The Support Systems To Help You Age In Place Comfortably

7 min Read
Planning A Support System That Can Help You Age In Place Comfortably

Support systems for seniors are very important, especially if you are considering to age at home. Apart from being an innate nature for humans to be social beings, having an active support system that will support you practically and emotionally will help you age in place more comfortably since you’ll need a lot of help with many things.

You shouldn’t have to figure it all out on your own, and we are here to make it easier, more affordable, and more fun to age at home by guiding you in planning the ideal support system for you.

1) Mobility

Older adults value mobility, even if it only extends to their immediate environs. Ensure they are properly suited for a wheelchair, powered mobility chair, walker, or cane. To make moving around the house simple, you can complete some helpful modifications to make your home safer. It often involves a wheelchair ramp, handrails, and wider door wells.

To help pay for these home modifications, check your long-term care insurance and some government programs that help cover these costs. Each has its eligibility requirements, so seniors can start by contacting their private insurance agent and learning more about HUD Home Improvement Loans and the VA Aid and Attendance benefits. 

2) Medication

To be healthy, senior citizens may require the right medications. Starting with appropriate medical care, such as doctor appointments, dental work, foot and eye care, physical therapy, and, if necessary, psychiatric therapy, is the first step in this process. A home-health nurse system might need to be incorporated into their daily care schedule if they need help taking their medications or administering insulin shots.

You can search for local Medicare-certified home health agencies in the Medicare directory and contrast them according to the level of service they offer. You might also look into the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), a Medicare and Medicaid program that provides comprehensive care for the elderly. It aids in providing services to those who might otherwise require nursing home care.

To find a PACE program near you, utilize the online PACEFinder or dial 1-877-267-2323.

3) Personal Care

An older person’s everyday needs include personal care. They could require assistance with dressing, grooming, and taking a shower. If necessary, a family member or home health assistant can assist with these chores.

Home care services are available for older people to help with this type of care.

4) Transportation

For a senior, transportation can be life-saving. Set and arrange transportation so they can travel to and from their doctor’s visits and physical therapy sessions if they can no longer drive. It is advantageous to have a caretaker or assistant who arrives on specific days to take an older person out for errands, to a social event or to the doctor.

Some resources that may provide you with transportation assistance are:

For their public transportation programs, many communities offer older citizens discounted fees. Some even offer door-to-door transportation for older adults who cannot access bus stops. If you use a mobility device, look for a program with accessible vehicles.

Some localities have social service organizations that provide local seniors and disabled people with volunteer drivers and escorts.

Contact your neighborhood Area Agency on Aging (AAA) or senior center to find out where to locate these services.

5) Nutrition

Having a balanced diet is essential for everyone’s well-being and comfort. Discuss a daily meal plan with a dietitian or caregiver to identify which meals best suit that person’s lifestyle. If meals are prepared every week, it is easier for the older person to heat and enjoy a warm meal every day. Seniors are guaranteed to have at least one healthy meal each day thanks to programs like Meals on Wheels and other initiatives.

Some nutritionists can help you monitor your diet and nutrition as you grow old since your nutritional needs may also change as you age.

You can check out these links to find an expert or check out available nutritional programs for the elders:

6) Financial

Finding the ideal balance between spending, saving, and investing is a challenge for people of all ages, but managing one’s money efficiently for seniors presents several special challenges.

You must learn to comfortably exist on your social security and retirement funds. Consider the long-term costs of senior care and independent living.

Consider looking for great financial advisors to help you with this matter. Here are a few professional databases you can search to find qualified financial planners in your area:

  • Certified Financial Planners (CFP): Listings for Certified Financial Planners can be found in this directory. You can restrict the results to fee-only professionals here and limit the results by specialties like Elder Care, Retirement Income Management, and Retirement Planning.
  • Financial Planning Association (FPA): This is a list of all Certified Financial Planners who are also Financial Planning Association members. Following the entry of your location details, you can limit your results to fee-only professionals and narrow your results based on specialty (including Life Planning and Retirement).
  • National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA): A directory of the association’s fee-only financial advisors. Additionally, they provide filters depending on specialties.

7) Legal

The legal challenges that older individuals encounter are frequently more serious than those that any other people in our society encounter. Income security, long-term care, nourishment, housing, utilities, guardianship defense, protective services, abuse, neglect, and age discrimination are some of the legal concerns that may arise. Older people should know their legal rights and seek guidance when necessary.

Hence, establishing a legal support system for yourself is a must as you grow old, regardless of where you want to age.

You may check out these sources to help you look for legal assistance providers for seniors:

You may also visit the National Legal Resource Center, which provides links to local legal services.

Other Sources

  •  Area Agencies on Aging. Numerous elder services are coordinated by local AAAs, many of which are especially helpful to seniors who are aging at home.
  • National Aging in Place Council. The NAIPC, which has branches in many significant American cities, assists in connecting older people and their families with service providers who can help them age safely at home.
  • The Center for Aging in Place. The Center for Aging in Place helps local governments set up the necessary infrastructure so senior citizens can continue living comfortably in their own homes.
  • Habitat For Humanity: Aging In Place Resources. To help older persons improve their homes and quality of life so they may thrive where they live, The Habitat partners with families, communities, and regional organizations across the United States.
  • LongTermCare.gov. This American website On the Department of Health and Human Services website, there is a wealth of information about possibilities for long-term care. The topics covered include determining how much care you require, where to get assistance, and how to pay for services.

Bottomline

To help someone age gracefully, support networks, such as those provided by the government, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses, are crucial, especially for those who prefer to age in place. In addition to providing their loved ones with the support and love they require, family members also play a significant role in supporting them in many other ways.

The elderly need a support system more and more as they age. Compared to older persons with no friends or family, a support system gives older adults a social network, enhances their loved one’s health, and even lengthens their life.

Additionally, the entire community gains when aging in place is encouraged. In addition to the advantages of aging in place for older people’s health and well-being, the community can gain from the knowledge that older people can impart from their life experiences. People of all ages will benefit from encouraging older individuals to volunteer more than any other age group and to stay involved in their community.