“Of course, your parents want to stay in their own home. Who wouldn’t! But you may be worried that it isn’t safe. That’s where we come in. With our expert knowledge of aging and the challenges that go with it, we can make suggestions for home modifications and elder care support services that will allow your loved one to remain where they are most comfortable: aging in place.”
—Melanie Oliver, MA, LNHA, LALA, CDCP, CCM
Your loved one may prefer to stay at home, but you may be worried that it’s no longer a good idea. Perhaps there’s been a fall. Or you simply notice that the upkeep and yard maintenance are getting to be more than they can handle, and the house isn’t getting any younger.
You are right to be concerned. The demands of independent living can be more than an aging adult can manage on top of other challenges in life. But given the right support, it’s usually quite possible to age in place.
Let us help you find ways for your relative to stay in their home.
Give us a call at 252-450-5731.
Or schedule a free initial consultation.
Some of the things we address for aging in place include:
- Dementia or cognitive impairment. Do we need to put in any safeguards such as a stove guard to be sure burners are not left on? Or home modifications that reduce the chance of wandering?
- Social isolation. This is a big concern when older adult chose to continue in the family home. Friends get sick, move, or pass away. And if there are transportation issues, that makes it all the harder to get out and connect with others. We are social beings. Isolation and loneliness has been shown to greatly impact physical and mental health. What can we do to make sure your relative stays connected? Zoom? FaceTime? Arranging rides to church?
- Senior transportation. Is the home situated such that there is easy access to buses? Are Uber or Lyft reasonable options? At such time as driving may no longer be advisable, how can we make sure your loved one does not become homebound for lack of transportation?
- Home and yard maintenance. Based on our long history in Wilmington and Jacksonville areas, we can refer you to reliable contractors and gardeners so you know that your loved one will receive high quality work and not be taken advantage of.
- Safety. From fall risks to “porch pirates,” we conduct a home safety evaluation. It may be that grab bars are needed in the bathroom, or better lighting in the hall. We might end up recommending a smart doorbell with a video camera to reduce the chance of bad actors coming to the door.
- Hurricane preparedness. We will work with you and your relative to develop a disaster plan. From packing a “go bag” to bringing deck furniture inside and establishing a communication tree, we can help you be sure your relative is well situated to weather a hurricane safely.
- Home care. At some point it may be that your loved one needs to have a caregiver come to the house, perhaps just a few hours a few times a week at first, but maybe even 24/7 depending on how strong, mobile and healthy they are, especially toward the end of life. You can rely upon us to recommend only the best home care in Wilmington and Jacksonville areas.
Looking to age in place? Give us a call at 252-450-5731.
Or schedule a free initial consultation.
