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Advances in medical care and assistive technology mean more and more people are able to age in place. However, even with the absolute best technologies, living safely at home well into the golden years often takes outside help, particularly for those with disabilities. For disabled seniors with no family nearby, it can be especially challenging to find a good source for that support.
If you have a senior friend you know is struggling to stay healthy at home, you can be one who makes a difference for them. Today, the Center for Independent Living of South Jersey offers some tips on how you can support an older friend and help them reach their goal of aging in their own home.
Help Around the House
Everyday chores get more challenging with age:
Offer to tackle intense physical tasks, such as mowing the lawn.
Help them with deep cleaning tasks periodically, so they can focus on easier tasks.
Help them hire reliable professionals to tackle more challenging or specific work, such as finding a reliable plumber.
If they anticipate having to sell their home soon, help them plan and budget with a sale proceeds calculator.
Support Healthy Habits
Community makes a big difference when it comes to staying healthy:
Many seniors struggle with making healthy meals — offer to help them meal prep on weekends so they have quick, easy, healthy options throughout the week.
If your senior friend is struggling with dementia, create a poster that helps them remember to do basic daily tasks, like brushing their teeth and having breakfast. Be cautious in selecting the font styles though to ensure easy readability.
Connect them with hobby groups and local organizations to socialize.
Help them to convert medical information and other important documents to PDFs so they can share files with confidence with their doctors. Then show them how to merge PDF files online to keep related information together.
Watch Out for Red Flags
There are some signs that seniors need more consistent help at home:
Keep an eye out for indicators that your senior friend is struggling to take care of themselves.
Help them find positive outlets that inspire them and keep their mind engaged.
If your senior friend is a business owner, look for indications that they may need help running their business or that it may be time to sell.
Consider installing home security cameras and a video doorbell for safety. If necessary, you can talk to them about having access to the cameras to check on them when you are not available to stop by. And you can reference free online guides for troubleshooting if the video feeds become glitchy.
Encourage them to talk with their doctor to come up with strategies they can use to make everyday tasks easier and more manageable.
If they need more frequent medical help but don’t want to consider assisted living, suggest in-home care as an option. This can help them get the support they need.
Check their home to help address any potential trip and fall hazards.
If they need to move into a smaller home, help them downsize and put their home up for sale, as well as calculating how much to list as the asking price.
Support the Seniors You Love
Aging in place is possible for disabled seniors, but it doesn’t mean they’ll never need help. Indeed, strong support from friends, as well as positive outlets that can help them stay engaged, can make all the difference for older adults who want to continue to live independently. We hope these resources help you to be the person your older friend needs.
This blog pot was authored by Martin Block on behalf of the Center for Independent Living of South Jersey