Many older adults want to stay in their homes rather than moving into an assisted living community. Familiar surroundings can provide comfort and security, especially for seniors showing early signs of dementia. However, decreased mobility can lead to fewer social interactions, while cognitive and physical decline can create safety or accessibility challenges.To keep a senior safely at home, caregivers may need to help them make modifications to meet their changing needs. A certified aging-in-place specialist can help assess the situation and recommend modifications to allow your loved one to age in place.
Understanding Aging in Place
Aging in place, or living in your home as long as possible, has become increasingly popular and possible for older adults. Many seniors prefer to stay in their home or move in with a family member or close friend as they age.
Benefits to aging in place include:
- Familiarity and comfort
- Memory retention
- Higher quality of life
- Reduced health care costs
- Independence and autonomy
- Decreased loneliness and social isolation
- Reduced risk of infection from contact with others
The best time to start preparing to help your loved one age in place is before they need a lot of care. Consider their current health conditions, how those conditions may progress and how you may need to modify their home (or yours) to accommodate their safety and mobility needs.
It’s also important to think about the financial aspects of your situation and how that might compare to an assisted living community or nursing home. Weigh the potential costs and benefits, and be realistic and ready to change your plans as needed to do what’s best for your loved one.
What Is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS)?
If you or a loved one is looking into modifying a home to facilitate aging in place, consider contacting a certified aging-in-place specialist (CAPS).
These professionals are trained and certified by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) to help seniors and people with disabilities adapt their homes to meet their individual safety, accessibility and mobility needs.
Before certification, CAPS must have at least two years of construction or remodeling experience. They are trained to assess a client's home environment, make suggestions based on individual needs and modify homes accordingly. They must pass an exam to ensure competency and complete continuing education courses to maintain certification.
An experienced CAPS will collaborate with architects, builders and health care professionals, such as occupational therapists, to determine the best way to adapt your home to ensure safety and optimal mobility.
CAPS will come to your home and conduct a home assessment, identify safety and mobility hazards, make recommendations, help you select appropriate equipment and products and oversee all modifications. They can also help you find resources and support services as you prepare to age in place.
Key Considerations for Home Modifications
Certified aging-in-place specialists can help you modify your home to improve a senior's life in various ways. Here are some ways CAPS can modify homes for safety, accessibility and comfort:
- Add ramps or grab bars to showers, stairlifts or doorways
- Build walk-in tubs or showers with nonslip flooring and adjustable-height toilets
- Lower countertops and build adjustable shelving
- Increase lighting in the home; add contrasting edges to stairs and walkways
- Secure rugs, remove tripping hazards and install nonslip flooring
- Integrate smart home technology such as security monitoring systems, emergency alerts and automated lighting and thermostats
Understanding Smart Home Technology
Smart home technology can connect and exchange information with other smart devices and systems using the internet. You typically control these devices with a smartphone, computer or through voice activation. Smart home technology can promote independence and social interaction, improve safety and quality of life and even help seniors manage health conditions.
For example:
- Smart lights can be programmed to turn on or off as you wake up or go to bed.
- Alerts can inform family or health care providers of a health emergency.
- Smart toilet seats can monitor the level of oxygen in your blood.
- Wearable smart devices can track your vital signs.
- Smart door locks can let you provide access to your home, while home security devices let you see if someone enters or exits.
- Video cameras inside the home allow caregivers to check on loved ones remotely.
- Smart appliances can be controlled via an app on your smartphone or tablet.
- Smart TVs can be used as video screens to enhance social interactions.
Assistive Technology and Support Services for Aging in Place
More traditional assistive technology that can help seniors maintain the independence and autonomy essential for aging in place include:
- Medical Alert Systems. These can be great resources for older people living alone or at risk of falling. Modern devices are discreet and offer features such as step tracking, vital sign monitoring and voice recognition. These systems are connected to a monitoring center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- Mobility Aids. These include walkers, canes, wheelchairs or anything that increases mobility and independence. Adaptive clothing, such as slip-on shoes or magnetic closures, can make dressing more manageable and comfortable for older adults. Adaptive utensils help seniors continue to cook and eat independently.
- Communication Devices. Room-to-room intercoms or video-calling devices can help you stay in close contact with your loved ones throughout the day or conduct video calls with health care providers.
- In-Home Care. These services are often used in addition to home modifications. For example, home health aids can come to your loved one’s home to help clean or cook meals. Home health nurses can help monitor health conditions, manage medications or tend to medical needs such as wound care or infusion therapy.
Financial Assistance and Resources
Choosing to make modifications to your home or provide home care for your loved one can be expensive. However, they may be eligible for financial assistance through government programs, home improvement loans or grants for people with disabilities.
If your loved one is a veteran or the spouse of a veteran, they may be eligible for home health aid or skilled nursing care.
The National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification is a state directory that provides information on various local resources that may provide financial aid for home modifications.
The AARP also has many helpful resources for seniors with disabilities or mobility issues, home care and living at home as an older adult.
Get the Right Aging-in-Place Assistance
Creating a safe and supportive home environment for an aging loved one may seem like a lot of work. And you may not know where to begin or how you’ll pay for it. The simplest answer is to start early — before your loved one experiences serious health or mobility issues.
Contact a CAPS professional who can answer your questions and help you get started. Additionally, start researching home-care options that will help your loved one feel safe, comfortable and supported while aging in place.
BrightStar Care® Can Help
BrightStar Care® is here to support your caregiving efforts for loved ones who are showing early signs of dementia and want to stay in their home. Whether you're looking for in-home care services, assisted living for your loved one or a reliable medical staffing partner for your organization, our experienced local care team members are ready to help. Find a location near you, contact us online, or call 866-618-7827 to learn more about how BrightStar Care® offers A Higher Standard®.