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Making A Home Senior Friendly
Many older Americans want to age in place, to live in their
homes rather than relocate to a nursing home or an assisted
living facility. But often times, older adults don't have a
working knowledge of or access to home- and community-based
services that promote independent living.
In October, a consumer awareness campaign aptly named
National Aging In Place will occur and it has been deemed the
perfect time for older Americans and their relatives to discuss
a whole range of livability issues. What are the topics that
relatives and older Americans should broach?
According to the National Aging in Place Council (NAIPC),
those topics include home safety and fitness, financial planning
and budgeting, in-home healthcare and chore services, home
accessibility issues, reverse mortgages, and transportation and
meal services, among others.
Indeed, many older Americans will need to make their homes
"senior friendly." Entry ways, bedrooms, bathrooms,
kitchens, lighting, and the yard all need to be examined and
remodeled if need be. The NAIPC, for instance, recommends
remodeling homes such that they have barrier-free entry ways,
including no-step entries, no-step thresholds, and garage lifts.
For its part, the NAIPC reports that barrier-free entryways make
it easier for a family member or friend who uses a wheelchair,
or a grandchild who's on crutches.
In addition, the NAIPC recommends making one's bathrooms and
bedrooms safe and comfortable. The NAIPC suggests the following
modifications to a bathroom: build a roll-in shower with
multiple showerheads (height adjustable handheld showerhead and
fixed); lower the bathroom sink and make sure there's proper
knee clearance; install an elevated toilet and grab bars. The
following modifications should be made to a bedroom: make sure
there's ample maneuvering clearance; build a walk-in closet with
storage at differing heights; and install rocker light switches
that are easier to turn on compared to a more common flip
switch.
Kitchens likewise need to be "user-friendly." For
instance, the NAIPC suggests that older Americans who want to
age in place ensure there's ample maneuvering space; vary the
height of countertops; install a sink with knee clearance;
install a raised dishwasher, lower cooking surfaces; and mount a
wall oven or microwave at reachable heights.
Besides remodeling, it's important that older Americans
consider the risks that come with aging in place. For instance,
people often misjudge their chances of developing a debilitating
health condition or they underestimate the cost and length of
the services they may need as a result. "Too much optimism
or denial can lead to poor planning," the NAIPC says.
Older Americans can determine their life expectancy, for
instance, by examining their family health history and current
health. There are several Web sites that can help older
Americans calculate their life expectancy such as that found
at www.livingto100.com/quiz.htm.
It's important that older Americans also estimate the cost of
home care by evaluating what, if any, access they have to family
and friends who can serve as "unpaid" health aides as
well as the cost of paid health aides in their specific area.
The cost of living at home increases dramatically if there is no
access to "unpaid" help. For instance, a person who
needs just a few hours of help from a home health aide in the
morning and at night could easily spend $72 per day, or $2,160
per month, according to the NAIPC. On the other hand, Meals On
Wheels programs, which usually ask for only a voluntary
donation, have been responsible for helping many stay well
nourished and at home when shopping and cooking become difficult
or impossible.
To be sure, older Americans will need to consider living at
home with a chronic condition or conditions. For instance, the
National Council on Aging noted in a 2005 study that 13 percent
of homeowners age 62 and older (2.5 million) need help with
activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental activities of
daily living (IADLs) and 16 percent have difficulty with these
everyday activities, while still being able to do them on their
own. The U.S. Dept. Health and Human Services and Alzheimer's
Association report that more than two-thirds of all older people
who need help with everyday tasks live at home, including more
than 70 percent of those with Alzheimer's disease.
Not surprisingly, the NAIPC reports that a chronic health
condition can limit a person's ability to age in place. But it's
important to determine the level of impairment. Those who need
help with ADLs have limitations that require daily attention.
These include feeding oneself, bathing, dressing, transferring
from a bed to chair, and using the bathroom safely. Meanwhile,
those who need help with IADLs have limitations with activities
such as shopping, cleaning, cooking, using the telephone, and
money management. These can often be accomplished with
intermittent help. The marketplace is responding to the Aging in
Plane trend with new products, easy to open containers and more
services. Ultimately, difficulty with household activities is
often a sign that the elder is becoming frail and that they will
need more help in the future.
When planning the home care needs for someone who needs such
help, it's also very important to remember that family and
spouses also need a break from the incredibly hard work — mentally and physically —
of taking care of a loved one around
the clock. Even if it is only for an occasional night off or a
long weekend to "recharge the batteries", the family
helpers can use a few hours of home care support now and then.
It should be part of the planning and the budget.
September 2006 — This column is produced by the Financial
Planning Association, the membership organization for the
financial planning community, and is provided by Don McCarty of
Financial Decision Partners, a local member of the FPA.
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