Ageing at home - challenges and possible solutions.

Great topic, @bobcat, and so many good recommendations.

My husband and I haven't downsized. We're in our early 70s and hoping to remain in our 2500 SF home for another ten years or when circumstances demand that we reassess. Our 3 children live nearby and are helpful, as are their spouses. Ditto our neighbors. ❤️

Like some others have mentioned, I'm comfortable with Uber, grocery deliveries, and having other necessities brought to my door. If/when we stop driving those services will be godsends.

We hope to age in place with some housekeeping help and possibly other in-home assistance in later years. A massive stroke, devastating injury or dementia could derail our plans though.

We plan to have a large enough nest egg that we won't become a financial or caregiving burden to our children.
 

squatting dog said:
Similar here with a minor difference. The first person we met here was a local preacher. Friendly enough, but, he warned us that the neighbor across the street from our house was always complaining about something or somebody on the street. Simple solution was I noticed she had a tree leaning toward her house, so, I offered to take it down for free. Surprised her and the next day, while she was gone, I knocked down the tree, and cleaned up all the brush and debris.
To say she was surprised doesn't cover it. Now, I made a friend and eliminated the worry about minor complaints.
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A perfect plan.
 
From what I've read, falls are the number one cause of injury in the elderly, and many underestimate the risk. If a person has balance issues, it is an ever-present problem. As one solution, MIT is working on what the call E-Bar (Elderly Bodily Assist Robot), and it's design is being refined and streamlined, but here is the prototype.
 

Eldercare Locator is a free national service provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging. It connects older adults and caregivers with local support services, including transportation, housing, meal delivery, home care, and legal aid. You can go to their official website at: Elder Care | Home and just enter your zip code, and you can browse from categories, such as: Home care, Transportation, Meals, Legal assistance, or caregiver support. You can also call their helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday - Friday and talk to a real person.
 
Aunt Bea said:
We have more options available to us today than ever before.

If I can keep up with technology, I’m confident that I can piece together all of the elements necessary to make a safe last stand at home.

I suppose that my biggest concerns are keeping my wits about me, having enough money, and finding one or two dependable people that I can hire to assist me as needed and on my terms.

“You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put blinders on and plow right ahead.” - George Lucas
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Well said! 100% agree!
 
bobcat said:
Eldercare Locator is a free national service provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging. It connects older adults and caregivers with local support services, including transportation, housing, meal delivery, home care, and legal aid. You can go to their official website at: Elder Care | Home and just enter your zip code, and you can browse from categories, such as: Home care, Transportation, Meals, Legal assistance, or caregiver support. You can also call their helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday - Friday and talk to a real person.
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211 is another resource available in many communities.

They help with matching people to a variety of available services.

As you can imagine, our local operators have been helping people find food assistance due to the recent delay in processing SNAP benefits.
  • Crisis & Emergency. Disaster Recovery.
  • Housing. Housing Expenses.
  • Food. Food Programs & Benefits.
  • Health. Healthcare Expenses.
 
In my area the Office for the aging offers:

1. Rural Transportation Program helps seniors who no longer drive or have no transportation get to their appointments. Senior Outreach Workers link seniors to volunteers in the community who provide this service throughout the area free of charge. There are no income guidelines and all services are confidential.

2. Silver Connections Program, where volunteers call or visit seniors on a regular basis, specifically those who are home-bound and those who live alone. They offer companionship and security to seniors unable to leave their homes.

3. Meals - There may be instances where meals are needed immediately or on a short term basis. Such as: a senior is discharged from the hospital and needs meals during recovery. There is no charge for our meals.
 
bobcat said:
I suppose another solution might be to wear a Smartwatch. From what I understand, some of them can detect falls by using an accelerometer, which can detect a sudden movement, followed by stillness which it interprets as a fall. Some are also capable of two-way communication when paired with your cell phone. They can also keep track of some vital signs and sleep cycles. So it might be a way to go. Don't know how affordable they are, but it may be worth it when your life is in danger.
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I have an Apple Watch. I bought it for the fall detection. If it detects a fall, or, as you said, a sudden downward movement, it buzzes and asks if I’ve fallen. If I respond “yes”, it asks if I want to call 911. I can tell the 911 operator the code to my door lock. (Easily chan later.) If it detects a fall and I don’t respond, emergency services will be automatically alerted and dispatched. The cost is about $40 a month as an additional line on my Verizon cell phone bill.
 
