Four out of five Americans 65 and older want to stay in their homes as they age, according to a recent Associated Press poll of aging in place. But deciding how long an elderly relative should live alone and when they should move to an environment with more support – such as assisted living or a nursing home – can be difficult.
Molly Camp, MD, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at UT Southwestern who specializes in geriatric mental health, recommends identifying strengths and weaknesses in these five domains of safe and independent living before making a decision.
- Personal needs and hygiene: Ensure that basic self-care activities can be met such as bathing, dressing, and toileting. Ambulation, transferability, and associated fall risk may also be considered in this domain.
- Home environment: Consider the condition of the home, including basic maintenance and repairs, access to electricity and water, a sufficiently sanitary living environment, and avoidance of other safety hazards, such as structural deficiencies.
- Necessary activities for independent living: Evaluate whether the person can complete complex tasks at home including shopping, meal preparation, cleaning, transportation, and using technology.
- Medical self-care: Make sure the person can manage their medications, wound care, and self-monitor for any illnesses.
- Financial affairs and estate: Assess the person’s ability to pay bills on time, track other finances, avoid exploitation, and enter into binding contracts when needed.
An individual does not need to be able to handle all these tasks alone to continue aging in place. Home visitation programs can assist with chores like cleaning and cooking for example, and family members can help with finances. But these five domains provide helpful guidance for individuals, families, and care teams when deciding whether living at home is safe, said Dr. Camp, who also serves as Director of UTSW’s Neurocognitive and Geriatric Program.
[Source(s): UT Southwestern Medical Center, Newswise]
Related Content:
How Tech Tools Can Help Older Adults Aging in Place
