How to help seniors age-in-place
Thanks to Katey, a Caring & Sharing reader for letting us know that there will be an aging-in-place exhibit at the Atlanta Home Show called, “Home for the Ages.”
Pouya Dianat / AJC
Many baby boomers are now facing the important issue of their parents’ desire to “age-in-place.” Simply put, their elderly parents wish to continue living in their own home, or perhaps move into their adult children’s home, versus moving into an assisted living facility. These seniors may need little to moderate assistance with daily tasks. Still, the impact on the adult children’s lives can be significant. So what are the most important things to remember when helping your senior parents age-in-place?
Major issues include housing and transportation options, financial status and healthcare needs. Many baby boomers are either retrofitting their parent’s home or their own home for their elderly parents to reside in, complete with details designed to help seniors move around the home safely and comfortably.
If you have renovated your parents house or your own home for your parents to reside in, what are the most important aspects to remember? Any tips or advice for those embarking upon the project?
2 comments Add your comment
Nancy
March 12th, 2009
8:34 pm
We converted a den into a sitting room and then added a wheel-chair accessible bedroom and bathroom for my 92 year old mother. The bed and bath are separated from the rest of the house by the den, which makes it more private for everyone. Mom likes to be able to look outside, so we put 2 windows in her bedroom that look out into the backyard. We try to keep a birdhouse or birdbath and flowers so that she can see activity out her windows.
Katey
March 19th, 2009
10:08 am
There is an entire exhibit at the Atlanta Home Show this weekend (March 20-22) on this very topic. It is called Home for the Ages. Bring your parents with you to help keep them involved (adults 65+ don’t have to pay for a ticket to the show).