Home is where the heart is. For many of us baby boomers it’s where we’re most comfortable; surrounded by the things we love in a space that is welcoming and familiar to us. The overwhelming majority of seniors wish to remain in their homes and don’t believe they need to relocate simply because they are getting older.
Sadly, many seniors are forced to move away from their cherished abodes because they have not made the necessary personal and housing adaptations that are required to age safely in their homes.
Physical, mental, emotional, and social issues can lead to health problems and an increased risk of hospitalization. But the negative aspects of these issues can be transformed to positives with a bit of well-planned adaptation. To begin you need to make an honest assessment of both your housing situation and your overall health. The key is taking steps to avoid the most common barriers to aging well. It’s a simple formula to prevent unwanted upheaval from your home.
Firstly, taking care of your personal well-being is paramount. Your health and wellness need to be approached from a holistic model.
Secondly, your home needs to be suitable for aging. It needs to be in a location where you can access the services and amenities you require or have safe transportation options available to access them.
Learning to ask for the help you need and being willing to make adaptations will make a huge impact on the length of time you can remain in your home.
If you or the senior you are concerned about are unable or unwilling to make the changes required to age safely in the home it is time to consider moving to a more suitable living situation.
Aging Safely in Your Home is a practical guide for seniors to assess what personal and housing adaptations may be required in order to remain in place.
Useful checklists and suggestions help seniors and their loved ones work as a team to enable the dream of aging safely in their home become a reality.
