Fortify Your Ability to Remain Independent at Home
As we age, the challenge to stay in our home can sometimes be the day-to-day activities we now find more difficult. Things like cleaning, scheduling appointments, managing medication, preparing a meal, maintaining a yard, or caregiving should not be reasons we can no longer live there.
Here are some questions to consider:
- Is my home safe?
- Am I comfortable in my home?
- Do I have access to transportation?
- Do I feel isolated?
- Can I afford it?
To answer these questions, there is a reliable network of agencies and organizations that specialize in helping seniors live in the community and residence of their choice. The backbone of this network are the Area Agencies on Aging who provide us with reliable information, resources and services.
Additionally, below, we can find links to services and supports that are specific to Staying at Home, and to the right are Quick Tips that are updated periodically.
Quick Tips
Making your home safe::
- Provide rails and grab bars
- Secure loose rugs
- Install non-slip mats
- Check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers
- Avoid spills and burns by ensuring pot handles are not pointing outward on the stove
- Ensuring medication is properly marked and dispensed
- See Retireguide.com— a free “Aging in Place” resource dedicated to providing useful information to help older adults and those care for them
Bringing nutrition & interaction to homebound seniors
Reducing food insecurity through monthly food boxes
Offering assistance to those who assist others
Reducing isolation & increasing independence in local communities
Staying in your own home as you get older is called “aging in place”
Enhancing employability for those needing to re-enter the workforce
Bringing awareness of Medicare cost-saving programs to participants
Undertaking everyday duties that have become difficult to complete
Performing the heavy lifting of home maintenance & repairs
Providing critical periods of rest for caregivers
The average % of monthly income used for housing is 35%
Building system to support the knowledge & skills necessary to address dementia