Aging in Place: Often Ideal, but how Realistic?
By Teagan Kelly
When I was younger, I was afraid of older adults. Ask anyone who knows me well and they’ll tell you that that is definitely not the case anymore. In church, we would make tie blankets for residents of nursing homes and then deliver them on the holidays. The nursing home was dimly-lit, had a stale smell, and the residents all had an air of sadness around them. All of my early memories of nursing homes are similar to this, and it was hard for me to grasp the concept of moving your loved one into somewhere like that, and I’m not alone. In a poll conducted by the John A. Hartford Foundation, 71% of older adults do not want to ever live in a nursing home. The idea of aging in place allows older adults to remain in their own homes with accessibility interventions and outside help. Sounds ideal, but this too older adults see many problems with.
A strong appeal of nursing homes is that there is always someone there if something happens. But there are other benefits often overlooked as well, especially the fact that nursing homes are designed for older adults (usually). If there’s stairs there’s an elevator, grab bars in the bathroom, fine carpet (so no, not grandma’s lovely orange shag carpet from the 70’s), and bright lighting. Stair safety, lighting, and fall hazards are all common worries among older adults when it comes to aging in place, and it’s not easy or cheap to find the resources to make those needed adjustments. Not to mention that as an individual declines, they may need more constant caregiving, which can get expensive on its own. Some of the residents where I work take upwards of twenty pills a day so having someone who can be responsible for managing those medications, can be reassuring to the family and the individual.
One thing I think is often overlooked when an older adult is considering a big move is the social factor. For an individual living at home, they may not have visitors coming over every day or even every week. Social isolation is a big problem in the older generation population because their friends and loved ones are passing away around them. This is extremely important because according to the National Council on Aging, evidence reveals that social isolation and loneliness hinder good health - putting older adults at risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death”. Communities for older adults often offer outings to shop or sight-see, invite musicians in, play games, and have a church, all in one building. It is important to note however that due to COVID-19, facilities are slowly opening back up with things like that.
For many older adults, by the time they’re starting to think about their next steps, they may have lived in their current home for 30, 40, 50, or even 60 years and it can be hard to part with such a large part of their life. Although there may come a time when more advanced care like a nursing home or even just assisted living may be necessary, the National Institute of Health has some tips for prolonging that move while remaining safe. Some of their recommendations are to install grab bars and railings in the bathroom and outside, remove area rugs, ensure carpets are fixed to the floor, and use nightlights! My grandma fell down her stairs because she couldn’t see, (she’s fine!) because she didn’t have the nightlight plugged in like we told her to! There are also home health agencies that can come in just for a few hours during the day to help out as well. The bottom line is that when the care required for the individual is too much for you to handle, it’s time to start looking into additional help.
References
Age-friendly insights: Poll reveals how older adults feel about nursing homes. The John A. Hartford Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.johnahartford.org/dissemination-center/view/age-friendly-insights-how-do-o lder-adults-feel-about-nursing-homes Garcia, E., & Jordan, R. (n.d.). Navigating Social Isolation and Loneliness as an Older Adult.The National Council on Aging. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.ncoa.org/article/navigatingsocialisolation-and-loneliness-as-an-older-adult
Garcia, E., & Jordan, R. (n.d.). Navigating Social Isolation and Loneliness as an Older Adult. The National Council on Aging. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.ncoa.org/article/navigating-social-isolation-and-loneliness-as-an-older-adult
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Aging in place: Tips on making home safe and accessible. National Institute on Aging. Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/infographics/aging-place-tips-making-home-safe-and-acessible