Preparing to Age in Place

@edsutton, great addendum to these popular discussions:
- Downsizing, To Move or Not to Move? That is the Question https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/to-move-or-not-to-move-that-is-the-question/
- What are your tips for staying independent at your own home? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-are-your-tips-for-staying-independent-at-your-own-home/
- Where do you want to grow old? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/where-do-you-want-to-grow-old/

Your questions augment the previous discussions. I like your emphasis on being proactive, why and how to get assistance gracefully, and what is within reach both in terms of energy and ability as well as affordability.

This is a discussion, with variations, that I revisit with my mom frequently, as well as have with my husband. One constant is looking after our health, eating well and regular exercise - functional exercise that include routines that help prevent falls.

@edsutton, are you facing crossroads of making a change or are you thinking ahead? What measures are you considering to age in place?

A lot of good questions there.

I don't have answers for most of them, but here's one I learned the hard way when I became disabled by a stroke:
Your home can become a virtual minefield when your mobility is reduced.

Steps can become dangerous obstacles, going up or down.
Area rugs can slide out from under you.
Doorways can seem very narrow (especially if you need a wheelchair).
Even a sloped driveway can be a challenge. Inclines look a lot steeper when you can't walk well.
A bathtub can be very hard to get in and out of -- and be very treacherous to stand or sit in.
Reaching into cabinets or cupboards gets difficult (too high, too low, too deep).
Going to the bathroom can require additional handholds.
Furniture placed too close together becomes difficult to navigate around. And sharp edges...look out.
Lawn care -- who'll do that if you can't?

That may seem like a long list, but you probably don't have to deal with all of that.

Anyway, try to see your home through the eyes of someone who may need to use a cane, or be confined to a wheelchair. A whole different world.

Colleen, Scott and Everyone-
I'm going to limit my comments here to one suggestion per message because I tend to loose most of the middle parts of lists, even though the ideas are often good.
I'm going to borrow a cane and really go through the events of my day. How much of my life would be "off limits" with a cane and one free hand?
Looking up, I see that more than half of my large office closet would be un-accessible! Things that I put there "just for now" would become booby traps.
I've got work to do. And that's just one room.

The future caretaker for the Aging at Home or Hospital at Home concept.

This is from Twitter. Berci Meskó, MD, PhD @Berci
It's incredible looking at all the humanoid robots that are currently under construction.
Here is their name, country of origin, height, and weight.
What we can fairly conclude from this is that there will be humanoid robots on the market very soon.

I spent several hours yesterday rearranging the double closet in my office. The most needed materials are easy to reach. Long term storage is in the far end. Two shopping bags of reference materials for a trade I no longer practice are thrown out. With a few more hours of weeding I may be able to create a little bit of open space for easier access.
I also removed some furniture to make better access to the closet.
If I become seriously disabled I may have little use for my extensive collection of musical scores.
If I stay active for another 15-20 years, there's good reason to keep them on hand, even though I know I'll never come close to playing all of them.
So I've not made it out of my office yet, in my walking cane study of our home!

One thing I recommend is having a walk-in shower with a bench. We did this years ago. When I became disabled I could no longer use the bathtub. The shower was a lifesaver.

I had hip replacement. During physical therapy I learned how to use a cane properly. You mentioned getting a cane. For it to help you, please learn how to use it correctly.

I am 89 years old and still living in my home and independent. What helped me to decide to stay in my home was visiting a couple of facilities that advertise independent living. I found the apartments were very small and that I would not be able to bring my own furniture and other things with me. The rents are not cheap either. So far I am managing with a cleaning helper who comes every three weeks and a gardener who comes every month. I am extremely fortunate to now have anything major wrong with me. I have a torn tendon in my right arm but it does not need surgery. This afternoon I go to physical therapy to make arrangements for 12 sessions. I do not need to take a bunch of drugs. This definitely helps. I can and do still drive so I do not need to depend on anyone to get me to where I need to be. At my age I cannot know how long I will be on this earth or if I will need any assisted living. But based on what I read about the costs, I believe it will be cheaper for me to hire my own assistants to come here where I am comfortable.

Pworley-
Yes! When we bought this house my first project was to convert a downstairs tub to a walk-in shower with heavy duty grab bars on three sides, a bench and a shower spray with a long hose.
Since then my wife has had three major surgeries and this shower has made a big difference, especially when she had balance problems.
I also installed a grab bar in our regular tub, and now I would not want to be without it.

@sirref, interesting concept. There are already "digital companion" type devices to help combat loneliness and provide companionship for people living on their own. But in light of @scottrl's comment about losing the ability to reach top shelves, I would opt for a taller robot. 🙂

Did you know that Mayo Clinic is a leader in Advance Care at Home? This is not solely for aging in place however:
- Mayo Clinic launches advanced care at home model of care https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-launches-advanced-care-at-home-model-of-care/

What measure are you taking to prepare to age in place? Do you want to?