“Where will I live during the next chapter of my life?”
June 17, 2021 | General, Health & Wellness
It’s an important question. And inevitably becomes even more important as you, or a loved one, reaches the golden years. For some, the answer of what to do is clear and concise. For others, it’s often filled with questions, concerns, research, and probably even more questions.
There are two primary routes to explore: 1) aging in place or 2) housing and care options outside of the home. Aging in place allows seniors to live in and receive care in a familiar home setting – it’s a good option and makes sense in many cases. However, independent living is also a good option for those who enjoy the privacy of their own home but love access to on-site amenities. And looking down the road, independent living can easily evolve to assisted living, providing more services for those requiring additional assistance.
Knowing what choices exist is empowering and will help your family plan with confidence. Here are some additional factors to consider:
Socialization
For seniors aging at home, social life can sometimes prove difficult. It’s important to stay involved in hobbies that offer group settings (like golf or card games) as these provide a needed social outlet. The advancement of technology has created additional opportunities for seniors to socialize, but these tools can sometimes prove to be confusing.
Assisted living allows seniors to socialize as much, or as little, as they’d like. Organizations like The Summit at First Hill offer a variety of daily activities to keep seniors active, including exercise classes, a variety of events and activities, and easy access to local shopping and outings. And if a resident would like to spend the afternoon reading alone at home, that’s okay too.
Daily Management
Planning for aging at home requires an evaluation of every component of daily living, including purchasing and preparing food, paying bills, daily hygiene, transportation, and any other aspect of life that may need an accommodation. For some, these tasks may be difficult to manage on their own and require them to hire an additional caretaker.
Independent living provides a team of onsite professionals that can help with daily tasks. For example, at the Summit at First Hill, one monthly charge includes just about everything: rent, most utilities, housekeeping, maintenance, dinner, Wi-Fi, transportation, on-site activities, and world-class Kosher dining in a variety of settings. If the needs ever do change, customizable care plans from home care to home health services are available as needed.
Safety
Aging in place safely requires extensive planning that will likely require modifications to your home and lifestyle. The greatest consideration when evaluating safety is: what would happen in the case of an emergency? Safety protocols and contingencies must be in place to ensure there’s a plan in place during an incident, such as falling. As needs change over the years, the question of “who” is providing care may also come into play. A family member may have to adjust their life or even forego income to become a part or full-time caregiver, or funds may have to be directed towards hiring a visiting caregiver.
Assisted and independent living offer additional peace of mind in terms of safety. The Summit at First Hill has extensive services and precautions in place to ensure the safety of all residents. This includes a 24-hour per day concierge with external security cameras, a Personal Emergency Response system, and on-site clinical services through our SummitCare program.
Having a conversation about where to live the next chapter is a challenging one. If you or your loved one are considering independent or assisted living, we would love to help answer your questions. Please contact Naomi Goldick (NaomiG@summitatfirsthill.org) to schedule a one-on-one consultation and evaluate the needs and goals of your family.
