My City July 2022

MYLIFE

1 Aging in Place For the vast majority of seniors, the goal is to age while remaining in the comfort of their own home. Even for people beginning to struggle with ADLs, the home is still a viable option with small, inexpensive modi cations. For a multi-level home, the bedroom may be moved to the main oor to help with mobility; bathroom modi cations can be easily made (safety bars installed, new shower area, etc.), ramps installed and more. For those who may need a little more help, personal care workers are available to be on-site for certain hours of the day. Before moving a family member out of the home that they have lived in for years, ask yourself if modi cations could be made to make daily life easier. 2 Independent Living & Age- Restricted Communities For seniors who are relatively healthy but feel distant from social interaction, independent living and age-restricted communities can o er a much-needed boost to their self-esteem and quality of life. Retirement and age-restricted communities have advantages that a typical home and neighborhood may not.

• Housing is usually designed for seniors who may struggle with ADLs. • ey relieve the stress of daily chores such as home maintenance and housekeeping. • ey facilitate new friendships with persons of their same age and interests. • Often communities will o er on-site activities such as ballroom dancing, a movie theater, golf course, etc. 3 Assisted Living is option is for seniors who do need help with some ADLs and IADLs but can still handle most daily tasks; full-time supervision is not yet required. Res idents of these facilities generally live in their own room/ apartments with private bathrooms and share common areas with other senior couples or singles. e majority of ADLs such as cooking and cleaning are handled by sta , allowing residents to socialize and enjoy their free time. For many, assisted living acts as a bridge from aging in place to nursing home care. Assisted living facilities (and nurs ing homes) are often specialized to cater to speci c needs. Memory Care Facilities are created for seniors who su er

Senior HousingOptions

54

MYCITYMAG.COM

XX

MYCITYMAG.COM