Day 305 of 365 - Aging in Place
A few days ago, I used the title Aging Backwards. Maybe that seems more appealing than today's title, Aging in Place. What it refers to is, to quote an article from our federal government service website, 'having the health and social supports and services you need to live safely and independently in your home'. There is a whole booklet available about it.
I had never heard that term, aging in place, before, and frankly, the image it conjures up for me is someone standing still and gradually disintegrating. However, sarcastic image aside, the intention behind the article is supportive. There was a story about it in the Readers' Digest, with an example of an elderly couple who had put supports in place to be able to continue living in their own home as long as possible.
There is a checklist to get you started in assessing your readiness by looking at nine different areas of your life: health, home, transportation, finances, connections, safety, supports and services, community and partner (if applicable). Statements for each area are checked off as a yes or no response, and you total your scores at the end to help you see how ready you are for aging in place.
The idea is to give consideration to what might change in those areas, to look into what physical, social or emotional assistance you might need when that happens, and where you could access it. This will save frantic scrambling for support when some event, like a fall, for example, occurs.
For the most part, I would be considered ready. The areas for me that need attending to are updating legal documents, like a will and powers of attorney for finances and health care, should something untoward render me incapable. These are things I've been aware need reviewing but have just put off. This was a good reminder to attend to them sooner rather than later.
In general, we probably don't think of looking into all those areas of support until we have some kind of crisis which forces the issue. But, given that I will be 65 very soon, and am becoming one of those 'older people', it's only fair to do my homework so that it does not become somebody else's responsibility.
My intention, for now, is to continue living where I am, which is in a good, safe community, with easy access to a lot of resources. However, I am open to considering other options if circumstances require that I do so. As long as I remain mentally competent, I will know how to research and access supports or alternative living arrangements. We can't plan for every scenario. As long as the basics are covered and loved ones know our wishes, I think that's good enough for now.
I had never heard that term, aging in place, before, and frankly, the image it conjures up for me is someone standing still and gradually disintegrating. However, sarcastic image aside, the intention behind the article is supportive. There was a story about it in the Readers' Digest, with an example of an elderly couple who had put supports in place to be able to continue living in their own home as long as possible.
There is a checklist to get you started in assessing your readiness by looking at nine different areas of your life: health, home, transportation, finances, connections, safety, supports and services, community and partner (if applicable). Statements for each area are checked off as a yes or no response, and you total your scores at the end to help you see how ready you are for aging in place.
The idea is to give consideration to what might change in those areas, to look into what physical, social or emotional assistance you might need when that happens, and where you could access it. This will save frantic scrambling for support when some event, like a fall, for example, occurs.
For the most part, I would be considered ready. The areas for me that need attending to are updating legal documents, like a will and powers of attorney for finances and health care, should something untoward render me incapable. These are things I've been aware need reviewing but have just put off. This was a good reminder to attend to them sooner rather than later.
In general, we probably don't think of looking into all those areas of support until we have some kind of crisis which forces the issue. But, given that I will be 65 very soon, and am becoming one of those 'older people', it's only fair to do my homework so that it does not become somebody else's responsibility.
My intention, for now, is to continue living where I am, which is in a good, safe community, with easy access to a lot of resources. However, I am open to considering other options if circumstances require that I do so. As long as I remain mentally competent, I will know how to research and access supports or alternative living arrangements. We can't plan for every scenario. As long as the basics are covered and loved ones know our wishes, I think that's good enough for now.
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