Aging in Place: Help at Home for Seniors

There's no place like home, and most older adults agree. AARP reports that more than 75% of seniors want to remain home for as long as possible. While aging can come with challenges that make living at home safely more difficult, many resources can help seniors enhance their independence at home. With the proper assistance and the right team in place, aging in place at home can be a realistic goal for many older adults.

If you or your loved one are considering staying at home for as long as possible, understanding the resources in the area can be an excellent first step. Here are a few ways to adjust your home, habits, and support to stay healthy, comfortable, and happy at home.

Household Chores and Maintenance

Maintaining a home, especially a large one, can feel insurmountable for many older adults. Add in mobility challenges, balance issues, and decreased energy, and it's no wonder why some seniors have homes that can fall into disarray or not meet their previous standards. Consider getting help at home for regular maintenance and cleaning tasks by contracting them out; this will ensure the tasks are completed, the home is cared for, and the older adult doesn't need to take the time or energy to do them on their own.

• Hire a year-round landscaper to care for the outside of the home. Depending on your climate, services can include snow removal, cutting the grass, and trimming trees or bushes.
• Find a local handyperson who has experience working with seniors and a solid reputation. Ask friends or neighbors for referrals. Your local senior services department might also have vetted volunteers to help older adults with home maintenance tasks for free or at a reduced rate. Having someone on call to help with a leaking faucet or when new photos have to be hung can be well worth the investment, especially if family members live far away. If possible, keep a list of tasks for them to complete and call them when you have two to four tasks to complete.
• Consider hiring a housekeeping service. You can find housekeeping services through referrals from neighbors, friends, or your town's senior services department. Once a month or once every two weeks is a good frequency. Home care agencies also offer light housekeeping, laundry services, and companionship visits.
• Find a way to alleviate the stress of a constantly full laundry basket. If family members are nearby, see if everyone can consistently commit to a schedule to throw a load in the washer or dryer. If family members aren't available, see if you can find a local laundromat that will do laundry pick-up and drop-off services every week.

Transportation and Delivery Services

Getting to and from favorite places and errands becomes difficult when driving independently is not an option. Fortunately, you can find ways to provide services to your loved one at home and get them to their important appointments.

• Contact your local senior services department to set up Meals on Wheels for meal delivery. Depending on their location, seniors can receive a hot meal for free daily, up to five days per week.
• See if your preferred pharmacy offers prescription delivery services. If not, consider having a friend or family member pick up prescriptions or use a service like Instacart or DoorDash to deliver over-the-counter medications.
• Research senior-friendly public transportation in the area, including whether the bus, subway, or train is free or has reduced rates, as well as how to schedule pick-ups and drop-offs from senior transportation services.
• Consider if a rideshare service like Uber or Lyft might be a good option for your loved one to use when they need to get to appointments, social functions, or errands.
• Grocery delivery services, through Amazon or Instacart, can allow seniors and their caregivers to create a grocery list and have the items dropped off at a designated time.

Assistive Technology

Need support with reminders? There's literally an app for that. Thanks to technology, many older adults can get help at home in new, modern ways that weren't an option before.

• Use a digital assistant with alarms, like Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Set an alarm for medication reminders, to take blood sugar readings, or to check in with a loved one.
• Digital assistants can also be excellent for cognitive exercise. Use them to play games like trivia, name that tune, or simply catch up on the local news.
• Medication reminder systems have leveraged technology to offer an even safer alternative to traditional pill boxes. Automatic pill dispensers can reduce the risk of medication errors and keep family caregivers in the loop.
• Caregiver apps can be helpful for family members to use when trying to coordinate care and check in on their aging loved one. Some apps allow primary caregivers to post updates and ask for specific help, while apps like Medisafe can hold prescription medication schedules and information.

In-Home Caregiver Support

Aging in place often requires some hands-on assistance in the home. Hiring an in-home caregiver through a home care agency is the best option for most families. You might need to begin researching local home care agencies if you notice:

• Your loved one is wearing the same clothes repeatedly, or there are other signs that their personal hygiene is declining.
• They have fallen in the past three months.
• There has been recent, unplanned weight loss or weight gain.
• Your loved one spends most of the time in bed or their favorite recliner.
• They have said they are lonely or have commented about feeling isolated.
• There has been a medication error, or they have expressed stress over their medication schedule.

Choosing to age at home for as long as possible doesn't have to mean you go it alone. The right team and resources can ensure you or your loved one gets the necessary help at home to stay as healthy and safe as possible in the home you love for as long as possible.