Millions of aging seniors every year make the decision to age in place instead of moving into an assisted living community. Their reasons for doing so are various but break down to the benefits outweighing the drawbacks. When it is time for you and your aging parents to make the decision if they should age in place, there are some definite benefits that you will want to consider.
One of the key goals in making a decision about where your parents will live is to foster a continuing quality of life for them. Quality of life has primarily two key aspects: mental and physical. Where the physical part of maintaining a high quality of life can be done anywhere, aging in place has significant mental and emotional benefits. It does this by creating an atmosphere with four main benefits.
- Continued Independence
- Mental Impact
- Familiarity and Continuity
- Socialness and Comfort
Each of these areas will contribute to your parents’ quality of life in a specific way if they decide to age in place.
Independence is Every Day
When your parents are aging in place, they have the satisfaction of knowing that they are more independent. This independence translates directly to a higher quality of life because they are happier knowing that they are still self-sufficient. Additionally, all of the activities that they love, they can continue to engage in.
Keeping Their Mind in the Game
Professionals used to overlook the importance of the impact of a person’s mentality on their quality of life. However, now professionals recognize that seniors such as your parents must continue to be mentally engaged to continue with a high quality of life. Engagement and mental acuity are also not the only facets involved. Your parents will feel happier and there is less stress in aging in place compared to transitioning to a new care facility.
Familiar and Comfortable
Your parents know their home. They know how to get to the kitchen, what path to take to the bathroom. With some safety checks to reduce and eliminate falling and tripping hazards, there is no reason why they should not continue to enjoy this familiar environment. Because it is comfortable, your parents will also feel better about unwinding from any stress they may encounter in their day-to-day living.
Social Circles
The importance of maintaining a healthy social life for your aging parents is paramount. Maintaining friendships and continuing to connect with the community will keep your parents engaged and happier. Additionally, because of the connections that your parents have, they will feel more comfortable asking for help if anything should go wrong. As well, if something should go awry with your parents, neighbors will feel more comfortable checking in on them.
With lifespans increasing, you and your aging parents will have to make a decision about aging in place versus moving to an assisted care facility. There are numerous benefits to aging in place for them, and with careful consideration, you can come to the right decision for them together.
After you’ve made the decision to age-in-place, call us at Pioneer Emergency, and we will help configure a medical alarm to keep your loved ones safe.