Many seniors have spent years—or even decades—in their homes raising families, celebrating life events, and creating a fulfilling life for themselves. It makes sense that they’d want to remain there throughout their golden years. Leaving these spaces would mean the loss of their independence, privacy, and much of their community and social life.
Though changes in health, physical ability, and cognition can make it challenging for a person to age in their own home, the benefits often outweigh the drawbacks. The guide below expands on these benefits of aging in place and discusses other ways aging in place may be good for your family members or loved ones.
Do you have a loved one who needs support to age in place? LightSpring Home Care is here to help. Our home care services include everything from light housekeeping and safety supervision to mobility assistance. Contact us today to learn how we can help your loved one remain safe and independent at home.
1. It Enables Continued Independence and Comfort
Many people think of home as the place they feel most secure. People decorate and remodel their homes to suit their tastes and needs so they can feel more comfortable. Home is the place where you can sleep, relax, engage in hobbies, and spend time with family and friends. Aging in place gives you control over what you do, when you do it, and how much privacy you have.
Those living in nursing homes or assisted living facilities often lose many of these personal freedoms. They have to live based on someone else’s schedule and have little control over their personal space.
2. You Can Remain A Part of Your Community
Moving to an assisted living facility removes a person from everything that’s familiar—including their social connections and local community. This transition can be very stressful for someone who’s always lived a particular way. Additionally, losing social connections may cause a great deal of emotional distress.
Aging in place and remaining a part of their community allows your loved one to maintain a sense of purpose and belonging, which enables them to thrive.
3. It Slows Memory-Related Diseases
Though there’s no cure for memory-related conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s, aging in place can slow the progression of these diseases by helping your loved one feel safe and calm.
Moving to a new, unfamiliar space can be jarring or frightening for a person with difficulties recalling and retaining memories. Following a regular routine in a familiar environment is comforting and can help them feel safe, no matter what state their memory is in.
4. You Get Personalized Care
In nursing or assisted living facilities, residents often get one-size-fits-all care because nurses and caregivers have multiple clients to care for at the same time. Aging in place with the assistance of home care services, on the other hand, can be personalized to fit your loved one’s needs and preferences. Since their caregivers only care for one person at a time, they can place all their attention and focus on ensuring your loved one’s needs are met.
5. It is More Affordable Than Alternatives
In general, home care is more affordable than moving into a nursing home or assisted living community. For example, nursing homes in New Jersey and Easter Pennsylvania cost about $90,000 per year, while non-medical home care in these areas costs between $65,000 and $75,000 per year—and that’s only if your loved one requires a full 44 hours a week of home care. If they only need a few hours of assistance per day, the cost of their care may be significantly less.
For instance, if your loved one needs the most help first thing in the morning, they may only require care for 20 hours per week. The cost for that amount of care would be approximately $611 per week or a little over $30,000 per year.
Common Concerns With Aging in Place
Though there are many benefits of aging in place, it’s not without drawbacks. It’s common for adult children of seniors to have concerns about their parent’s well-being—especially if they live alone or far away from friends and family. Below we’ll discuss two of the most common concerns about aging in place and how home care can resolve each of them.
Mobility & Safety Concerns
As individuals age, they often develop mobility issues and physical limitations due to arthritis, failing eyesight, or cognitive decline. These health issues can make it difficult to navigate stairs, bathe, prepare food, or remember to take prescription medications. Mobility challenges may also put your loved one at risk for falls, which can result in injuries and even broken bones.
Home care can alleviate these concerns by providing your loved one with supervision and assistance when they need it most. Caregivers foster your loved one’s independence while maintaining their safety and well-being.
Companionship Concerns
Humans are social beings that require community and companionship for optimum mental and physical health. Aging individuals may become homebound and isolated because they’re no longer able to drive. Prolonged isolation can lead to anxiety or depression, which can have a negative impact on their physical health, as well.
Home care agencies like LightSpring Home Care offer companion care services to help keep your loved one in good spirits. Professional caregivers will join your loved one in their favorite hobbies, reminisce with them, and safeguard their overall well-being.
How Home Care Can Help You Age At Home
If you’re concerned about your loved one’s safety or emotional well-being, home care may be the solution. Home care agencies like LightSpring Home Care assess your loved one’s health and mobility and assign professional caregivers to provide care and assistance so they can age in place.
For instance, if your aging parent’s arthritis makes it difficult to dress or bathe, a caregiver can help them—either by assisting them physically or by showing them easier ways to perform the tasks themselves. Caregivers can also remind them to take their medications on time, drive them to social events, and monitor things like their nutrition intake and cognitive health.
Age in Place With Help From LightSpring Home Care
At LightSpring Home Care, we believe that everyone should have the option to age in place—that’s why we offer compassionate home care designed to foster your loved one’s dignity, independence, and safety.
Our services include everything from fall prevention and medication management to light housekeeping, personal care, and companion care. We can even be there 24 hours a day if that’s what’s required. We’ll assess your loved one’s needs prior to starting care and create a care plan tailored to foster their holistic well-being.
Our caregivers are also fully insured, comprehensively trained, and dedicated to fostering your loved one’s physical, mental, and emotional health in the comfort of home. Contact us today to learn more about how our home care services can help you age in place.
