Deciding Between Aging In Place And A Care Facility
As people get older, many of them eventually find themselves struggling to keep up with daily living (or ADLs). Tasks that were seemingly effortless a few years ago—such as climbing the stairs, bathing yourself, getting in and out of bed, and so on—can become difficult or even dangerous. When these changes begin to creep up on you, it may be the time to ask yourself whether it’s safe to continue living at home or if you’d be better off entering a care facility. This can be a difficult choice, but this blog could give you some help and guidance in making that decision.
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How Much Help Do You Have?
The first question to ask yourself is how much help you have available to you. Do you have friends and family who live close by that could help you with difficult tasks regularly? If not, do you have the means to hire the help you need? This might include someone to assist with household chores or even a hospice care worker who can help with those ADLs mentioned above. If assistance is readily available to you or thinks of reliable ways to bring that help into your home, then aging in place may be possible.
What Changes Can You Make?
Next, ask yourself what changes you can make to your home to make it safer and more accessible. What tasks do you struggle with, and can they be made simpler with new aids, household fixtures, or simply rearranging your home? For example, if you work with cooking meals for yourself because many of the ingredients and cooking utensils are hard to reach, mixing your kitchen might make this much more comfortable. If you struggle with washing yourself daily, walk-in tubs are a reliable way to make that task safer and more comfortable.
Many senior citizens could benefit from making changes to their homes to improve accessibility. It’s essential that you not wait to make these changes until a fall and injury have occurred. Instead, assess where your home falls short in meeting your mobility needs and make those changes now. If you can’t see a way to modify your home to meet your changing needs, a care facility may be a safer option.
Are You Happy Where You Are?
Finally, honestly assess whether or not you’re happy in your home right now. While you may have emotional attachments to the house, if you feel isolated and alone in your current living circumstances, you will likely be much happier in a care facility where you can socialize with others every day.
However, if you are happy in your home and have good help, making some small changes to your house can go a long way towards making aging in place a genuine possibility. Walk-in tubs, stairlifts, and other improvements can make your home safe enough that you can continue living there for many years to come.