Are you a senior who needs more care? You’re certainly not alone, since 75% of seniors are living with chronic conditions that can require care. Much of that care is provided in-home, but if you are looking at senior home care options for yourself, you may be wondering which choice is best for your needs. Thankfully, finding that answer can be as simple as asking yourself these questions about your senior care needs:
Should You Downsize Your Current Home?
If you need additional care at home, you may want to consider whether your current home is too large to manage on your own. You’ll know that you’re ready to downsize if you are having troubles keeping up with routine home maintenance or if the costs of maintaining your current home are just too high. When you’ve decided to downsize your home, you will definitely need to declutter your belongings, so consider renting a storage unit to safely keep items you don’t want to take to your new home but aren’t sure about getting rid of altogether. Storing your belongings will leave you with more room to make upgrades that can increase your home’s value, such as renovating the kitchen and installing hardwood floors. If you will be selling your current home, be sure to research the housing market as well. You can refer to a real estate service like Northwest Knowledge to help with selling your home and/or buying a new home.
Should You Make Aging-in-Place Modifications?
Downsizing and moving homes is not the right choice for every senior, so you may want to keep things simple by staying in your current home. Also known as aging in place, this widely preferred senior home care option involves using all available tools and resources in order to remain at home for as long as possible. Aging in place in your own home, even if you need a little help doing so, can help you retain feelings of independence, but you need to know which resources and tools will allow you to receive care in your home safely. In terms of your home, that means looking into upgrades and changes that will prevent dangerous falls, such as replacing loose carpet and rugs, installing bathroom grab bars, and swapping knobs and pulls for more accessible levers. These are simple changes that shouldn’t cost a fortune, but if you decide to complete more extensive renovations, like adding a walk-in shower, you may need to look for ways to pay for those upgrades, such as loans and grants.
Should You Make The Move to Assisted Living?
Changing homes or modifying your current home can make getting the care you need much easier, but before you make a final decision about home care, be sure to think carefully about your daily needs. If you find that you really need more specialized care, more consistent care, or you don’t feel completely safe or comfortable living on your own, then assisted living may be your best option for senior care. That doesn’t mean that your quality of life will be diminished, however, especially since so many seniors who choose assisted living feel less stressed and more fulfilled with their everyday routine. In order to preserve your quality of life, you need to take your time finding the right senior community. Start with a Google search and find your top senior care choices, so you can schedule tours and find a good fit.
Finding the right senior care is important, so really weigh your options and don’t discount any senior care choice until you know it’s not right for you. Your health, happiness, and safety are really what’s most important for enjoying the years ahead.
Connect with Northwest Knowledge for information to help you decide whether now is a good time to downsize.
