If you’ve spent years living in the comfort of your own home, the thought of packing and moving somewhere new in your golden years can be downright depressing. The good news is that you don’t have to move if you don’t want to, but if you plan on remaining in your home as you age, there are some things you can do to ensure you get to stay there for as long as possible.
Reduce Your Chances of Experiencing a Fall
Falling is one of the main reasons why seniors have to give up their homes and move into an assisted living facility, or worse. Unfortunately, falls aren’t on the decline. According to a study conducted by the medical journal JAMA, the mortality rate of seniors over 75 who fall has more than doubled since 2000.
If you want to live a long, happy, and healthy life in your own home, you have to work towards reducing the chances of falling. That includes doing things like:
- Modifying the bathroom with anti-slip mats and grab bars in the bathtub.
- Illuminating hallways and other darkened areas with night lights.
- Eliminating clutter to prevent tripping.
- Securing carpets and rugs to the floor, or get rid of them.
- Understanding the side effects of your medication.
- Getting exercise and stretching daily.
Hire Help in and Around the House
Owning a home is empowering, but it’s also a lot of work. It can be hard to keep up with all the yard work and home updates when you’re young. It can be nearly impossible to do on your own when you get older.
Consider hiring service providers to do things around the house that you don’t have the energy or ability to do anymore. That might include hiring a landscaper to mow your yard and shovel snow or a maid to come in and clean once a week.
You shouldn’t be ashamed to look into home care services either. Hiring someone to help you prepare meals, get dressed, or assist you with managing your medication can enable you to stay at home when otherwise, you would have to move to an assisted living facility.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
Technology and seniors aren’t known for getting along. However, there are so many wonderful ways technology can enhance the lives of seniors and make living at home safer and more doable.
Medical alert systems are a great idea, especially since they have come a long way from the clunky, ugly devices you’re probably familiar with. Devices today can be worn around the wrist and do other things in addition to providing you with medical assistance in the event of an accident.
There are some cool new devices that can help too! Robots can help prevent loneliness, while virtual reality programs are a great way to get physical therapy at home.
Small Changes Can Make a Big Difference
Sometimes, it’s the smallest changes that can make a biggest difference in how you experience life in your home. For example, a longer pull cord on the ceiling fan can prevent you from having to stretch too far to reach it. Different latches on your windows and changing the knobs on your cabinets can make them easier to open for those with arthritis.
You can also find devices and accessories that can make living life at home easier. Consider a lift chair if getting up is difficult, or speak with your pharmacist about creating med packs that simplify taking your medication.
Stay Active
Exercise is important to everyone of all ages. It is especially important for seniors who want to remain independent in the home.
Benefits of exercise for seniors include:
- Reducing the risk of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, and more.
- Improving stamina and muscle strength.
- Reducing symptoms of depression and boosts mood
- Maintaining the health of bones, muscles, and joints.
- Controlling joint swelling and pain due to arthritis.
Staying active doesn’t mean you have to head to the gym and run on a treadmill! Nearly any kind of physical activity counts. Take an aquatic exercise class, get into the yard and do some gardening, or take a morning walk every day to reap the benefits of moving your body.
Have a Transportation Plan
One of the biggest challenges seniors face as they age at home is transportation. Getting around is fairly easy when you drive your own car, but what are you going to do if you are no longer able to drive safely?
Fortunately, there are many options available to you. It will give you and your loved one’s peace of mind if you have a plan in place for how you’re going to get around when driving your car is no longer an option.
Transportation options for seniors include:
- Hiring a driver
- Taxis, Uber, and Lift
- Senior call-and-ride programs
- Public transportation
- Friends, family, and volunteers
Restrict Access to Certain Areas of the Home
Even when things get more dire, staying at home is still an option if you know how to make it work. For example, the house can be dangerous for those with dementia, but it doesn’t have to be.
There are some things you can do to make the house safer for seniors with unique medical challenges, like dementia. Inspect each room and consider how you can make each space safer. That might include updating to sensor lighting and hanging curtains on sliding glass doors that could be mistaken for an open doorway.
It also means restricting access to certain areas of the home. Locks on the basement and exterior doors can keep those with dementia from wandering down into the basement or out into the street.
Just because you’re getting older doesn’t automatically mean you have to start looking for a new place to live! It is possible to live a long and happy life in your own home for many more years when you get serious about making your house safer.