Question

How can you help an older parent or relative to "age in place"? What would need to happen?

Answer 1

To Age in Place means that you will be remaining in your own home for the later years of your life; not moving into a smaller home, assisted living, or a retirement community. This lifestyle choice is also known as “Ageing in Place.”

Help that can be offered to a parent or relative to age in place can be in various forms Few of them can be :

Personal care. Help for bathing, washing your hair, or dressing .It can be offered by a relative or friend , Or, you could hire a trained aide for a short time each day.

Household chores. Help with chores like housecleaning, yard work, grocery shopping, or laundry .Some grocery stores and drug stores will take your order over the phone and bring the items to your home. There are cleaning and yard services you can hire, or maybe hire a housekeeper or gardener . Some housekeepers will help with laundry. Some drycleaners will pick up and deliver your clothes.

Meals. Help to ensure that we get nutritious meal on a daily basis. Sometimes you could share cooking with a friend or have a potluck dinner with a group of friends. Find out if meals are served at a nearby senior center or house of worship. Eating out may give you a chance to visit with others. Meal delivery programs bring hot meals into your home; some of these programs are free or low-cost.

Money management. Help with paying bills and insurance. Maybe you can get help with these tasks. Ask a trusted relative to lend a hand. Volunteers, financial counselors, or geriatric care managers can also help. Just make sure you get the referral from a trustworthy source, like your local Area Agency on Aging. If you use a computer, you could pay your bills online. Check with your bank about this option. Some people have regular bills, like utilities and rent or mortgage, paid automatically from their checking account.

Be careful to avoid money scams. Never give your Social Security number, bank or credit card numbers, or other sensitive information to someone on the phone (unless you placed the call) or in response to an email. Always check all bills, including utility bills, for charges you do not recognize.

Health care. Help to take medicine on time. There are devices available to remind you when it is time for your next dose. Special pill boxes allow you or someone else to set out your pills for an entire week.If you can't remember what the doctor told you to do, try to have someone go to your doctor visits with you. Ask them to write down everything you are supposed to do or, if you are by yourself, ask the doctor to put all recommendations in writing.