Helping Your Loved One to Grow Old at Home
With the retired population in the U.S. on the rise, many families are starting to think about long-term care options for their aging relatives. According to an AARP survey, almost 90% of adults over the age of 65 expressed a desire to age gracefully in their current homes during their golden years as opposed to an assisted living or nursing community. This desire can pose a unique challenge for relatives who are looking for a safe way for their loved one to maintain their independence, but at the same time, we all want to honor the wishes of our elders. Concern and compassion for others are central to the teachings of Sikhism, after all. Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to help your loved ones to remain in the comfort of their own home as they live out their retirement years.
Provide or Hire Live-In Care
As we age, issues such as limited mobility or memory impairments can make it challenging to handle household affairs. For many retirees, it can help to hire support services to assist with daily chores such as shopping, laundry, cooking, and more. Cleanliness is also essential for older Sikhs, and hired help can ensure that aging Sikhs are able to undertake cleansing rituals and keep their homes in order.
Not all families choose to hire the help of support services for their loved one. A home aide can be expensive, with homemaker services costing an average of around $48,000 per year and a home health worker costing an annual average of over $50,000. Instead, many families choose to help their loved one out themselves
While caring for an aging relative can be spiritually rewarding, it can also be a challenge. There are a variety of free or low-cost resources available to help informal caregivers to cope with the responsibilities and the stress of providing long-term support for their loved ones. There are also groups online and in most major cities where caregivers can meet to seek and share advice.
Make Accessibility Modifications
While offering support can help to ease some of the burdens of living alone, it's impossible to be there for your loved one at all times. One of the best things that you can do to ensure their safety while unsupervised is by modifying the home to make it safer. Mobility-impaired adults are at an increased risk of accidental slips and falls, which can pose a serious threat to individuals over the age of 65. There are several changes that you can make to their living space, including:
● Adding ramps in place of stairs, especially for adults using walkers or wheelchairs.
● Placing non-slip rugs in slippery areas such as hardwood or tiling.
● Adding grab bars in the shower and by the toilet.
● Replacing the bath with a walk-in shower, preferably with a built-in bench.
● Install extra-wide doorways if possible.
Here is a handy guide that highlights the specific financing options for in-place home accessability modifications available to seniors in various living situations.
Though aging in place can be a challenge, most older adults prefer it to the idea of moving into a nursing home or senior living community. Fortunately, you can help your loved one and make living alone just a little bit easier. Adding accessibility modifications to their space and providing day-to-day support can help you to carry out your responsibility to your loved ones and ensure that they live out the remainder of their years in peace and comfort.