Pros and Cons of Aging in Place

What Does Age in Place Mean for Families?

To age in place means you make the conscious decision to grow old in your own home or where you currently reside. You’re also realistic enough to know that you may need services to help you stay there and maintain the quality of life you want.
If you plan to “Age in Place” be realistic about what you need and it’s better to plan ahead. Also what you expect from your family and understand how they can and will be able to help. It’s important to have those conversations now.
Below are some important highlights to keep in mind for Aging in Place!

Home and Yard Maintenance: You may love working on your house and yard but at some point, you won’t be able to. When you can no longer safely climb the ladder or do cleaning around the house, then it’s time to get someone else do it. Find local specialists who can come weekly or bi-monthly to do the extra chores and help your environment stay clean, healthy and organized. Don’t wait until you hurt yourself to get help. Remember your goal is to age in place and that can’t happen if you get injured trying to do things you can no longer do.

Home Accessibility: Single storey living is the best choice for aging in place and that’s because eliminating the stairs will help you prevent a fall. If you’re in a two-storey home consider remodeling to create a first-floor bedroom and bathroom to avoid climbing the stairs. Other things to consider are:

Steps at the entryway into the house
The washer and dryer location
Tripping hazards such as throw rugs and electrical cords around the house
Interior lighting to see where you’re going
Adding grab bars in the bathroom

Meals: Grocery shopping has become easier over the past few years. Here are some options that will help as you age.

Online grocery shopping and drop off with a delivery fee is worth saving a trip to the grocery store.
If you don’t plan to cook food at home, there are many options to order food online and get the food to your home from local restaurants.

Health Care
Managing your health care can become a full-time job as you age. Few options to maintain good health:

Finding a care partner who can visit regularly
A family member who has the time.
Contract with home health services

Transportation: There may come a time when you’re no longer able to drive. The good news is getting around town has never been easier. With the availability of pick and drop services, one can handle doctor’s appointments, concerts, restaurants and more.

Some local agencies on aging have public transportation services for seniors
Using a paid pick up service such as Lyft and Uber

Stay Social: Maintain your social life because it’s an important part of aging well. Maintain a purpose as you age, so you’ll continue to feel energized, active and involved. Some tips for extra activities and keeping one’s social life busy are:

Join a community center
Join a class to learn new skills
Dine with family and friends
Volunteer at your favorite charity

Alternative Option to Age in Place:

While aging in place has many benefits, it’s important to also consider the potential disadvantages. Aging in place isn’t the right choice for everyone, and there are some drawbacks that you should be aware of before making the decision to stay in your own home as you age. Below we will explore some of the disadvantages of aging in place.

Social Isolation: One of the biggest challenges of aging in place is social isolation. As you age, you may become more socially isolated, particularly if you’re no longer able to drive or get around as easily as you once did. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and depression, which can have a negative impact on your overall health and well-being.

Limited Access to Services and Support: When you age in place, you may have limited access to services and support that you would have in a retirement community or assisted living facility. For example, you may not have access to on-site healthcare, transportation services, or meal delivery. This can make it challenging to meet your basic needs and maintain your independence.

Home Maintenance and Safety Concerns: As you age, you may find it more challenging to maintain your home and keep it safe. This can include tasks such as yard work, home repairs, and cleaning. Additionally, as you become more fragile, you may be at a higher risk for falls and other accidents in the home.

Financial Challenges: Aging in place can also present financial challenges. You may need to make modifications to your home to make it more accessible, which can be costly. Additionally, if you require additional services and support, such as in-home healthcare, you may need to pay for these out of pocket.

Lack of Socialization and Activities: Finally, aging in place can sometimes mean a lack of socialization and activities. In a retirement community or assisted living facility, there are often organized social events and activities to keep residents engaged and active. When you’re aging in place, you may need to make an extra effort to find activities in your vicinity, and stay social and active, and it can be challenging sometimes.

In conclusion, it’s important to weigh these factors carefully when making the decision to age in place or move to a different living environment.
Therefore it’s a good idea to look into Assisted Living programs. Assisted living communities are for senior adults who want to remain independent in a home-like setting but need non-medical assistance with activities of daily living such as eating, bathing, dressing, maintaining good hygiene and toileting. The person in assisted living typically pays monthly rent for a private room and an additional fee for the level of care needed.Residents generally have access to shared common areas. Depending on the community, shared areas may include dining, activity rooms, cinema room, a library and more. Assisted living communities range from those offering basics like daily meals and activities to those with luxury accommodations and amenities.

Assisted living communities are typically equipped with 24-hour on-site staff and provide up to three prepared meals a day, as well as housekeeping and some transportation services, daily physical and social activities
The Village at Sugar Land is one such community with lots of amenities and a home like environment. It’s like having a home away from home. One can enjoy activities with other seniors of the same age or have their own solo time. We offer customized individualized programs to our residents which keep them busy and entertained.

Reach us to learn more about the different levels of care we offer for your loved one, and the convenience of living safely with peace of mind.
Contact us at [email protected] or call 281-729-8800