Aging in Place
To safely age in place, seniors need to be somewhere that supports their independence, health, and security whether it is their own home or a senior community designed to promote their needs. The decision on where and how a person lives depends on a variety of factors including any physical conditions limiting their mobility. Another thing affecting a person's well-being is dealing with a disease such as Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia.
It is beneficial to evaluate your current home to see if it will work for you in the future; or would your needs be better served in somewhere like an assisted living community? If you have mobility issues and your present living situation requires modifications to make it safe, keep in mind those changes can be expensive as well as affect the value of the home when you do sell. Problem areas include stairs, narrow doorways and poorly lit areas and increase the risk of a dangerous fall or injury.
Additionally if you live alone, how far away are family members or friends you can count on if you need help. Are you comfortable with an in-home service to assist you with tasks that are difficult to do on your own such as bathing or preparing food?
Other important considerations of aging in place include the upkeep of a home. Are you responsible for the maintenance inside and out including mowing, gardening and snow removal? Also do you still drive, and how far away is shopping and your medical care?
If you do have chronic health conditions, it makes common sense to plan ahead for changing needs. In some cases, a person may choose to move into an assisted living community even if they currently do not need help with the ADLs (activities of daily living). This way they are already familiar with the residents and staff and have the peace of mind knowing help will be there when they need it. If you live in or around the Denver area, we recommend you take a look at the new MorningStar at Observatory Park and we offer assisted living and memory care.
Located in the historic DU neighborhood in South Denver, our contemporary 5-story building is designed from the ground up to accommodate residents in beautiful surroundings. Services include help with the ADLs; all-day, restaurant-style dining; resort-style amenities; wellness programs and activities and built-in companionship. For seniors with Alzheimer’s and other types of memory loss, Reflections Neighborhood provides the safety, security, people and programs to help preserve the person’s dignity and self-worth. Please contact us to ask about availability and to set up a tour.