HoneyNut said:
One concern I have is if I stop driving at some point, how much of a hassle will it be to get the cat to the vet. I've never tried Uber and I don't know what the pet rules are, though maybe I could use the free volunteer senior ride program the county has, I've never tried that but I know a person who volunteers.

I'll probably need to figure out things like changing the bed sheets, I remember my mom had a cleaning lady who would also change the sheets.

In the future, AI might be nice as a "friend" that could maybe be set to prompt me to do things (pick up around the house etc), and it might be a nice companion (I remember getting attached to my daughter's tamagotchi, so I'm sure I'll just love an AI friend).

I'm glad about grocery delivery being common now, I'm sure I'll take advantage of that more as I get older (I already have used it a little, just for things only Walmart carries, because I hate going in the Walmart store, I got so pi$$ed off at the self-checkout the last time I went!)
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Check in your area for a mobile vet service.
 
MACKTEXAS said:
What I'm more concerned with are mental problems. My mother had Alzheimer's and had to go to a nursing home. I'm sure that would be my fate as well. There is no planning around it, and I have no relative that will take me in.
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My grandmother had Alzheimer's. She had four children, and none of them had it. I realize this is anecdotal, but it does mean that getting Alzheimer's is not a slam dunk just because a parent had it.
 
HoneyNut said:
My mom had those installed at the door coming in from the garage (were a few small steps), on the deck to come up the steps from the yard, and in the bathroom by the toilet. I was wishing I had a bathroom one (I do have for the tub but not the toilet) because I had to put air in my tires this week and I didn't notice that caused me to do squats at each tire until my legs were too sore to sit down gracefully the day after.
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You ca get higher height toilets. I think they’re called “chair height toilets.” Much easier to get up from.
 
Aunt Bea's Last Stand!
iu
 
bobcat said:
From what I've read, falls are the number one cause of injury in the elderly, and many underestimate the risk. If a person has balance issues, it is an ever-present problem. As one solution, MIT is working on what the call E-Bar (Elderly Bodily Assist Robot), and it's design is being refined and streamlined, but here is the prototype.
Click to expand...
When I was undergoing chemotherapy, I could not stand up long enough to take a shower, and I could barely get out of the bathtub (it took me 30 minutes to do that since I was not going to ask for help). That robot would have been a godsend -- well, if my arms had been strong enough. I did notice that arm strength would help considerably with using the robot since one would have to be strong enough to hold onto it.
 
What a great topic!
I live in a three story condo. I have neighbors in their 80s and 90s and they have installed chair lifts for the stairs. I do have to do some yard maintenance because I feed the birds and have to clean up the seed mess. Also, we have carports instead of garages, so I have to clean snow off my car. This year I’m going to get a snow cover and a battery powered snow shovel.

I have area rugs with good grip mats. I found the flooring to be more of a problem as it’s very slippery if I just wear socks, so I always wear shoes or sturdy slippers. My tripping problem that I’ve finally figured out is one of my legs gets lazy if I’m tired and then I trip on the stairs. I’m more careful now to always use the handrails and to be sure I lift my legs.

One of my bedrooms has an area with a step up into it. I tripped last week and fell flat on my face. I put a step stool with a handle next to the step and weighed it down with about 50 pounds. I use it every time I go up that step and it also reminds me to step higher.

At least once a week, I practice getting up from the floor without any support like a chair. I’m overweight, but I go to the gym twice a week and lift weights. (I also ride an exercise bike at home.) I can easily carry a fifty pound bag of birdseed. I think there needs to be more emphasis on strength training for senior women.

I don’t know what the future holds as far as taking care of myself. I try not to dwell on it. Frankly, my primary concern is that my cats are cared for. Once they’re gone, it won’t matter what happens to me.
 
DHH said:
What a great topic!
I live in a three story condo. I have neighbors in their 80s and 90s and they have installed chair lifts for the stairs. I do have to do some yard maintenance because I feed the birds and have to clean up the seed mess. Also, we have carports instead of garages, so I have to clean snow off my car. This year I’m going to get a snow cover and a battery powered snow shovel.

I have area rugs with good grip mats. I found the flooring to be more of a problem as it’s very slippery if I just wear socks, so I always wear shoes or sturdy slippers. My tripping problem that I’ve finally figured out is one of my legs gets lazy if I’m tired and then I trip on the stairs. I’m more careful now to always use the handrails and to be sure I lift my legs.

One of my bedrooms has an area with a step up into it. I tripped last week and fell flat on my face. I put a step stool with a handle next to the step and weighed it down with about 50 pounds. I use it every time I go up that step and it also reminds me to step higher.

