in-home care services, give us a call at (817) 591-1580 today.