If you have an elderly loved one that you’re getting worried about but that is hesitant about leaving their home to move into an assisted living facility, you might be wondering about what you can do to help your loved one stay safe and in their own home for as long as possible. Luckily, with your help and support, your loved one may be able to stay in their home for much longer than otherwise possible.
To help you see how this can be done, here are three ways to help your elderly loved one stay in their own home for longer.
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Start Taking Preventative Measures
As soon as you start to become worried about the age of your elderly loved one and their ability to continue caring for themselves in their home, you should start taking some preventative measures to keep them safe and healthy.
Think about what might be the most likely things that your loved one will need help with or adjustments made for as they age. If you know there’s a family history or predisposition for some kind of health or mobility issues, preparing their home for the possibility of this now, before it becomes a necessity, could be a great idea. This way, transitions will be easier and more subtle, which your elderly loved one will appreciate.
Find Ways To Help Meet Their Needs
For needs that require immediate assistance or things that could be more streamlined for them, consider what you can do to help meet those needs and make things easier for your elderly loved one.
In some instances, seniors might need help with basic house cleaning tasks, help with their finances, assistance with grocery shopping and preparing meals, managing medications, keeping track of bills and appointments, and more. So if you notice that some of these things are slipping through the cracks, either step up and help yourself or come up with some kind of system that will enable your loved one to get the help they need.
Seek To Keep Them Autonomous
Even if your elderly loved one is needing help with doing things around the house or requires changes to the way things used to work for them in the past, your main objective should be to try to keep them as autonomous as possible for as long as possible. When decisions are to be made, make sure you’re involving them and getting their feedback about how changes can best be made for them, especially when it involves their life in their home.
If your elderly loved one wants to stay in their own home for as long as possible as they age, consider using the tips mentioned above to help make this a possibility for them.
