5 Living Solutions for Aging Seniors

The Census Bureau projects that in the year 2025, the number of seniors will exceed the number of children under the age of 13 for the first time. By the year 2030, all 74 million baby boomers will be 65 or older.

If you have baby boomer parents or loved ones, there are several questions that you need to address but only two that everything else really hinges on: What is the best solution for them? And what is the best solution for you and your family? Yes, these can be very difficult to dive into but it is needed. It is important to understand that the answer to these questions is not the same for everyone and it will impact your lives moving forward so they need to be addressed with all in mind and before the time for action is necessary. This is the purpose of Advanced Care Planning – having a plan in place for when the time comes that care is needed, everyone is on the same page.

So let’s discuss some of the options that are available to find the best solution for all involved.

Aging in Place

A recent survey from Capital Caring Health reported that 90% of Americans aged 50 and older expect to age in place. Making modifications to your current home such as moving a bedroom, installing grab bars, or widening doorways to accommodate walking aides allows for almost any senior to age in place.

According to Jonathan Sanford and the National Center for Biotechnology Information and several studies,

Home modifications and assistive and communication technologies have been found to prevent functional decline and disability, promote independent activity and safety, increase task self-efficacy, and enhance health outcomes.

Moving in With Kids

This can be a win-win situation for all involved if both parties are willing to make some accommodations for each other. There are definitely potential perks of having a live-in babysitter as well as providing an active lifestyle to help stave off loneliness, and boredom and help cut back on living expenses.

Senior Communities

There are several different types of communities that you can consider for your specific situation.

Independent Living Communities also called active adult communities or retirement villages are designed specifically for retirees and seniors who want to remain fully independent for as long as possible. These communities have an age limit to purchase and live within the properties. They have amenities, and social activities, and may even include on-site restaurants, golf courses, bocce fields, movie theatres, and more.

Life Plan Communities combine independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care facilities all in one location. Each of these is different in its own way and offers a range of contract options. If you are looking for a planned community that can accommodate for independent to skilled nursing care, this might be the best solution for your situation.

House Sharing

Maybe living with family is not the desired option but you don’t want to move into a community or facility either – there is another alternative for you. Home-Sharing brings together seniors similar to the idea of having roommates or housemates. It allows seniors to remain independent, cut costs, and have companionship with others in the same age group. Silvernest.com is dedicated to helping people find their perfect home-sharing solution.

Assisted Living

This can be the bridge between independent living and skilled nursing care facilities. They offer assistance for daily tasks and may offer community spaces for activities and companionship. Most assisted living facilities to provide private living quarters or apartments for their residents.

With Home Health and Hospice services available, all of these options allow seniors to age in place. There is no question that Health Care provided within the Home has been and will continue to be a huge need moving forward. There are numerous studies that show Home Health Care is a better alternative to acute care facilities especially if the care can be administered within the home. Now, the question is – Which option is best for your families?