Aging in Place Tips to Help You Plan for a Safe and Independent Future
Aging in place tips can feel abstract until you sit down and look closely at what the next chapter of life might require. I hold a masters degree in Medical Anthropology and Health Policy and Law. I am also trained as a Patient Advocate and certified by several states in their HICAP programs. Because of this background, I have studied aging in place for many years and feel that I have something meaningful to add to this conversation.
Aging in place can be a sensitive topic because the decisions involved stretch across every part of life. Some are financial. Some are health related. Some revolve around family dynamics, caregiving, or simple day to day safety. This post offers a brief overview of a few things to consider as you think about the future. Look to The Uncluttered Life’s Declutter Deck for tips and tricks about home organization.
The Goal of Aging in Place
More people are choosing to age in place and the trend continues to grow. It prompts an honest look at something many prefer to avoid. Our bodies change over time and those changes affect the way we move through a home. Most of us want to stay active and independent well into older age. In fact, surveys show that eighty eight percent of adults between fifty and eighty want to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Reaching that goal requires advance planning. When you look ahead and prepare for future needs, you give yourself a strong start.
Here are several aging in place tips that help maintain independence as you grow older.
Access Your Home
As much as you might love your home in its current state, it should be able to accommodate you as you become less mobile.
Consider the following factors:
Layout: Are a bedroom and bathroom located on the main floor in case going up and down stairs become a problem? Are entryways and exits easily accessible, particularly if you require a walker or wheelchair in the future? Can your home accommodate a live-in care specialist? If not, it is possible to make changes to your existing home? Will this fit into your budget?
Maintenance: Who will tend to your house, both inside and out? If you are unable to do that, have you factored regular maintenance into your budget? What about major repairs?
Location: Are home health aides and best-in-class health care specialists available in your area? Do family, friends, or other potential support people live nearby?
If you answered no to most of these questions, another home may be more suitable.
Support Network
Social isolation is a significant risk to your health as you age. This increases the likelihood of anxiety, dementia, depression, heart disease and stroke. Studies suggest loneliness is as dangerous to your health as smoking. If you have a small social network, make the effort to expand it by joining a local recreation center, participating in a book club, choosing a new hobby, or just getting better acquainted with your neighbors.
Prioritize Your Health
Maintaining your mental and physical health can help you preserve your independence. Data show that “lifestyle medicine” - prioritizing nutrition, physical fitness, sleep and stress management - can help ameliorate up to 80% of chronic diseases.
It’s just as important to stay engaged with activities you love. Committing to an interest outside the house will also help build your social network and stave off isolation.
Think Long Term
Even if you take good care of yourself, odds are that you’ll still need help with activities of daily living. These include bathing, dressing, and even eating, as you get older. Most people assume their spouse or another family member will provide long-term care, but that’s not always the situation. Caring for someone else can be emotionally and physically hard work. Many people find hiring additional help is the best path forward.
Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the cost of long-term care, which can be very expensive. The annual median cost of an in-home health aid, for example, exceeds $75,000 a year.
If you can’t or don’t want to pay out-of-pocket for these costs, consider long-term care insurance. The price of a policy isn’t cheap, depending on the carrier and your situation. But the cost of not having coverage can be more expensive. If you do decide to purchase long-term care insurance, it is best to do so between the ages of 50 and 65. The longer you wait, the higher the premiums are and the greater the risk you have of being denied insurance coverage entirely.
Aging with Grace
A wise person once observed, “We all get to be young, but it’s only the lucky who get to be old.” Make aging in place a healthy vision rather than just leaving it to chance.
Cathy Orr, Co-Owner of The Uncluttered Life and Medical Paperwork
Cathy holds a master’s degree in Medical Anthropology and a master’s degree in Health Policy and Law from UCSF. She also holds a master’s certificate in Patient Advocacy and has been trained by HICAP in both the states of California and Texas. HICAP, or the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program, is a free service that helps people with Medicare and other health insurance questions. HICAP offers counseling, education and some legal services. HICAP is a free, unbiased one-on-one assistance program. In California, insurance counselors are registered by the California Department of Aging. In Texas, the Texas Health Information, Counseling, and Advocacy Program (HICAP) is a free program that helps Medicare beneficiaries in Texas with counseling, enrollment, and information. HICAP is also known as the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP).
Cathy can also help with decluttering paperwork, especially medical paperwork, which she does through The Uncluttered Life. Her degrees allow you to be effective in dealing with medical paperwork. In fact, paperwork is her strongest suit when it comes to organization. She understands the ins-and-outs of Medicare, what medical papers need to be kept and what can be tossed. She has an extensive background in Medicare and insurance billing and is able to work well with older clients to rid themselves of many things they are afraid to toss. She finds that the less paperwork a person has, the easer it is to know where everything is.