Leaving the familiarity and comfort of your home to age in an assisted living facility can be scary to think about. Many seniors prefer to age in place in order to keep familiar surroundings and maintain their independence as they grow older, but it isn’t always the best option for everyone.
Luckily, there are mobility solutions that can make aging in place safe and easy for seniors in Maryland. Let’s take a look at the scenarios in which aging in place might not be right for you, as well as what you can do to make it a possibility.
When Aging in Place Isn’t the Best Option
Although aging in place is highly desirable, there are certain things that might make this more difficult of an option for some seniors. Before deciding to age in place, ask yourself the following questions:
If you have an emergency, are you on your own in seeking the immediate care you need?
Do you have a condition or take medication that causes you to experience forgetfulness or frequent confusion?
Are everyday tasks like bathing and making meals difficult or impossible for you to accomplish on your own?
Do you lack nearby friends or family that can keep you company, socialize with you, or help you with household chores?
Are you currently undergoing treatment that you must travel to a hospital or medical facility to receive?
If you answered “yes“ to any of the above, aging in place may not be the best solution for you. You can seek further advice from a mobility specialist or your physician to see if there are additional measures that can be taken that will allow aging in place to be a safe option for you.
For seniors that require regular medical care and attention, at-home caregivers can be hired to enable them to stay in their own homes and age in place. Additionally, there is a wide variety of mobility equipment that can be rented or purchased that can make navigating the home easier.
Age in Place Comfortably with the Right Mobility Equipment
If you are considering aging in place but aren’t sure how to make your residence more senior or handicap-friendly, take a look at these mobility solutions that can make aging in your own home a great option for you:
1. Standing/Transfer Aids – This mobility equipment is especially beneficial for those who suffer from joint pain or muscle weakness, are recovering from severe injuries, have recently undergone hip replacement, or have lower-body paralysis.
2. Lift Chairs – Also known as rise or recliner chairs, this mobility solution features a powered lifting mechanism that pushes the entire chair up from its base, which allows you to more easily transition from a seated to standing position.
3. Stairlifts – Makes navigating different levels of the home both safe and easy by equipping staircases with a motorized chair and track that attach to the stairs themselves.
4. Grab Bars – Easily installed in hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, and bedrooms, these sturdy bars provide support, as well as steady and balanced movement when accessing different areas of the home.
Our Mobility Solutions for Aging in Place
At Freedom Mobility, we are dedicated to making life easier for those who are aging, injured, disabled, or otherwise struggling with their mobility. We provide all of the above mobility equipment and more for rent or purchase and encourage our customers to visit our showroom to test the mobility equipment themselves before making their decision. Give us a call to learn more about how our aging-in-place specialists can help you today.