Things to Consider to Successfully Age in Place
In an Ipso survey conducted on behalf of Home Equity Bank, they found that 90% of Canadians 45 years and older would like to age in their own homes. But to successfully do this, there are some physical aspects of our homes that we should consider to ensure that we will be able to successfully age in place.
In this Learning Bites episode, Susan Williams speaks with Margot McWhirter to better understand what some of these requirements are.
Margot is a registered occupational therapist with a master's degree in gerontology and certifications in home modifications, universal design and patient navigation. She also runs Inclusive Aging, an Ontario-based practice specializing in aging services, including home modifications, care coordination, patient advocacy and caregiver support.
Here are some of the highlights from their discussion;
What are the most important physical features at of a home that support aging in place safely and comfortably?
First and foremost is lighting. One of the physical changes that we experience as we get older is a change to our vision so there really can’t be too much lighting in a home.
Secondly, is having supports in the home. Stairs and bathrooms are great examples of where we need to ensure that there are handrails and grab bars available should they be needed.
What are some of the aspects that people don’t often consider about their physical environment when wanting to age in place?
For people that are looking to age in their own home, what often gets overlooked are the areas of the home and the activities that we use every day. These can be things like the bedroom, the kitchen, and the bathroom because they have always been there as part of our ambient environment. We often don't think about making changes to those areas.
The other thing is that we sometimes don't see is the clutter. Particularly clutter at the floor level that could present a tripping hazard which again due to changing eyes or maybe a change in mobility and joint flexibility we may overlook.
The other thing to consider is our furniture. Just because it worked great for our younger selves, maybe when we were raising a family, it may not be so age inclusive and age friendly if we have stiffening of joints and aches and pains. The foam in your favorite chair or sofa may simply cause the seating to be a little bit lower and then you're having to work harder to get up and move. This is such an important part to consider as we want to maintain our mobility as long as possible when aging at home.
Specifically in the kitchen, what should people be thinking about?
It can be useful to think about how stable you are on your feet and then how easy it is for you to access storage. Whether it's cooking and baking or every day plates and glasses, you want to reorganize your kitchen so that frequently used items and possibly even heavier items that could be a little challenging to lift are in an easily accessible place and not difficult to lift or move for use.
If you were to prioritize some things that you should change or think about first, what would you suggest?
I would definitely say that it is a bit of a to-do list. Think about your home maintenance and what is necessary to support you into your later years. So, maybe there's some home maintenance projects that you've been putting off and just haven't gotten around to.
Also, take a look at both the interior and exterior aspects of the home. For instance, are there cracks or chips on the stairs outside? Is your driveway or the sidewalk in front of your home possibly in need of repair? Are there any tree roots coming up through the lawn that might cause a tripping hazard?
Think about the home maintenance inside as well. Also, ensure you have clear paths of travel by reducing any sort of clutter or even moving furniture that has edges or legs that stick out into the route that you're traveling. And as we mentioned earlier, ensure you have appropriate lighting.
Another change that should be considered, whether they have a progressive health issue or not, is how would you manage if you were unable to use your stairs even for a temporary period. Is there a way that you could modify your home and set it up for one level living – whether temporary or permanent – with a room that could be turned into a private bedroom and a washroom space you could have on the main floor? There's lots of homes where there isn't a main floor, even powder room, and that can create challenges for many people should they find themselves in a situation where they are unable to manage stairs.
These situations can often happen without any notice so we don’t plan in advance, we may be forced into a living situation that we don’t necessarily want to be in.
When should someone really start to think about this or start planning for these changes?
It's really never too early and never too late as well to start planning ahead . Aging really is a natural part of of life and also family affair.
We should consider taking a holistic perspective to our aging as well. What do we want our homes to look like as we age? What are the health considerations that we need to consider and think about from a preventive perspective?
It's so common for us to be very fiercely independent and decline, refuse or shy away from accepting help. But we should think more positively about reciprocal giving and receiving of help.
Having the right mindset to accept help is important. We need to realize that accepting support is not a sign of weakness. What it says is I am open to change and accepting help for the things that I need but still do the things that I'm capable of doing.
The other thing is that you want to take action and make changes not only for things that your future self will thank you for, but also what your loved ones will thank you for too. Things like getting your documents, your passwords, your will all organized and communicated helps ensure your loved ones won’t be scrambling should anything happen.
