There are certain questions you need to ask yourself when thinking about senior home care. This is a major decision that needs thorough research before you make a commitment. Here are some things you should know and consider before you start.
Deciding What Is Best
You should look at your own health and your family’s health history to prepare for the future. If you have a family history of dementia, heart disease, or cancer, you may need to make plans to live in an assisted living facility in the future. However, if there is a history of strong health in your family and you’re currently in good health, you could simply decide to downsize to a more manageable property (reach out to the real estate experts at The Baltaga Group for guidance) or make your current house accessible.
Modifications and Accessibility
As we age, having an accessible home will become more and more necessary. With that in mind, you might want to modify your property or downsize to something already accessible (review Kirkland home prices to get an idea if this is an affordable option). You may need wider doorways and zero-threshold entryways. Similarly, no-step showers or tubs, grab bars and risers can all be added to a bathroom to make things easier and safer. Fortunately, some of these changes, like swapping door knobs for handles, will be relatively affordable. Yet, it’s worth it to make more expensive modifications, such as replacing flooring with no-slip alternatives, if it makes your environment safer.
Residential Care Options
When you need a little extra help, assisted living can be the best solution. Luckily, there are many options when it comes to choosing an assisted living facility. Some amenities and services that assisted living provides include hands-on help and monitoring, along with entertainment options and medication assistance. Then, there are places like continuing-care retirement communities or retirement villages that allow residents to live independently while offering added bonuses, like help with medical care.
How to Let Go
Often, the most difficult part of downsizing is letting go of possessions you feel attached to. Some use the dining-room-table method, which involves limiting yourself to what fits onto your dining table. Of course, furniture and clothing aren’t included, so focus on things with powerful memories attached. This can help you narrow down what you bring with you on your move. These are difficult decisions, so if there are items you just cannot part with but don’t have room for, you could always rent a storage unit temporarily to give you time to make a decision.
Settling In
Whether you’ve decided to move to a smaller home or have chosen assisted living, getting used to the change may be difficult at first. If you’re in a new neighborhood, you might need to write down some reminders, such as when trash day is, until you get familiar with your new schedule. Even if you’ve chosen an assisted living facility, you may still have to get used to a new environment. Given this, decorate with as many familiar possessions as possible to make it really feel like home, and introduce yourself to your neighbors as soon as you can. This way, you can make friends and get into the swing of things quickly.
No matter if you choose to age in a place and modify your home, downsize or move into assisted living, your golden years should be spent in comfort. That means something different to each of us, based on our own unique needs. So, think about your situation, or that of a loved one, and decide how you can live your best life.
If you’ve decided to downsize, let the experts at The Baltaga Group be your guide during the home buying process. Call us at 425-999-7194.
Mr. Cline is a retired nursing home administrator, father of three, and caregiver to his ninety-year-old uncle, so he knows how challenging and rewarding caregiving can be.
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