Successfully Aging in Place

As we age, we need to keep ‘purpose’ in our lives.    The definition of “purpose” should be different for every one of us and it shouldn’t be defined by age or ability. “Purpose” is what gets us up in the morning, puts a smile on our face and gives our life meaning. Maybe it once was going to work, or raising a family. Maybe it was volunteering. But as we age, most of us no longer ‘got to work’. The family’s long been raised. Maybe it’s not easy to volunteer.

What now, could give our lives purpose?  Something that is planned—done and then accomplished.  It could be as simple as taking a walk every day, doing a crossword puzzle or learning something new. It could be cleaning out a file drawer or a closet. It could be reaching out to someone who could just a friend.

Everyone needs to have a purpose in their lives.  Is your home environment supporting a purposeful life regardless of your age and ability?  Do you have the right ‘connections’?

• Community Connections – This relates to how connected you are to your neighborhood and community.  This is most important because it can help provide access to services that you can use, and support when you need it.  It’s  your friends who come to see you, your house of worship, and the proximity to what you do and where you go.

• Getting Around (Transportation Connection)– For most of us, when we stop driving, we feel like we’ve lost our connection to our “purpose”. How do we take care of  our daily necessities like going to the grocery story, the doctor, to church, out for fun, etc?  Do you live close enough to stores and the doctor? Is it easy for friends to give you a ride?  Use ‘Dial a Ride’ to go longer distances. Friends and volunteers can help, but only if you let them know you need help.

• Accessible Environments– Can you easily ‘age in place’ in your own home?   Can your home accommodate your needs as you age? Would your present home work for you if you had to use a walker or a wheelchair? Is it more than one story? If your home is already too much for you to take care of, maybe it’s time to scale down now to something more manageable.

There are ‘Aging in Place’ companies that can ‘remodel’ your home to make more ‘older adult’ friendly.

However, you and your family would need to decide when and if the time comes that living at home and taking care of yourself on your own may no longer the best option.  When that time comes, consider a place like Sunnymere.