As a young adult in your 30s or 40s, you probably put very little thought into your own senior care. At this age you are old enough to know that you are likely to need it at some point, but that’s the distant future and it’s something that’s really hard to wrap your brain around. At this age you know that it’s a need, but it’s a very abstract one.
It’s usually not until you are in your late 50s or early 60s that senior care starts to become more of a reality. At this age, it might be too late to take some of the precautions that you could have ten or twenty years ago. However, while things like long term care insurance might be close to impossible to secure for yourself, there are things that you can do to help yourself have an easier transition into your senior years.
The first thing you should do is look at your health. People with preexisting health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or obesity are at a higher level of risk for suffering health problems as senior citizens. Take the steps that you can to stay as healthy as possible now, and you will see the results later on in life by having a much higher chance of living disability free. When you are free from major disabilities, the need for any sort of senior care, even something as simple as in-home care, is dramatically less.
Another thing that you can do now is to be conscious of any move that you might be making. For example, many adults desire to move into a new home after their children move out. If you are looking at a new place to live, be sure that the new location is easily accessible for a senior citizen. Even if you are in great health right now, there’s a chance that you will not be in 15 or 20 years. If your home is easily accessible for someone in a wheelchair or with other problems with mobility, then the odds of you being able to stay within your own home and still receive care is going to be better. Most seniors desire to stay in their homes as long as possible, and if your home is accessible long before you need it to be, then your ability to stay in your own home as you age will be better. If you do need care, then in-home care becomes far more realistic than if you lived in a home or apartment that had many stairs and prohibited you from easily getting around if you ever develop a disability.
You can also do a lot of little things right now in your home like installing door knobs with handles instead of circular knobs. This will make opening and closing doors much easier if you have arthritis in your hands and fingers later on. Make sure that the lighting in your home is adequate to help eliminate fall hazards, and make sure that your house is secure so there are no worries about a break-in later on. All of these things will help you as you age.
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