According to statistics collected by AARP, almost 90% of elderly individuals say that they want to stay in their current home as they age, avoiding institutional settings like nursing homes or assisted living housing. However, staying at home can become more and more difficult as age or infirmity sets in. But with an adequate care plan, a little forward thinking, and some help from outside resources, it’s estimated that roughly 90% of them (based on Census data) can effectively do just that. However, those modifications to accommodations, surroundings, and caretaker service plans are essential to make the dream of safely aging in place a reality.
The National Institute on Aging recently released a quick reference guide to the top concerns elderly people have about aging in place. These are the concerns that worry both aging individuals and their family caregivers to the point where they might consider assisted living as an alternative option. Therefore, these are the concerns which must be addressed to keep your loved ones at home for as long as it’s possible to do so.
Getting Around at Home
50% of individuals 65 years old or older who don’t currently drive stay at home nearly all of the time. That means the majority of the daily hazards they come across will be inside the home. These hazards include: trip and fall hazards (floor mats and rugs), heating elements and open flame (cooktops and candles), unsecured medications (prescription or OTC), and food safety (contamination or malnutrition).
Follow helpful advice from The AARP to help make your home safe for elderly individuals and mitigate these hazards.
Safety
Another concern for those aging in place is their physical and financial safety. As we age, we often become the targets of crimes including: theft, robbery, scams, and fraud.
Having another person in the home more often than not can help make your aging loved one less of a target for criminals. It’s no secret that criminals are less likely to prey on multiple victims at once than a single, seemingly unprotected individual—regardless of the crime they’re contemplating.
Indeed, simply having another person around can greatly ease the emotional stress and fear that your elderly loved one lives with. A study from Northwestern University found that “the elderly bear the heaviest psychological costs of crime. . .”
Our professional in-home caregivers in Texas provide more than just professional services. We offer companionship as well.
Care Gaps
Care gaps are those times of the day when family caregivers are unavailable. While most of us fear what might happen to our aging loved one at night, daytime—when family caregivers are at school or work—is the most dangerous time. Indeed, a global study on fall prevention found that only 20% of falls happen at night while 80% happen between 7AM and 9PM.
Having a professional caregiver in Texas fill those gaps for you can keep your aging loved one happier, healthier, and relieve the fear you might have about leaving your loved one alone.
Personal Care
One of the biggest obstacles elderly individuals run up against when attempting to age in place is the hurdle or personal care. Whether it’s financial concerns, memory issues, or physical disability that interfere, aging individuals often have trouble with: meal prep, toileting, bathing, household chores, and running errands.
This difficulty can be so severe that:
Between 12% and 50% of elderly individuals who live at home become malnourished.
10% have difficulty bathing.
66% of aging individuals need help with one or more daily chores.
Let Us Help Loved Ones Aging In Place
Our team of experience in-home care professionals can help your aging loved one live at home as long as possible. We minimize the risks they face and eliminate difficulties (such as getting around the house). We also provide necessary non-medical care such as meal prep, toilet assistance, running errands (such as visits to the pharmacy), and general companionship.
To learn more about all the service we provide seniors aging in place in Texas, contact Second Home Care today to schedule your in-home consultation. Call (972) 347-0700 today.