Let’s face it, old age is going to happen to all of us and the chances are that most of us will want to stay in our own homes.
To do that, however, to ‘age in place’ as it’s known, you need to have the right steps put in place while you’re still physically and mentally able to do so.
Here are some of the most common steps that you can take to ensure that you will get the most out of ‘aging in place’ safely and soundly.
Make your home safe
No-one knows what lies ahead healthwise, but even so, it’s a good idea to ensure that your home is adapted to pre-empt any difficulties with mobility or sensory awareness. Fortunately, a few simple changes can make your home easier and safer to live in.
A ramp at the front door, for example, will make access simpler for you – particularly if you have to use a wheelchair, Zimmer frame or other mobility aid. Widening door frames or changing the direction in which your doors open can also be a major help for getting about.
If you don’t need to use a wheelchair, then a hand rail will help you with the steps up to your front door. You can make yourself extra safe by adding an outdoor light that automatically comes on as you approach the door, but make sure that it is positioned in such a way that it doesn’t annoy your neighbours or disturb your sleep.
Grab bars in the bath or shower can make it easier for you to get in and out of the bath or shower more safely, while non-slip tiles will ensure that you avoid bad falls. If your budget will stretch, you could opt for a ‘wet room’ style of shower that allows you to simply walk in.
Always make sure that your home is well-lit. Motion-sensor lights will switch on automatically when you get out of bed, or when you enter a room, and so you don’t have to spend time searching in the dark for a light switch.
Putting coloured tape on the edges of stairs and other borders will make your home easier to navigate.
If you’re choosing to stay in a house rather than a bungalow, then stairs may prove a problem. If you can afford a stair lift, then that may be one way of negotiating the stairs more easily, but if a stair lift is outside your budget, then an extra banister rail will give you extra security.
And speaking of security, if you live on your own, you can give yourself further peace of mind by installing a system that lets you speak to visitors, who come to your front door. A door-entry intercom or video entry phone will enable you to find out who’s there and there are now video entry phones that allow you to open the door from where you’re sitting simply by pressing a button!
Personal care
If you find it difficult to wash yourself or your hair, or even to get dressed, then arrange for a relative or friend to help you. If you don’t have anyone who can do this, then you may need to pay for some sort of help.
Very often, older people become malnourished simply because they either don’t want to go to the bother of making nutritious meals or are simply tired of eating alone. Plan ahead and ensure that you have a social circle who are willing to share cooking or have ‘pot luck’ dinners, where everyone brings something to eat. That way you’ll have nutritious meals AND a social life.
Alternatively, you could find out if there is a centre nearby that specifically caters to older people – particularly those living on their own. Again, this would give you the chance to eat well and socialise.
Many companies now deliver hot meals to homes so, if you can afford to do this, it’s always an option.
Mobility concerns
If you begin to have problems simply getting around, then there are a lot of options open to you. First of all, you could ask friends or family to take you on outings such as to the doctor, the dentist or the hairdresser. But if you want to retain some independence then motability scooters are now very popular – as are electric chairs.
Find a carer
Many organisations now provide carers for older people. Carers can help you to remain ‘aging in place’ in so many ways. From providing you with home-cooked meals to taking you to appointments; from helping you with personal care to assisting with household chores, a carer can be that ‘stepping stone’ between living alone and not being completely alone!