Staying Healthy
Do-it-yourself assisted living
These are the elements you’ll need to set up an assisted living lifestyle in the comfort of your own home.
We work hard to be independent all our lives, and it doesn’t change because we get older. But if it seems like you’re out of options for living on your own, take heart: you might be able to create a "do-it-yourself" version of assisted living in your current home by hiring various services and adapting your environment to your needs.
Getting started
Seek guidance when setting up an assisted living arrangement. "Have someone come over to your house, look at your situation, and talk about what it will take to make this work. If you don’t have grown kids to do this, get a social worker, an occupational therapist, or someone who can do an evaluation," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
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About the Author
Heidi Godman, Executive Editor, Harvard Health Letter
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