Baby boomers and aging in place! More and more aging individuals are choosing to stay in the homes they know and love for many reasons. While aging in place has adapted to our lifestyle, the phenomenon itself is not new.
It’s important to remember that not long ago, just a few generations back, many families had a lifestyle of keeping their elders at home until their last days. Grandpa and Grandma were an integral part of the home. They had their place. Today, this lifestyle seems quite unattainable. The pace of our lives has accelerated; in many households, both adults have careers, which has resulted in the abandonment of this lifestyle. Elders practically no longer live with their children. Statistics show that only 2.7% of Canadians live in intergenerational homes. However, we are beginning to see a return to this model of elder care. Another interesting option is planning for ‘our old age’ by adapting our homes.
A Smart Choice
Aging in place is an intelligent choice for those who wish to live out their lives in their own home, condo, cottage, or other beloved residence. Seniors who remain at home benefit from continuing to live in a familiar environment, maintaining their routines, sleeping in their own bed, eating what they want, etc. Our seniors often struggle with moving, especially at advanced ages, as these upheavals cause significant stress and anxiety, leading to a decline in health – particularly mental and emotional well-being.
Solution: Aging in Place
It is emotionally rewarding to find solutions to help a loved one remain in a favorable environment for them. Quality of life and personal attention, continuity of care, and person-to-person relationships — all of this is better. Family involvement is often necessary. For aging in place, home support services offered by the government and other organizations provide a lot of assistance. Seniors derive emotional, physical, and financial benefits from this. In some cases, home adaptation, supported by elder care professionals, allows couples to stay together even through old age and illness.
Ability to Remain at Home
Naturally, it is crucial to consider a person’s ability to remain at home. One must assess the person’s cognitive abilities to prioritize their safety and that of those around them. Generally, this is a good way to determine if a move is necessary. Of course, we all live with risks, and seniors do so when they choose to stay in a house with stairs, for example. Solutions can be considered to reduce these risks, such as installing a stair lift.
A multitude of choices are available to seniors and families for appropriate care.
The local CLSC can be a good resource for accessing a lot of information. At En Mouvement, we can also inform you about available grant programs to adapt your home. We are convinced that as long as a person’s health status and level of autonomy allow, it is more beneficial and advantageous for everyone to remain at home. It goes without saying that the home must be adapted to new needs.
