The term ‘aging in place’ means that a senior citizen is able to live in the residence they prefer. For most Americans, this obviously means living at home. Some of the best things about growing older involve cultivating deeper relationships and new creative pursuits, all of which are easier to do when the elder has the care they need, control over their space, their routine. and their visitors.

There’s so much to look forward to as you get older. But keeping your independence as you age requires careful planning. It’s more than just saving money for retirement and expenses; it means making a variety of long-term decisions that will support a comfortable quality of life for elders and their families.

Luckily, nobody has to do it all on their own. In this article, we’ll go over a few areas where a bit of smart planning can give you a more comfortable, independent and dignified quality of life as the year’s pass. Everyone ages, and it’s never too early to start making plans.

Independent In-Home Living for Seniors

One vital thing to plan for is the structure of the home itself. As mobility inevitably decreases, it’s important that the elder can get around their home safely and easily. This may mean making improvements like adding ramps, widening doorways, and making bathroom and kitchen modifications. It also means addressing flooring issues where slips and falls may easily occur and adding alert systems.

One way to get help with that is to contact in-home care professionals, who can use their experience to suggest ways to improve the day-to-day safety of a home. These at-home care professionals are a great support if a client needs temporary in-home care or long-term living assistance at their house. They can be employed quickly for at-home respite care after major surgeries or injuries or remain in the home as part of a long-term care solution, and are fully capable of assisting elders with Alzheimer’s and Dementia. They support the household with cleaning, meal preparation, bathing, transport, and much more, all while keeping their client safe and taking the stress off the family.

Finding quality professional home care is best done early on and by checking reviews in your local area. This is also true if you’ll want to hire other skilled professionals for your home. Setting up a network of trusted contacts and building those relationships will ensure you have quality people to meet your needs going forward.

Decisions About Senior Care

Estate planning is a broad topic, but an important one. Unlike a will, this aims to ensure a person’s assets are legally protected during life’s changes. Experts in this area can help with the large genre of decisions you’ll want to make, such as power-of-attorney, living trusts and life insurance policies. Just like with in-home caregivers, it’s wise to look for reviews in your area and find a good estate law attorney to consult with. Making big decisions like this early ensures your security, the solidarity of those choices, and will be immensely helpful to your family.

Don’t Forget The Basics

Being independent means keeping or improving that quality of life you’ve earned. Staying active, mentally and physically, will keep you healthy and happy as you go forward. And staying organized will help you and your family keep everything in order without needing to stress about it all.

And always remember, you don’t have to do it all yourself.

If you’re interested in learning more about aging in place, or if you want to consult with the best In-Home Care Agency in Winston-Salem and Greensboro, call Piedmont Home Care at (336) 724-1197.