If you’re a senior who fancies remaining in your home rather than moving to a nursing home or assisted living center someday, you’ll want to know how to do so.
According to statistics, close to nine in 10 Americans between the ages of 50 and 80 want to stay in their homes as they age. It’s a phenomenon known as aging in place. But while the majority favor living independently as long as they can, it’s essential to know how to accomplish this goal.
Continue reading to learn what to do to maintain independence and live in your home as you age.
1. Get a Home Safety Check Done
One thing you need to do is get a home safety check conducted. Whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment, you must ensure that it’ll be a safe environment now and going forward. Did you know that 3 million older adults are treated in emergency rooms due to falls — and that around 300,000 older people are hospitalized each year for hip fractures?
When you get a home safety check done, the service provider will identify issues and recommend fixes. You might want to install grab bars in your bathroom, non-slip flooring, and even a personal alert system so you can get assistance in the event of an emergency.
2. Work on Your Health
It’s also essential that you watch your health. Getting enough sleep at night, engaging in sufficient physical activity, drinking enough water, eating healthy food, and going to your doctor regularly will help keep you in good health.
Some of the conditions that can reduce your independence as you age can be avoided or at least delayed if you prioritize your health. If you’re unsure where to start, make an appointment to see your family doctor.
3. Get the Right Tech to Stay in Touch
During the early stages of the pandemic, many people were forced to work from home and use video conferencing software to stay in touch with their employees and managers. That tech has been around for a long time, and it’s the sort of thing you need to familiarize yourself with.
Whether you get a tablet or a computer, learn to use it to stay in touch with loved ones. It can also be great if you want to make use of remote doctor appointments — telecare — where you can see and interact with the doctor remotely.
4. Invest in Smart Technology
Did you know that the projected tally for revenue in the smart home market last year was $31.45 billion? Statista adds that household penetration would climb to 43.8% in 2022 and soar to 68.6% by 2027.
Investing in smart home tech means investing in automation. For instance, you can set things up to monitor your lighting, entertainment systems, appliances, security system, door locks, climate control, and more with an app on your phone or tablet. It can help you feel more secure in your home and allow you to get things done by automation easily.
The good news is that smart home tech doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. A smart speaker like Amazon’s Echo Dot with the Alexa voice assistant, for instance, is a cost-effective option. It can be connected to other smart home technology that you want to have installed in your home.
5. In-Home Care
It’s also essential to consider in-home care. Getting some extra help might be the key to maintaining independence and aging in place. Whether you need help a few days a week or every day, getting that help in-home means you’ll be able to live in your home indefinitely.
Are you concerned about finding the right fit? If so, find a service provider that will allow you to get the in-home care you need from someone you trust — like a loved one or good friend. After all, who wants a complete stranger in their home? Get help from someone you know and trust.
If you’re an elderly person who wants to age in place, the recommendations above will help you. It makes sense to plan now rather than to wait until you’re in a bind and don’t know what to do. There’s no shame in moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility. But you should have the option of staying in your home if that’s what you want.
Keep being AllDayChic!
