It's a new year, and with a new year comes a fresh opportunity to set new goals. You may have plans for aging in place as you get older, but have you planned out exactly how to do that? In this blog post, we are going to walk you through exactly how to set goals for aging in place and how to see those goals through!
Aging in place refers to the ability of older adults to live in their own homes and communities safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age or ability level. As people grow older, maintaining independence becomes a top priority, and a carefully planned approach to aging in place can help achieve that goal. One of the most effective ways to ensure a successful aging-in-place journey is through thoughtful and structured goal setting.
Setting goals for aging in place is not just about addressing immediate needs; it's about preparing for the future and making proactive choices that promote long-term health, safety, and well-being.
LiveWell's Aging in Place experts can help guide you through this process, but if you are not ready to move forward just yet, these steps are a great start:
1. Start with a Comprehensive Assessment
It's essential to start with a very thorough assessment of your current living situation and your overall health. Take a look at your health and medical needs. Talk with your doctors about your plans and goals to age in place. Evaluate your chronic conditions, mobility limitations, cognitive health, and any specific care needs.
Another area to strongly consider is home safety. Identify potential hazards in your home such as stairs, poor lighting, slippery floors, or areas where falls may occur.
The last area to assess is your social and emotional well-being. Consider your social network, mental health, and emotional needs, as isolation can be a significant concern for older adults. Do you feel that being in the home that you love is what's best for your mental well-being? Will you have social interaction with your neighbors or community? These are all factors to consider.
This assessment will help you to better understand your needs and challengers. It also lays the foundation for the next step in the goal-setting process.
2. Set Clear, Realistic, and Measurable Goals
As with all goal setting, the key is to set clear, realistic, and measurable goals. Effective goal setting follows the SMART criteria: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. The goals you set should be clear and focused on what you want to achieve, with practical milestones along the way.
Here are a few examples of goals to consider when planning for aging in place:
- Home Modifications - Modify your home to accommodate your physical needs. This could include installing grab bars in bathrooms, widening doorways for wheelchair access, or adding ramps instead of stairs.
- Health Goals - Set a goal to maintain or improve physical health through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and routine medical check-ups. For instance, "Walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week" or "Schedule annual check-ups with a primary care doctor."
- Social Engagement - Prevent isolation by committing to regular social interactions. This might involve scheduling a weekly phone call with a friend or joining a community group for older adults.
- Technology Adaptation - Embrace technology that can help you remain independent. This could include setting up a tablet for video calls with family members or installing a home monitoring system for safety.
3. Prioritize the Key Areas
Planning to age in place involves a great deal of changes in your home and in your lifestyle. Prioritizing the most important issues and areas is a great place to start!
Home Modifications - Bathrooms and stairways are the two most popular areas where LiveWell provides modifications. Bathrooms are incredibly dangerous if they aren't modified for aging in place. Showers should have a zero-entry floor to eliminate the tripping hazard of a threshold. This also allows for wheelchair or walker entry, if assistive devices are needed in the future. Grab bars in the shower and around the toilet, and raised toilet, handicap accessible vanities and improved lighting are also super important things that should be planned for.
Stairways- Falls that occur on the stairs are incredibly dangerous and can lead to injury, hospitalization, or even death. Around 24 million people were admitted to the ER due to staircase-related injuries in a study performed by NEISS. Eliminating this falling hazard is best. LiveWell offers several options for making stairways safer.
LiveWell has stairlifts for all staircases and budgets. We offer straight, curved, and outdoor stairlifts. This is the most affordable option for safely navigating the stairs. Home elevators are slightly more expensive, but they add wow factor to the home and also completely eliminate the need for the use of the stairs at all.
Doorway widening - many times people completely overlook the fact that their doorways may be too narrow for walkers or wheelchairs to easily navigate through. Widening doorways is a relatively quick and simple modification that makes a huge difference where safety is concerned! If doorways aren't widened and someone is using a wheelchair/walker, they have to leave that chair at the door to enter the next room. There is so much room here for a dangerous fall that could lead to injury or death! Widening doorways so that assistive devices and smoothly go through is of utmost importance.
Ramps and Grab bars - Ramps are an easy fix for navigating stairs while entering or exiting the home. We also have threshold ramps that allow for wheelchairs or walkers to easily move over a doorway threshold. LiveWell also modular, temporary ramps or we can build custom-designed wooden ramps specifically catered to your home and your needs. Grab Bars are a quick way to add extra support throughout the home. If there are spaces where someone may need to stop and take a rest or need extra support, a grab bar is the perfect solution! We have wall-mounted grab bars, as well as free-standing tension grab bars that use the ceiling and the floor to brace.
4. Talk with Family and Support Networks
When aging in place, it’s essential to have a support network in place. Discuss your goals with family members, close friends, or trusted neighbors. Their input can help you refine your goals and ensure that you have the emotional and practical support needed to achieve them.
For example, family members might assist with home modifications, help you with technology or transportation, or act as a source of encouragement when health goals are challenging.
LiveWell also has a team of Accessibility Experts that can meet with you and your family to provide guidance and advice on how to properly prepare the home for aging in place. We would love to meet with you!
5. Review and Adjust Goals Regularly
Aging in place is not a static process—your needs and abilities will change over time. Therefore, it’s important to regularly review and adjust your goals. At least once or twice a year, assess your progress and make necessary changes. This might involve updating your home modifications, adjusting your healthcare regimen, or exploring new ways to stay socially connected.
6. Incorporate Financial Planning
Aging in place can require a significant financial commitment, so it’s important to set goals related to budgeting and financial planning.
Consider the following:
- Saving for home modifications and equipment - Plan out what necessary modifications need to be made to keep you safe and healthy. Once you have an idea of what's needed, contact a professional to get an estimate. Begin saving for these projects right away and budget accordingly.
- Long-term care planning - Think about future care needs and whether you feel you will need assistance from a professional caregiver or a home health aide. These services are very expensive and, often times, unavoidable if there is no family close by.
7. Seek Professional Advice from LiveWell
Once you have set your goals and performed your self-assessment, it's time to call the professional! Our team of Accessibility Consultants and Aging in Place experts can provide a free consultation to go over your plans with you. We can review the rooms in your home that are of concern and offer suggestions and estimates for the work needed. We can offer guidance and advice as to how we could make your home as safe as possible for your future goals of aging in place.
Goal setting for aging in place is an empowering process that encourages independence and ensures that you’re prepared for the physical, emotional, and financial changes that come with aging. By thoughtfully planning for home modifications, health care, social connections, and financial needs, you can create a path that allows you to live comfortably and confidently in your own home for as long as possible.
Remember, aging in place is a dynamic journey, and by setting clear, achievable goals, you’re taking a crucial step toward living life on your terms.