Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home
Many people want the same things as they get older: to stay in their own homes, to maintain independence for as long as possible, and to turn to family and friends for help when needed. Staying in your own home as you get older is called “aging in place.” But many older adults and their families have concerns about safety, getting around, or other daily activities. Living at home as you age requires careful consideration and planning. This article offers suggestions to help you find the help you need to continue to live independently.
Support for aging at home
Home-based care includes health, personal, and other support services to help you stay at home and live as independently as possible. In-home services may be short-term — for someone who is recovering from an operation, for example — or long-term, for people who need ongoing help.
In many cases, home-based support is provided at home by informal caregivers, such as family members, friends, and neighbors. It can also be supplemented by formal caregivers and community services.
Help you can receive at home includes:
Personal care: Help with everyday activities, also called “activities of daily living,” including bathing, dressing, grooming, using the toilet, eating, and moving around — for example, getting out of bed and into a chair
Household chores: Housecleaning, yard work, grocery shopping, laundry, and similar chores around the house
Meals: Shopping for food and preparing nutritious meals
Money management: Tasks such as paying bills and filling out health insurance forms
Health care: Help with many aspects of health care, including giving medications, caring for wounds, helping with medical equipment, and providing physical therapy
Transportation: Assistance getting around, such as rides to the doctor’s office or grocery store
Safety: Home safety features and help in case of a fall or other emergency
Find detailed information about in-home support services, including suggestions for arranging them, information about costs, and additional resources.
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/aging-place/aging-place-growing-older-home