At least once a week, I practice getting up from the floor without any support like a chair. I’m overweight, but I go to the gym twice a week and lift weights. (I also ride an exercise bike at home.) I can easily carry a fifty pound bag of birdseed. I think there needs to be more emphasis on strength training for senior women.

I don’t know what the future holds as far as taking care of myself. I try not to dwell on it. Frankly, my primary concern is that my cats are cared for. Once they’re gone, it won’t matter what happens to me.
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It's hard to keep up with the mobility advancements hitting the market. Wearable exoskeletons are now available for a wide range of conditions, some for knee support, and some for paraplegic conditions. They also now have stair climbing wheelchairs you can buy from Amazon. They probably even have wheelchairs to elevate you for cooking now.
 
I removed all of the throw rugs/mats except the one at the front door. When the flooring was replaced, it was with glue-down, commercial vinyl tiles with a very fine surface texture which makes them non-slip, even when wet. Water proof, very sturdy stuff and easy to clean with just a damp mop.

Although the house is one-story, it was built on a hill and half of the house is "upstairs", five steps up to the second bedroom, bathroom and laundry room. The "downstairs" bathroom had connections from long ago for a washer. The plumber came in and made it usable again. Unfortunately, my regular washer wouldn't fit so I purchased a compact washer that does. It's a small bathroom and the door, when open, blocked the alcove where the washer now sits. It also blocked tub/shower access until it was closed. I removed the door and placed a curtain for "privacy" for guests (a rare occurrence).

Small house with small rooms. Everything that has been done has been with the plan that some day, I may be wheelchair bound. And for now, safety safety safety.
 
We moved a year ago from a larger home with more stairs to our current house. We purposely chose a home in which we could age in place. It’s all one level inside, easy to transition from one room to another.

There are three steps leading to the front door, a step down to the back porch, all of which are easily ramped should that need arise.

We actually had a good dry run shortly after moving here! Ron fell from the attic and broke his foot and was entirely non-ambulant for 4 months! The house was temporarily ramped so we could use a wheelchair to get him to and from doctor’s appointments, and so now we know what to do and how to do it should they ever become necessary.

We have lots of local family support, kids and their spouses and grands, all of which are available to help should it become necessary.
 
bobcat said:
Eldercare Locator is a free national service provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging. It connects older adults and caregivers with local support services, including transportation, housing, meal delivery, home care, and legal aid. You can go to their official website at: Elder Care | Home and just enter your zip code, and you can browse from categories, such as: Home care, Transportation, Meals, Legal assistance, or caregiver support. You can also call their helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday - Friday and talk to a real person.
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Thanks for this. I bookmarked it. Did not know there was such a service before your post.
 
Imogene said:
Yes to living on one floor. I have an attic that is full of stuff that I have not seen in close to 10 years because I won’t climb the stairs lol lol

Learn how to complete tasks smarter. Just when you think you’ve got a good idea going, something will happen that you’ll have to reinvent it once again.

None of us have the fluid mobility we had at fifty or sixty. My best advice is to find a way to stay in decent condition, whatever that takes for each person.

If financially possible, buy things ahead so that you don’t have to make frequent trips to the store when you don’t feel up to speed or the weather is inclement.

check in your area to see if there are legitimate agencies to help seniors. Vet them really good; even then they manage to have employees that cannot be trusted. Keep your valuables well hidden and hopefully under lock and key.

Have some sort of lifeline to where you can check in with somebody daily or every few days. Whether that is by text, phone call or one of those life alert buttons that you wear around your neck.
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Good advise.
 
We're both in pretty good shape, but my main concerns are looking after the house and garden and the ability to keep travelling.
I haven't made any real changes to the house except for changing the light switches to 'paddle' switches. They're really nice to use, although I was unable to find a matching 'intermediate' switch for the hall lights.
 
bobcat said:
Eldercare Locator is a free national service provided by the U.S. Administration on Aging. It connects older adults and caregivers with local support services, including transportation, housing, meal delivery, home care, and legal aid. You can go to their official website at: Elder Care | Home and just enter your zip code, and you can browse from categories, such as: Home care, Transportation, Meals, Legal assistance, or caregiver support. You can also call their helpline at 1-800-677-1116 Monday - Friday and talk to a real person.
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Thanks, Bobcat.
 
Aunt Bea said:
Ending my days flipping burgers wouldn’t be my first choice but we all do what we gotta do to keep the wolf from the door. 😉🤭😂
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I wanted to post a picture of Custard's Last Stand, but It wouldn't allow me to print it.
images

...there ya go!
 

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