Aging in Place: Strategies for Maintaining Health and Wellness at Home"
Taking control of my health and wellness journey with the support of my doctor
As seniors, it is crucial that we prioritize our health and wellness. By taking care of our bodies and minds, we can maintain our independence and mobility, and improve our overall quality of life. Exercise is an essential part of staying healthy, and even low-impact activities like walking or swimming can have significant benefits. It's also important to have a personal health record with all of our important medical information in one place and to understand any existing conditions or medications that may affect our health in the future. It's essential to assess whether we are able to perform daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and moving around independently, and to consider whether we will need assistance from caregivers in the future. By taking charge of our health and making informed decisions about our care, we can potentially successfully age in place and make the most of our golden years.
In this article, you will learn
How taking care of our bodies and minds allows us to maintain independence and mobility, and can improve our overall quality of life
How exercise is a key component of maintaining good health, and even low-impact activities like walking or swimming can have significant benefits
Why we should have a personal health record with all of our important medical information in one place
Why we should understand any existing conditions or medications that may affect our health in the future
Why it is essential to assess whether we are able to perform daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and moving around independently
Why we should speak to friends and family now about if we need assistance from caregivers in the future
A couple of types of in-home caregiving
As you know it is very important to focus on our health and wellness as we get older. Hopefully, you have always maintained a healthy lifestyle, but it is never too late to start. The healthier and more active we are, the better our chances of being able to maintain our independence and mobility. Some things are out of our control, but by taking charge of what we can, we give ourselves the best shot at aging in place successfully. This is why it's so important to think about our current health status, any existing conditions that may affect our health in the future, and how often we exercise.
It's also a good idea to have a personal health record with a list of our doctors, health conditions, and medications (including dosages) on hand, so we have all of our important medical information in one place. Additionally, it's important to assess whether you are able to perform daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and moving around independently. If you have difficulty with these tasks or anticipate that you may need assistance in the future, it's important to consider whether you have a family member or friend who can help or if you will need to seek out professional caregiver services. It's important to plan ahead and have these discussions early on to ensure that you are able to age in place safely and comfortably. So, let's take control of our health and make the most of our golden years!
Exercise is an important factor in maintaining good health as we age. Whether we are 21 or a senior regular physical activity can help to improve strength, flexibility, and balance, all of which are important for maintaining mobility and independence. If you're already exercising, great! If not, it's never too late to start. Even low-impact activities like walking or swimming can have a significant impact on your health.
Questions to Ask Yourself or Loved One?
How would you rate your health?
Do you have any chronic conditions that require ongoing medical attention?
Are you taking any medications and do you have a clear understanding of their purpose and proper usage?
Did your parents have illnesses that are genetic or illnesses due to poor eating habits or a lack of exercise?
Do you have any existing conditions that may cause your health to decline dramatically in the next 5 to 10 years?
What was your parents’ health like, in general, at your age?
Do you exercise now? If so, how often?
Do you have a personal health record?
Do you have a current list of your physicians, health conditions, and medications, including dosages?
Are you able to perform these tasks without assistance?
Bathing or showering
Washing hair, personal hygiene, and grooming
Dressing
Eating/Feeding
Functional Mobility (moving from one place to another while performing activities)
Toilet hygiene
Caregiver Considerations
If you would have trouble completing any of the items above or may have trouble in the future, do you have a friend or family member that can help you with these tasks on a daily basis?
If yes,
Have you discussed with that person or persons if they would be willing, available, and able to help you?
Many times we make the assumption that family or friends would be willing to assist, however, keep in mind unless it is a short-term commitment many people are unable to help as much as might be needed. It is important to ask those around you if they can help should there be a need. While most loved ones are willing to help they may not be able to due to other commitments, such as their own family or they may have a job that they could not afford to quit to take care of you. Those who might help may live far away or have their own health issues. The time to discuss this situation is not when a crisis arises, but now when you are planning. You may want to create a caregiver agreement that will lay out who, what, when, where and how much you can afford to pay them. Remember it is a commitment on their part and you should at least offer to compensate them for their time.
If no,
Are you familiar with different types of caregiver services that are available?
Do you have the money to be able to pay for these services?
There are many types of home care/caregiver services: Please keep in mind this is general information. Each company may perform different duties. ALWAYS check to make sure they have what you need as well as their minimal and maximum availability
Non-Medical Home Care: (Caregivers) This group can help with (ADL), see above for the list. . Some may also provide help with companionship, meal preparation, house cleaning and can remind you to take your medicine. There are individuals and there are companies that perform this work. We will not get into the differences or the pros and cons of an individual vs. a company performing this work. This is what is called a private pay service. Medicare will not pay for these services.
Medical Home Health Care:
To be eligible for home health care services through Medicare, you must be homebound, meaning that it is medically necessary for you to leave your home only with considerable effort and difficulty. In addition, you must be under the care of a doctor, and the home health care services must be deemed medically necessary and ordered by a doctor.
provide medical and health-related services in the patient's home. These services are typically provided by licensed healthcare professionals, such as nurses, therapists, and home health aides, and are designed to help patients recover from illness, injury, or surgery, or to manage a chronic health condition. To receive home health care services through Medicare, you must also have a need for one or more of the following types of care:
Home health care agencies may provide a wide range of services, including:
Nursing care: This may include wound care, medication management, and monitoring of vital signs.
Physical therapy: This may involve exercises and other activities to help patients improve their mobility, strength, and flexibility.
Occupational therapy: This may include activities and exercises to help patients improve their ability to perform daily tasks, such as dressing, bathing, and cooking.
Speech therapy: This may involve exercises and activities to help patients improve their communication skills and swallowing function.
Social work: This may include counseling and support for patients and their families to help them cope with the challenges of managing a chronic illness or disability.
Home health aides: These individuals may provide assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, and grooming, as well as help with light housekeeping and meal preparation.
In addition to providing medical care, home healthcare agencies may also coordinate care with other healthcare providers and help patients access community resources. The goal of home health care is to help patients achieve the greatest possible level of independence and improve their quality of life. Medicare covers certain home healthcare services for beneficiaries who meet certain criteria. Home health care can include a wide range of services, such as nursing care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and medical social services, provided by a Medicare-approved home health agency.
Keep in mind insurance will determine how often and for how long these professionals will come. They are not designed to replace a caregiver. There are other options, but this will get you started. Please research this information and know what is available to you in your area and what the cost might run should you need it in the future.
In summary, the more we do to maintain our health and wellness the longer we can potentially remain in our homes. We need to take our future health into consideration and think about not only today but what we might need in the future. As mentioned exercise is an essential part of staying healthy, and even low-impact activities like walking or swimming can have significant benefits. In the next article, we will discuss six exercises that are good for seniors, including the benefits of these exercises for seniors. By incorporating these exercises into our routine, we can continue to maintain our physical and mental well-being as we age. There are also articles that will suggest questions you may want to ask both Non-Medical and Medical Home Health Care agencies
Next Read: 6 Exercise Activities for Seniors to Maintain Independence and Age in Place
Questions to Ask: Non-Medical Home Care
Questions to Ask: Medical Home Health Care