How to Help Senior Citizens Stay in Their Homes

A great deal is involved when seniors want to remain in their homes. Most do, but some are not physically able, or have mental issues which make it impossible on their own. There are many factors, and each must be carefully evaluated and a plan made if the senior is able to remain at home safely and in good heath.

Instructions

• 1

  First of all, it is certainly important to have someone to help the senior with devising the plan that will make remaining in the home possible. This need not be a relative, but should be someone the person knows well and who has proven themselves trustworthy. Once this person has been selected, both they and the senior should agree upon what will be involved. Will this person have power of attorney in case something happens, or will they simply assist with the planning? Or will their job include continuing involvement in the life of the senior, including assessing how well things are going once the plan is in place?

• 2

  Next, the chosen person should evaluate the situation in terms of what the needs are, and how much independence it is safe and practical for the person to have. Does the senior need actual care? Or do they simply need help with cleaning, cooking and shopping? Are they able to function safely alone in the house, with visits or phone calls on a scheduled regular basis, or do they really need someone living in the house, or perhaps there a few hours a day? As most seniors value their privacy, having someone in the house on a permanent basis should be the last choice--if safety and well being is the issue.

• 3

  When making the decision of whether and what kind of help within the home is needed, there needs to be a look given to the person's financial situation in connection to the needs present. If their assets do not allow for a needed care giver for example, there should be investigation as to whether there are public funds which will provide this, or whether family members and friends can provide this without cost. Churches, senior centers and social institutions sometimes have provision for free or low-cost help along these lines, and this should be checked out in the community where the individual lives. Often there are people who will bring groceries, do home repairs, and sometimes provide care to elderly residents within these groups. A big part of the job is investigating where and what these sources are, and making the contact with them for the senior. The Internet is invaluable for this purpose. For example, there are sites that will help you find caregivers. Many local senior centers also have a variety of assistance sources and information too.

• 4

  Very important to a person's ability to remain at home is a safety net of concerned individuals. For example, find two people who will make a phone call every day (one in the morning and one in the evening) just to chat and ascertain that the resident is all right. There needs to be easily accessible numbers in the home (perhaps placed on the refrigerator door), which include numbers of relatives, caregivers, attorney, doctor, favorite hospital, friends, and, if the person has pets, who to call if hospitalization is necessary and the pets need to be cared for. A copy of this should be given to all closely involved individuals, including the person's clergy, doctor and attorney. If there is no family member in the home, it is especially important to make clear on the list who can make medical decisions if the person in unable to do so themselves.

• 5

  Once general sources of assistance are found, a list should be made of specific needs of the individual. These might include help dressing, grocery delivery, assistance cooking or help getting to the doctor.

  Once this is done, then needs can be matched up to sources of assistance, and the possibility of remaining in the home becomes much greater for the individual.