Ageing at home - challenges and possible solutions.

bowmore said:
We moved from a +55 MHP where we lived for 15 years to an apartment on the beach. There are no steps, and we are a mile and a half from the hospital.
The apartment is smaller, and the appliances are brand new.
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Oh man! I'm so jealous! I would LOVE to live on the beach.

On topic -

Much agreed - one level will be very important
Close but not too close to medical and grocery

I would prefer to live on my own, but in a 55+ community of some sort.

Cognitive decline is a difficult one - once you get too bad off, you end up in an assisted living situation unless you have family to take care of you. I tried to take care of my mom, but she would run away - and I worked full time - so ... I hope this doesn't sound morbid, but I'm hoping to cash in my chips before I end up living like that!
 

Good topic. I agree with all that I've read, though I'm just catching up. My no. 1 requirement would be: no stairs! Even if you can negotiate them now, there will come a time when they present a huge problem.

I can go up or down a flight or two, as long as there is a rail to hold on to. But I get very out of breath, and it's no fun. Fortunately, my very nice apartment is on one level. In fact, in this community, everything is on one level. The stair problems arise when I go outside of our complex and into the "real world" of younger people.
 
Four years ago, I sold my home and bought a condo. I wanted to live on the top floor, which is only the third floor and I made sure there’s an elevator in the building. I can do the steps, but I’m sure at some point it will get to be an issue.

One of the things I did when I first bought the condo was have my son install a high toilet. I have back problems and when I have back pain, it can be difficult to get off of a low toilet. I also had grab bars installed in the shower. The bathtub is really low so I doubt that I’ll ever have a problem stepping over it but if I do, I can always put a walk-in shower.

I used to always walk fast and after falling a few times, I decided it was more prudent to slow down and look down when I’m walking, which is what I do. I have not fallen now in years.
 
This topic is so difficult for me to even contemplate. If some thing would happen and I was totally alone I have no one who could help me or take me in. Hopefully I would have out lived any Dogs that I have so I would never have to give them up. That would be the absolute worst ting for me of all. Devastating. Sorry I am of no help here.
 
Teacher Terry said:
One of the things I did when I first bought the condo was have my son install a high toilet.
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When we replaced two toilets a few years ago, they happened to be higher toilets. Made me wonder why in the world most toilets are so low. By the time children are 5-6 years old they have no difficulty using higher toilets and would find them more comfortable than low ones by the time they're 12-ish.

Assuming average life spans of 82, why are standard toilets designed for 10 years of smaller stature rather than 70 years of full adult height?
 
willnbugs said:
This topic is so difficult for me to even contemplate. If some thing would happen and I was totally alone I have no one who could help me or take me in. Hopefully I would have out lived any Dogs that I have so I would never have to give them up. That would be the absolute worst ting for me of all. Devastating. Sorry I am of no help here.
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I worry about this all the time but cannot get my huzz to even accept the idea that we need to start--actually, should've started long ago--thinking about this.
 
excellent topic.jpg
@bobcat, you come up with some very interesting topics, thank you!

I have installed Kasa smart plugs on various outlets around the house. The smart plugs interact with Alexa so I can control lights, fans, etc. with voice commands. They come in handy when I enter the house at night or don't want to get out of the recliner. I also installed several security cameras so I know who is outside before opening a door.

As @StarSong mentioned taller toilets, which are great for the knees. (Lower toilets make you squat more which is supposed to help the go.)
I also installed bidets on the toilets (and wonder why I didn't do it years ago).

Several family members and two neighbors/friends have my garage pad access key.
 
willnbugs said:
This topic is so difficult for me to even contemplate. If some thing would happen and I was totally alone I have no one who could help me or take me in. Hopefully I would have out lived any Dogs that I have so I would never have to give them up. That would be the absolute worst ting for me of all. Devastating. Sorry I am of no help here.
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I completely understand! That’s why I won’t get another dog since my Daisy died. I have no one to take him/her if something happens to me. I just hope I can take care of my cats for the rest of their lives.
 
I would suggest that as you age you start using things such as a cleaning service, companion care or cooking/shopping. . If you do it before you actually HAVE to have it you can find people who you like and trust. It gives you an idea what add on help costs…which allows you to have perspective when considering assisted living situations.
I used a girl to come in three times a day on the days I worked to feed, commode , sponge bath and bed my mother while I was at work. I was a nurse and worked three shifts a week. She was just a strong and willing young lady. It cost me about 50$ a day to do probably a total of an hours work. This drove my stepdad CRAZY. He thought she made a fortune for nothing. Then they moved to “assisted” living. Because my mother was total care this cost about 7000 a month for the pair. So do the math…in home help can extend your home time and be a true bargain.
 
@Muskrat, I can't imagine spending money on a companion or cleaning service before I needed the help, but do see the wisdom of talking to geographically close friends/neighbors who have these in-home services to learn whether they're satisfied with their employees.
 
My house is two story but I have always planned for aging in place. After the husband became disabled, we moved to the first floor. There is a shower on the first but I prefer the upstairs shower, so I still go up there. My house used to be a nursing home in the 1950's so it already had a lot of features like wide doorways. There are steps in the front but the back door only has a two inch step from the patio. You might say Ive already had a trial run since the husband used a cane and then a walker.

I still drive but if needed I could have my groceries delivered. I have started ordering some things online. I can pay to have my grass cut and my yard work done. There are meal services if I want that. I suppose I could pay to have someone come in to be here while I shower and check on me. I used a service called visiting physicians for my Mom so theres that. Theres also tele visits.
 
Muskrat said:
I would suggest that as you age you start using things such as a cleaning service, companion care or cooking/shopping. . If you do it before you actually HAVE to have it you can find people who you like and trust. It gives you an idea what add on help costs…which allows you to have perspective when considering assisted living situations.
I used a girl to come in three times a day on the days I worked to feed, commode , sponge bath and bed my mother while I was at work. I was a nurse and worked three shifts a week. She was just a strong and willing young lady. It cost me about 50$ a day to do probably a total of an hours work. This drove my stepdad CRAZY. He thought she made a fortune for nothing. Then they moved to “assisted” living. Because my mother was total care this cost about 7000 a month for the pair. So do the math…in home help can extend your home time and be a true bargain.
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Of course. Assisted living or nursing home include room and board, in addition to the cleaning, bathing and care.
 

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