Importance of Ageing in Place for Seniors

Things can change in life when an adult ages, from daily activities to living situations. If a senior faces difficulty living alone, they may need additional help. However, not all older adults realize the significance of assistance. In many cases, seniors may refuse to help or change any aspect of their lives.

If your loved one faces difficulties living alone due to a dementia diagnosis or other health conditions, you might be concerned about their safety. Unfortunately, your family member might be unaware of the severity of the issue and may not want to leave their home to get help. When memory or other health problems become a concern, you may want to look into compassionate dementia homes for assistance. But, when a senior wants to consider ageing in place, they may refuse to leave their home.

What is Ageing in Place?

Ageing in place refers to the experience of older adults remaining in their homes and living independently. Living in their own homes provides seniors with familiarity and improves their quality of life.

To better understand what ageing in place means, you need to think about things from an older adult's perspective. When someone is already dealing with significant life changes, it is normal to feel the need to stay in an environment that makes them feel space. However, ageing in place sometimes doesn't necessarily mean living in the same environment for a prolonged time. In some cases, moving into a more reliable environment can make seniors feel safer and more comfortable.

Thinking about ageing in place in Canada requires a senior to plan a life based on their goal. Making choices ahead of time allows adults to control their independence, quality of life, and dignity. The first step to ageing in place requires one to determine if their current one can meet their changing needs.

Benefits of Ageing in Place

Ageing in place in Ontario can benefit seniors in their own homes or residential home. Although many older adults prefer to live in their own homes, some might feel excited to get help from an elder care provider. Sagecare provides specialized dementia care services to help adults with memory loss age in place in a home-like environment. Here are some benefits of ageing in place in Ontario.

Stay Safe at All Times

Receiving care in a home-like environment allows seniors to stay safe at all times. When adults start to age, they may develop numerous health problems, affecting their daily activities and increasing the risk of accidents. Receiving specialized care will allow seniors to stay safe all the time.

Preserve Social Life

Social connections can reduce the risk of loneliness and depression while keeping seniors healthy. When a senior lives alone, it can be challenging to socialize and maintain friendships. But, living in a memory care home allows them to meet people every day while ageing in place.

Ability to Maintain Comfort

Whether an individual lives in their own house or retirement home, they can take measures to maintain comfort. For example, home elevators and wheelchair lifts allow seniors to reside comfortably in their own homes. On the other hand, elder care homes are aware of the help a senior may require, ensuring that the place is up to date to meet safety and comfort standards.

Minimize Stressors

When a senior resides alone, they have to worry about many things, such as bill payments and preparing food, which can be challenging for adults with a disease like dementia. However, ageing in place in a memory care home reduces the burden of performing every task alone. The registered nurses at SageCare provide Alzheimer's care to ensure every resident receives specialized care.

Reduce Frequent Moving Costs for Renters

If a senior rents a home, the costs and stress of moving between homes can be a significant problem. According to studies, costs associated with moving plays a crucial role in discouraging seniors from moving into retirement homes. However, ageing in place in Canada can be a lot simpler if a senior moves into a care home and starts to accept the place as home.

How a Memory Care Home Can Help

Many older adults prefer to live in their own homes to age in place. However, there are some ways that a memory care home can help when a senior wants to age in place. Here are some ways SageCare can help your loved one.

Provide Specialized Care

If your loved one is living with any form of dementia, the registered nurses at SageCare can create a dementia care plan to ensure your family receives the care they require.

Reduce the Risk of Accidents

Living alone can be risky, especially for seniors. An ageing adult may face several risks, such as a fall, injury, or sudden deterioration of health. Receiving constant care will reduce the risk of such risks and accidents.

Encourage Activities to Improve Memory

Memory care homes offer activities to stimulate the brain. If your loved one is home alone, they may not feel the need to perform physical activities or brain exercise to help their memory, cognition, and creativity. However, if they are ageing in place at a retirement home, the nurses can watch them and encourage the activities.

Create a Home-Like Environment

SageCare aims to provide a home-like experience to help all residents age in place. We pride ourselves in ensuring that your family member is always in good hands. Since the main thing holding a senior back from leaving their home might be the feeling of comfort and familiarity, we can create a similar environment to help your loved one feel comfortable.

Helping Your Loved One

Ageing in place can be a lifelong wish for many seniors. However, the scenario may look different for many people depending on their financial status, health, and assistance available from family or friends. If your loved one insists on ageing in place in the comfort of their home, weigh out the pros and cons and try to see if there is a way you can help them out.

If your family member cannot take care of themselves, you can assist with caregiving or move them into a memory care home. Finding the right place will ensure that your loved one doesn't feel detached from family or uncomfortable in a new environment. You can help them with available technology by teaching them how to use smartphones. Staying in touch with friends and family from wherever they live will help them reduce loneliness.

In addition, you can also try to decorate your loved one's room in a retirement home to resemble their room. Any help you can provide to make your family feel comfortable will make them feel like they are ageing in place, at their home away from home.

Ageing in Place 101: Understanding Its Importance for Seniors