Living at Home Independently and Safely

For most seniors, your home is your largest asset filled with memories beyond measurable worth. Your main concern is having the well-being to remain in your home with dignity and safety. Three important elements of well-being are your independence, safety and financial security. Studies show that more than 90% of seniors have the desire to remain in their home as long as possible. But as you age, your chances of that actually happening decreases with every passing year.
The most important factor for senior’s living at home is maintaining independence through the ability to perform daily activities. Such activities would include washing, dressing, cooking, transportation, taking medication, housecleaning, etc. The most common activity that seniors over the age of 75 are unable to perform is housecleaning… a chore that requires physical activity at a time, when in most cases, the body is requiring rest. The key to maintaining independence is accepting your lifestyle needs are going to change and plan ahead.

Part of planning ahead is making changes within the home to ensure a safe environment. Falls are the second leading cause of hospitalizations, and the majority of those slips, trips and stumbles are within the home. A few tips for a safer home are:
1. Remove throw rugs
2. Ensure there is adequate lighting
3. Wear proper footwear according to flooring
4. De-clutter the pathways and stairways
5. Keep a close eye on the pet at your feet
A large determinant of feeling safe in the home is having someone close by when help is needed. Keep an open dialogue with your neighbors and ask them to check in on you. This also helps you avoid social isolation which increases dramatically as people age.
Lastly, it all comes down to MONEY. Whether you have it or not! And since it does not grow on trees, you need to look after what you have. It is important to know there are financial programs that assist seniors in remaining in their home. These programs include property tax deferrals, reverse mortgages and Home Independence Program for Seniors (H.I.P.S.). While all of these programs may not be ideal for everyone, they have been developed to assist seniors with aging in place.
Headlines would have us believe that everyone is trying to defraud you, but in most cases, financial fraud is committed against seniors by family members. Despite this, you need to be wary of people you hire to work on your home. It is important to check references, don’t be afraid to ask questions and if you feel the pressure tactics, just say ‘no’. After all, it is your hard-earned money.
For seniors living at home, your main focus for independence, safety and financial issues is being proactive and planning ahead. One of the certainties in life is change, and if you try to avoid it the person making the important decisions in your life may not be you.