If you’re one of the many seniors who would like to age-in-place, you may think it requires you to stay in your existing home. But that’s a misperception.
In fact, your current home may make aging-in-place almost impossible. To be able to age well in a home, certain design features can create a barrier, including:
- Flights of stairs
- Steps to enter and exit the home
- Narrow hallways and doorways
- Kitchen cabinets that aren’t easily accessible
- Bathrooms too small to enter and maneuver
If your plan is to age-in-place, you will want to start with an intentional residential design that will support your efforts.
Why do people want to age-in-place?
The phrase itself is often used to represent another term that people desire – independence. Not being able to live at home may be confused with no longer being able to maintain their independence.
But seniors can be independent and age-in-place wherever they live if they start with the right home and can create the needed lifestyle elements.
What do you need to successfully age-in-place?
- A safe place to live
You’ll need a home designed to decrease the risk of falling or having an accident. Modifications may be required, such as the installation of grab bars and a walk-in shower, non-slip flooring, a home alarm and a personal alert system.
- Assistance with the tasks of daily living
As you grow older, you may need a little help with the basic daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing or preparing meals. Depending on whether you live alone or have a family member that can provide these services, you may need to bring in outside help.
- Ability to prepare healthy meals
Having access to the right nutrition is crucial as you grow older. Fueling your body to remain strong and well hydrated should be a priority for seniors. If you or your loved one is unable to shop and cook, this can have a negative impact on overall health.
- Access to transportation
The lack of transportation can play a large role in your ability to socialize, remain engaged in the community and keep up with all of your medical appointments. No longer driving or having to ask for rides can become a barrier for many seniors in maintaining optimal health.
- Ability to participate in physical and cognitive activities
Exercising both for the body and the brain should be placed near the top of the priority list as it greatly impacts the ability to remain independent. It may be hard to motivate yourself to work out or participate in activities, but the health benefits you’ll receive are vital to aging well.
- Engaging in social interaction
Human beings need social interaction which can greatly influence health and longevity. But as you grow older, it may also prove to be more of a challenge. We may have fewer people in our lives or find it more difficult to attend social events. Isolation can result.
How assisted living can support your efforts to age well
Taking a look at what assisted living can offer and how it may address the above requirements can illustrate how well this lifestyle may fit into your plans.
- A safe place to live: Assisted living is designed to provide older adults with a secure place to live. You’ll find individual residences with safety features, including wide doors, bathrooms designed for safety and assistance if needed, and common areas that meet the same accessibility requirements.
- Assistance with the tasks of daily living: Imagine how much easier your life could become if you received assistance with getting in and out of the shower, grooming, housekeeping or any of the other basic tasks of daily life. For many seniors, the worry and anxiety they once felt is eliminated with assisted living.
- Ability to prepare healthy meals: Nutritional yet delicious dining and food options are provided in assisted living. You’ll no longer need to shop, cook or clean up after meals. You’ll find meals created with healthy and fresh ingredients and a wide range of choices to satisfy every appetite and palate.
- Access to transportation: Assisted living provides scheduled transportation so driving will never be a barrier to attending special events or making it to medical appointments. It’s much easier and stress-free to travel as a passenger and not have to worry about traffic or parking.
- Ability to participate in physical and cognitive activities: You’ll typically find a fitness center and classes where you can exercise, stretch and maintain movement as you keep yourself in shape. There are also planned activities, cognitive exercises and games that you can take part in to keep your brain sharp as well.
- Engaging in social interaction: It’s so simple to meet others and make new friendships. Not only will you be living in a community filled with people who have similar interests and experiences, but you’ll also find planned and scheduled social events and activities so you can easily meet and share your new life with others.
Life at Tapestry Senior Living communities
Aging-in-place is a goal for many seniors but the homes we live in weren’t typically designed with aging in mind. If you need to renovate your home to accommodate your needs or require daily assistance with basic tasks, assisted living may be the better answer.
At Tapestry Senior Living communities, we provide not only assistance but the activities and amenities that contribute to a high quality of life. And our person-centered approach and services all play an important role in helping our residents remain engaged.
If you or your family is considering assisted living, we invite you to download our free guide The Dollars and Sense Guide to Senior Living.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule a personal tour, please contact one of our advisors.
