A recent poll conducted by the University of Michigan found that most older adults want to age in place. This has become a big topic of conversation ever since the beginning of COVID when so many senior care facilities and nursing homes struggled to keep the elderly safe. Seniors that have aged in place haven’t exactly escaped the toll that the pandemic has taken on us, but they did avoid many of the restrictions and dangers that nursing homes faced. At the very least, the general public has become more aware of how much work is needed to improve our senior care system.
The poll found that although most people over the age of 50 feel this way, very few have taken tangible steps toward preparing themselves for aging in place. This includes things like making adjustments in the home with handrails in the bathroom or other modifications. Only about 15 percent of those that were polled said that they’ve given modifications a lot of thought. Other preparatory actions also were overlooked, such as planning ahead for care, relying on family members, and more.
About 28 percent of those polled lived alone. This population seemed even less prepared than the others that were polled. About half said that they have no one in their lives that could help out if needed. As I’ve written in other places, this population does tend to be more vulnerable. Planning ahead is even more important for those that live alone.
The Michigan poll also stated that many seniors would likely have difficulty covering the cost of in-home care. 19 percent stated that they felt they might be able to hire a professional in-home caregiver. Unfortunately, this is not yet universally covered by Medicare or Medicaid dollars, although more and more states have begun to see that this is far more cost effective than covering the cost of things like a nursing home stay. There’s a lot more work to do, both on the public arena and in our personal lives.
You can help take steps to allow your elderly loved ones to live the lives that they want as they age, even if this means aging in place. In fact, aging in place is easier today than ever before thanks to in-home care. This type of senior care brings the help to you, rather than the other way around. Even if all of the “steps” that the Michigan study outlined haven’t been followed, there is often a care solution that can work for you and your family within the home.
If you’re new to the world of senior care, it’s important to know that there are many more options today than there were several years ago. These types of care aren’t necessarily new, even if they are only recently available in your community. We’ve been providing in-home care for years, and have seen it grow in popularity across the world thanks to the convenience that it provides.
We’d love to share our expertise with you. Give us a call today to continue the conversation or schedule a free consultation. We can discuss your family’s unique situation and help you to find exactly the right care solutions that will allow those that you love to continue to pursue their goals as they age.
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