Support is available for you
As they age, many older adults choose to remain at home. Knowing when and where to seek help is the best way to remain independent.
Learn about the services available in your community to help seniors. These include transportation, financial counseling, and home delivered meals.
Create a network of friends and family who can help you get through difficult times. Find someone you can trust. You can be a confidant to someone else.
Services for Independent Living
Chore Services offer non-medical services in the home such as cooking, housekeeping, shipping, washing, and transport. Churches, synagogues, and fraternal organizations may offer services.
Friendly Visitors provide companionship, and sometimes supervision, for a short time. They don’t usually offer housekeeping services or personal care.
Personal care assistants are trained to provide personal and basic health care, such as assistance with bathing, dressing, and using the toilet. These aides can help during the recovery period after a hospitalization or provide permanent caregiving. They may be available around-the-clock or for just a few hours per week.
Meal Services provides hot meals at a central place, typically in a senior’s center. Sometimes social activities are also offered.
Meals on Wheels and other groups that deliver meals at home usually bring in hot, nutritious, and affordable meals, typically during lunchtime.
Senior centers provide a place for older people to gather and participate in social events, educational programs, and meals. Some offer transportation from and to the center or to doctors’ appointments.
Retirement homes or residential care homes provide a supportive environment but still allow residents to be somewhat independent. Residents are given their own apartment or room. Some facilities offer meals at a central location, as well as a range of services such laundry, housekeeping and assistance with dressing, bathing and taking medication.
Skilled Home Care Services offer professional nursing care at home as required. This is often complemented by personal care from home health aides. Also available are services such as respiratory, occupational, and speech therapy. Some areas allow certain tests to be performed at home, including X-rays, lab tests and speech therapy.
Preventing falls
Falls and other accidents in the home can affect your independence. Stay safe and learn how to avoid these accidents.
Making a decision to move
You may have to decide at some point to leave the family home. You might want to be nearer to your children or grandchildren, or move to an area with a better climate, lower cost, or easier yard and house chores.
You may find that you can no longer stay in your home, even with the help of family members and neighbors. You have other options besides moving in with family or moving into a retirement facility. You can also consider home sharing, cooperative living or live-in partners.
Explore your options and learn more about alternate living arrangements. Consider waiting until you have settled into your new home before selling it. Consider having a Personal Care Assistant. This will allow you to be independent in your own home.