What To Know About Aging In Place
As purveyors of geriatric medicine services, the healthcare providers here at Abraham Family Medicine are passionate about doing what is best for our advanced age patients. One such consideration for families to keep in mind is the best living arrangement for their loved ones. It’s only natural for people to feel the need to keep their loved ones closer as they age, and for people to not want to leave their homes of many years to depart to a senior living facility. “Aging in place” is a practice where a senior chooses to remain at home instead of moving into an assisted living or nursing facility. To help better understand the pros and cons of aging in place, we wanted to present some information that everyone should be aware of.
When considering aging in place as a solution, three very important factors need to be considered. The individual person, the specifics of the home, and the available loved ones and other potential sources of support. When all these factors indicate that someone might be a good fit for an aging in place arrangement, it can be the easiest and most comfortable situation for everyone involved. However, this is not the case for everyone.
While the desire to remain at home may be there in some cases, aging in place may simply not be feasible or practical for a number of reasons. For instance, larger homes that demand more maintenance and physical exertion to get around in may not be suitable for aging in place. Certain physical limitations like loss of vision or hearing, decreased mobility, and bone fragility must be considered so that they are in a safe environment. Aging in place may be difficult for seniors who do not have loved ones or caretakers who live nearby. In some cases, hiring a professional caretaker can help, but not every family can afford this and some seniors may not be comfortable with an unfamiliar stranger in their home.
For those that think that aging in place may be right for their loved one, we recommend ensuring the following home adjustments for aging in place have been made:
- Stairlifts (and ramps where applicable) to avoid potentially hazardous trips up and down the stairs
- Handrails and/or grab bars positioned in hallways and bathrooms to protect against falls
- Walk-in tubs or showers to avoid unnecessarily stepping over a high bathtub
- Safety shower mats to prevent potential slipping in the bathroom
- Ample lighting, including conveniently placed light switches, night lights, and motion detected lighting that comes on when a person enters a room
- Easily accessible shelving in closets and pantry
- A wearable security monitor, life Life Alert, to help alert the proper authorities in case of an emergency.
While we understand that these are never easy decisions, gaining a better understanding of the available options for elder care can only help our readers. We know that people just want the best for their loved ones and we feel that aging in place can sometimes be the most comfortable and beneficial option. For more information or if you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact Abraham Family Medicine today. Our office is located in Snellville, not far from Grayson, Dacula, Lilburn and Loganville.
