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More elderly adults than ever before are choosing to age in place. A recent study conducted by AARP found that 77 percent of adults over the age of 50 want to stay at home during their golden years.
If you or a loved one wants to age in place, what are some things you can do to make the transition easier?
Read on for a list of five things you can do to make the aging-in-place process go as smoothly as possible.
- Assess Your Financial Situation
Many people believe that aging in place is a smarter financial choice. You won’t need to pay a nursing home or a senior living facility exorbitant fees every month to live there.
However, if your mortgage payments are high and you need to make changes to your home, it might be a more expensive option. Sit down and go over your finances to determine if aging in place is a good financial decision.
In most cases, any changes you make to the home will be minor. This means that aging in place could still be a better option money-wise.
- Will You Have Help?
Before you decide to age in place, it’s important to consider what type of help you’ll have at home. If your children live far away, you may want to think about paying for a home care assistant.
Look for senior centers and other nonprofit groups in your area. They can help you find the assistance you’ll need as you get older and choose to stay at home.
- Consider Transportation Needs
You’ll also need to look at your transportation options when aging in place. If you can no longer drive, you’ll need to make sure someone can take you shopping, to doctor’s appointments, and run other errands.
Talk to your neighbors and find out if people near you can help with transportation. Develop a reliable network now so that you have someone to lean on in the future.
- Update Your Home to Age in Place
You’ll also need to consider creating an aging-in-place design for your home. Whether you install stair lifts or grab bars in the bathroom, there are several changes you’ll need to make to your abode.
The key to choosing to age in place is to make sure that your home is safe. Look at ways you can make some of these changes now so that they’ll be done when you reach old age.
- Be Flexible and Adaptable
As we age, our bodies and minds change. When you choose to age in place, you’ll need to learn how to adapt to these major changes while at home.
What works for you now might not work in the future. Get ready to be adaptable as much as possible so that you’re able to remain at home for as long as you can.
Prepare for Aging in Place Now
If you want to age in place, keep these tips in mind to make the process easier. From your financial situation and updating your home to transportation, everything you do now will impact your future later.
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