When Aging in Place Works: Step by Step
(photo kenhealthcareja.com) Guest post: I found Sharon's story about the journey to aging in place with her father so practical (step-by-step approach) and compelling, I asked her if I could share it here. Before you place a loved one into a facility, read Dad's House and consider the possibilities. Dad's House By Sharon R. McMurray Our first reaction was “He can’t live alone.” How could he manage without her? She was his companion in the house they bought the year after they married nearly sixty years ago. A typical homemaker from the 50s era, she cooked for him, washed the
"Most elderly males have informal care, most elderly females do not." - Cynthia M. Taeuber Anyone who provides assistance to those who need it to maintain an optimal level of independence is a care giver. Families provide the majority of care giving, which is commonly referred to as “informal care” because it’s unpaid. If the care recipient is married the primary caregiver will be the spouse; otherwise adult children, typically, adult daughters or daughters-in-law will assume the
So we’ve established two things in the maiden voyage of this blog: 1. As a society (and globally) we’re getting older 2. We want to continue to stay in our beloved homes as we age (aging in place) These two points were reinforced by an experience I had today visiting a friend in a nursing home. Prior to August, 2007, my friend who is now 93 years old had been living independently in her home with some limited outside assistance. A series of falls in the home caused her family to place her in a care center/nursing home and sell the dwelling