Anxious about your future? Plan for Aging in Place
“The stairs are getting so hard to climb.”
"Since my hip fracture, I am afraid to use the washroom or step out of the house.”
"I've lived here 40 years. No other place will seem like home.”
These are common issues for the elderly. At some point, most older people will need help getting through the day. In Canada, nearly 1,000 people turn 65 each day. According to latest research, someone turning 65 today has a 70% chance of eventually requiring assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, toileting etc.
This could be harsh reality. Even harsher is that the stress on Canada’s public health system extends into home care too, with lots of seniors needing such support. Plus, families often don’t try to figure out how to provide this care until there is a health crisis, which often causes stress, relational conflicts, escalating costs and poorly executed care.
Making a care plan well in advance allows families to get organized, locate appropriate resources and figure out ways to pay for care before a crisis hits.
“A care plan is thinking through the logistics of what you’re going to need as you age, so that when the poop hits the fan with aging, then you are prepared,” says Carolyn McClanahan a financial advisor with Life Planning Partners.
DEAL WITH DENIAL FIRST
The biggest barrier can be our wishful thinking on the part of seniors and their families. Most people picture a perfectly healthy life followed, if absolutely necessary, by a quick and painless death. The reality may be quite different, and that can be dreadful to contemplate.
One way to make progress is to plan for temporary rather than permanent decline. For e.g., what kind of help might your loved one need after a hip or knee replacement? How well is the home set up for recovery? Who would help with household tasks? Contemplating a 2-3 month disability is far less daunting, but involves much of the same planning as a more lasting decline.
THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU’LL GET CARE
Most people want to remain in their homes as they age. 93% of 65+ seniors in BC live independently. “Aging in Place” has become a familiar concept. To achieve it typically will mean relying on family members for care, or using paid workers, or both.
If family members will be tapped, discuss the logistics, and assess the reliability of such support. If professional caregivers are to be hired, consider who will supervise the selection, monitor the ongoing care and estimate the costs.
EXPLORE WAYS TO COVER COSTS
Are there savings that can be tapped? Will other family members be willing to chip in? Does the older loved one have long-term insurance or can they get a reverse mortgage? Does the older person qualify for government help, such as veterans benefits etc.?
ASSESS YOUR HOME
Is the current home “aging friendly”. Some changes might be simple, such as removing throw rugs that could cause falls, while others, like widening doorways or getting a walk-in shower, may require a larger remodel. The sooner you get this evaluation, the more time you will have to plan and pay for it.
CONSIDER THE COMMUNITY
Even if the home supports aging in place, the neighborhood might not. Consider how the older person will socialize, get groceries and make it to appointments if they can no longer drive. Typically, engaging the services of professional caregivers can solve a lot of these issues.
An independent living or assisted living facility could also provide some amenities, but these typically require sacrificing the desire to age in place. Plus, many of these esp. those under public funding have long waitlists to consider.
Once you have a plan, write down the details and share with family members or others (e.g. friends, guardians) who may be involved. Revisit the plan as circumstances change. Remember, aging planning is not a one and done thing. It’s an ongoing process.
If someone you love needs professional support to Age in Place, contact Home Instead® (Burnaby & South Van) – health experts available 24/7
Call 604-432-1139
