50+ Lifestyles

Your Advocacy

By Jessie Thomson
GolderCare Solutions

Aging in Place ­– Getting Help to Stay Home Longer

Over the years of my grandmother’s card club gatherings, her home became the preferred location to meet. All of her friends liked to get together at her house because, “Kathleen has that nice high toilet seat and the walk-in garage.” Being together and socializing were important but so was comfort and accessibility. Having these amenities in place allowed these women to continue meeting, to continue to laugh and share their time, and to continue to feel and be independent.

Think of your home – waking up and getting ready for the day, cooking meals, switching over the laundry, going out to your car to run errands. Now imagine that you’re in a wheelchair or using a walker. What obstacles would you face? Should this keep you from living at home? No. Could it? Maybe. Activities of daily living, transportation, medication, nutrition, safety, and finances are key points to quality of life. Somewhere in this list may be the deciding factor as to whether or not you are able to stay in your home later in life.

“I’m unable to take myself to the restroom now.”

“I never get to leave my home because transportation is too difficult.”

“If there was a fire, I would not be able to get outside.”

“I don’t have enough money to pay for care at home anymore.”

Life gives us unexpected obstacles. Being aware of impending possibilities and proactive in creating a plan to overcome them, can help you establish your path and tools to navigate your journey.

Adaptive equipment (durable medical equipment), home improvement, and home maintenance pose very practical questions when associated with aging in place. If switching your laundry over is difficult, then mowing your lawn might seem like climbing Mt. Everest. Adaptive equipment can be suggested by your physician or therapist. They may also suggest home improvements to make your home safer or more accessible. Grab bars, non-slip flooring, wider doorways, and ramps are examples of modifications. Talk to your Medicare or insurance representative to see what they will assist with paying for. By enlisting guidance from healthcare providers you can ask for any orders needed to satisfy Medicare or insurance requirements.

Home maintenance, caregivers, home health services, as well as, palliative care and hospice services, are other resources that can aid you in staying in your home longer. Having assistance with meal preparation, accessing transportation to doctor’s appointments, and making sure your walkways are cleared of snow and ice are just a few examples of services in your home that can make the difference between staying there or needing to move to a higher level of care. Do not think of employing assistance as showcasing inabilities, but rather as proof of your ability to remain autonomous through problem solving.

Staying home longer may mean leaving home more. Social isolation can be a danger to your health and a detriment to your independence. It can cause down or depressed mood, weakened immune system, decline in physical ability, and lack of purpose. Not everyone is a “people person”, but stimulation and socialization are important to our physical and mental health. Volunteering, joining a group or club, or having coffee in town, as opposed to home, are great ways to get out.

In many instances the biggest hurdle to overcome is how all of this is going to be paid for. Some situations require being paid for privately. That being said, there are resources for those who qualify for Veterans Assistance, Medicaid Waiver Programs, or home and community based assistance. It is also a good idea to reach out to Medicare and/or your insurance to see what they cover. It never hurts to ask.

Thinking of how our health may betray us in the future sounds about as fun as eating right and exercising, but it is necessary. Avoiding these topics will not prevent them from happening. Use this time to plan and be in control of your future. Nothing is guaranteed, but the anxiety that these possibilities produce often dissipates when you have a plan.

On January 10, 2018,  GolderCare’s Senior Empowerment Series will be facilitating an in depth discussion Aging in Place: Getting Help to Stay Home Longer, all free and open to the public. Please visit our website https://www.goldercare.com/ for details.

Jessie Thomson, BSW, is a Care Advocate for GolderCare Solutions. She has years of experience working in the long term care setting in various capacities. She uses this knowledge and experience to help advocate for seniors and those with disabilities. You can reach Jessie at GolderCare Solutions Unlimited, LLC (309) 764-2273.