Ageing in place is the ability to grow older in one’s own home or community comfortably, safely, and as independently as possible. Growing older is a complicated journey full of ups and downs, but maintaining a sense of security, support, and homeliness can make the world of a difference.
Being able to age in place is considered a luxury for most people, because it requires significant planning, easy access to resources, and often external support.
If you are looking to prepare your home space for yourself or for an aging loved one, this article will highlight some of the most important factors to consider and how you can create an environment that is altogether comfortable, supportive, and homely.
Giving A Feeling Of Being At Home
Many seniors report feelings of detachment, isolation, and loneliness as they enter the later stages of aging. This is often because they are relocated during a period of their lives where consistency and stability are what they need most.
Moving away from one’s own home into a care home can be traumatic for some seniors, causing depression or feelings of anxiety to arise. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Choosing to help a senior age in place can provide them with the security and comfort they need to age peacefully and where they can still enjoy real money pokies and other favourite activities.
What’s important at this stage of a senior’s life is that they feel comfortable, supported, and well-looked after. Home is a feeling, not a place – and when that place is no longer suited to the lifestyle of a frail senior, external care homes can provide a valuable alternative.
Providing Forms Of Support That Work
If aging in place is the path for you (or your loved one), there are plenty of ways to prepare for this comfort-centred lifestyle.
Seniors tend to require a lot of support and attention, especially if they are terminally ill. Finding a live-in nurse, caretaker, or experienced and dedicated family member is one of the best ways to provide a senior with the support they need to age peacefully in place. There is also a lot of research to suggest the adoption of a dog is a great support for seniors. Some of the best dogs for seniors include poodles, spaniels, and French bulldogs. Experts say that affectionate, loyal, and easy to train dogs are the best fits for an older person who enjoys canine companionship.
Paying attention to detail is a big part of preparing a home for ageing in place. The senior in question will need easy access to medical support, methods of communication, food, and sometimes even travel.
A live-in carer is one of the most important components of an aging in place set-up. Living with someone they trust and feel completely safe with enables seniors to relax more fully into their space.
There are also smaller details to bear in mind: personal effects such as photographs, letters, books, décor, and other meaningful items can transform any living space into one that truly feels like home.
