Growing old is inevitable, but it does not have to be worrisome. If you have a home you love in a great neighbourhood, you might begin to lose sleep over whether it is a viable option to continue living there as you age. Well, worry no more because there are actionable solutions to help you age in place and stay in your forever home. Keep reading to get started.
Learn About Home Adaptations
When considering age-in-place solutions for your home, the first thing you should do is look at the options available in adaptations through a reputable company, such as https://shapeyourworld.co.uk/. Their team of experts will discuss your current home configuration and make recommendations to accommodate your changing needs.
Some common adaptations for ageing include:
- Access Ramps – An access ramp will eliminate barriers to entering or exiting your home so you can continue to enjoy the world around you.
- Building Solutions – Adding an extension to your home or converting a loft or garage can give you the space you need to remain in your home with additional accessibility options.
- External Modifications – From installing a safety fence to levelling a driveway and creating safer stairways and sidewalks, there are proactive ways to modify the exterior of your home to make it easier to enjoy your garden and get outside.
- Kitchen Adaptations – If using a wheelchair limits your access to the kitchen, adaptations, such as creating an opening under the sink and potentially lowering it will help with independent living.
- Level Access Showering Facilities – A no-step shower that gives you the option to stand or use a shower chair helps foster independence without the hazard of tripping.
- Stairlifts – Climbing chairs may present a challenge as you age, but the addition of a stairlift means you can still access an upper floor.
- Toileting Solutions – From moveable toilets to bidets, there are options to help you with this basic need.
- Walk-In Baths – Like level access showering options, a walk-in bath reduces barriers to bathing while providing safety.
Hire a Carer
As time passes, you may arrive at the conclusion that, while you are able to remain in your home, you might need more help than your family members can provide. If that happens, consider hiring a professional carer to help you with your activities of daily living.
Depending on the type of carer you engage with and your specific level of need, your carer will assist you with some or all of the following things so you can grow older at home.
- Shopping for and preparing meals
- Transportation to and from appointments and social activities
- Companionship
- Bathing and grooming
- Home cleaning
- 24/7 onsite care and monitoring or live-in care.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means but gives you an idea of how you can still live a full life while working with a professional caregiver.
Watch this short video about one woman’s approach to staying active in the world through the assistance of a volunteer companion.
Help make your home safe and comfortable by taking advantage of ageing-in-place solutions such as adaptations. Everyone will age, so why not do it on your own terms and in the place you call home?