Aging In Place

More than 11,000 baby boomers retire each day. Whether you are anticipating that day, or have
reached it, you undoubtedly have asked yourself:
Can I have the retirement I’ve dreamed of?
This Special Health Report answers the question. And the good news is: Yes! You can make it happen! This empowering guide will dissolve any doubts and show you how you can effectively safeguard your future and protect your plans and dreams.

All the right moves — even if you stay just where you are.
According to AARP, 90% of people over 65 want to remain at home — whatever that means to them — for as long as possible. Regardless of what physical location you decide to call home, you want to live there safely, comfortably, and independently. Aging in Place is written to help you do that with confidence.

Want to give your house more “staying” power?
This guide will show you how. Whether it’s a new smaller house or your longtime residence, Aging in Place offers uncomplicated ways to keep your home in step with your changing needs.
From front steps to hall stairs…from showers to shelving…from boosting illumination to lowering thresholds, the guide will give you a host of ideas

You’ll be ready for the decisions that make a difference.
Do I take Social Security now? What is Medicare Part C? How does a living will differ from a POLST? Is long-term care insurance worth it? Aging in Place will tell you. You’ll find how to…
• Use advance care directives to make sure your wishes are your command
• Boost your income and benefits—and lower your tax bill too
• Make the most of services (including free!) for seniors in your state or town.

With Aging in Place you will understand what is too often overlooked. Most importantly, you will gain reassuring certainty that you are making the best choices for yourself or for a loved one.

You’ll discover dozens of tools, tips, and tricks to keep you safe and secure.
From a 32-point home safety checklist to a warning of 18 medicines that can increase your risk of a fall, when it comes to keeping you safe, Aging in Place covers all the bases.

You’ll read why after 65, you’re more likely to suffer a foodborne illness (and eight specific tips to avoid problems). You’ll find ways to increase your home security… how to choose the best home monitoring and best medical alert devices.

If you’re considering an in-home caregiver or assistant, our experts share how to evaluate your needs, how to screen caregivers, and how to best finance home care.

Although aging in place might be your goal, it ultimately isn’t right for everyone. Even if you’re currently healthy enough to stay in your own home, you need to prepare for any future eventuality. This report will also help you decide when it’s time to move to a place where you can get the care you need to stay safe and healthy — and can possibly even make new friends.

Prepared by Harvard Health Publishing in consultation with Suzanne Salamon, MD, Associate Chief, Gerontology Division, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. (2018). 49 pages.

Is aging in place an option for you?

The feasibility of aging in place begins with your physical health. If your health and mobility are good—and you can adapt your home to accommodate anyhealth and mobility issues that might develop in the future—you can feel comfortable staying whereyou are. The questionnaire “Am I a good candidate for aging in place?” on page 3 will give you a starting point for considering this broad topic. Clearly, if your health and mobility are good, you’ll have far fewer obstacles to remaining in place than if you need frequent medical attention and assistance in the home.

Basic steps—including eating a healthy diet and being physically active—can go a long way toward enabling you to maintain your health. The chapter “Stay healthy to stay independent,” starting on page 11, goes into greater detail on these steps. Fostering social connections with friends and neighbors also helps. Not only do social contacts give you an incentive to live more healthfully, but they also provide support in case you need assistance or someone to check in on you regularly. The chapter “Build social connections,” starting on page 17, can help you expand your circle of friends.

But what if you can no longer get around as easily as you did before? That doesn’t automatically mean that you need to move. Often you can make adaptations to your home to accommodate your changing needs. This report will give you guidance on how to make these changes (see “Adapting your home,” page 20, and “Improving home safety,” page 26). It will also offer suggestions of support services in the home (see “Getting help at home,” page 36), give advice on safe
driving (see “Driving and your independence,” page 40), and help you with financial and legal planning (see “Planning for your future,” page 5).

However, even with all these measures, you may find that it is not possible to achieve the three goals of safe, independent, and comfortable living. Conditions like arthritis, dementia, or a stroke can throw off your balance and judgment to the point that selfcare tasks like cooking or getting dressed become difficult, and even a simple trip to the bathroom is fraught with danger. If your partner passes away and you don’t have family nearby, home can be a very lonely, isolating place. If your home becomes hard for you to navigate safely, or you lack the resources to make the needed adjustments, it could be time to consider other options (see “When it’s time to move,” page 43).

As you contemplate the changes that would enable you to age in place, it’s also wise to consider the factors that might make it necessary for you to move at some point. That way, you can anticipate problems and prepare for them. Think about what type of community you’d want to live in based on your health, stage of life, and finances. Making these types of decisions ahead of time will prevent you from having to scramble at the last minute—and possibly from ending up somewhere that doesn’t suit you. You may even find that you’re happier living in a place that offers social interaction and round-the clock support than you would be at home alone.

Reviews

No reviews have been left for this newsletter. Log in and leave a review of your own.