Aging in place means that we utilize the homes we have now to provide the greatest level of comfort, safety, and accessibility by determining what features are beneficial as they are and which need improvement.
Beginning where we are
As we wake up each day and look around us, we have a familiar place to stay. It may not be as comfortable or desirable as we would like, but it’s our space nonetheless. On the other hand, it may meet our needs quite well. We are the judge of this, and we can make it better if we need to do that..
The questions we are faced with answering are how well our home is allowing us to be viable as we continue to occupy it and age in place, and more importantly, we consider whether we want to continue living in this home or if we really want it to be a different place.
Sometimes, a change in location might seem desirable or attractive, but improving what we have may make more sense.
No special experience required
If we decide to remain in our present home, there is nothing we need to do to make aging in place happen. We simply continue occupying it. There’s no declaration to make or papers to file. However, we may want to make a few changes in the way we approach the future.
Since we are the ones using our homes on a daily basis, and likely have been doing so for many years, we seemingly are in the best position to know what is working well and what could be improved. In extreme cases, where a safety issue exists, we may require the services of a professional to determine how to move forward. Otherwise, we may have a good idea of what and how to go about effective improvements, updates, or upgrades – even if we hire someone to assist us in making them.
Remaining safe is the key
Above all, we want to remain safe in our living space. No one wants to be injured. Furthermore, we don’t want the lost time and disability that comes from an injury – for however long it takes.
Therefore, as occupants of our living space, we are in the best position to know what is working for us in our home environment and what needs some improvement. We can take steps to make the upgrades ourselves or communicate our concerns to a handyman or renovator to make the necessary or desired changes.
Not a one-time event
We shouldn’t feel that taking stock of how well our home serves our needs is a one-and-done event that we do and check off our list. It’s a continual process. Our home environment is subject to various seasonal and aging changes, and our needs and abilities are as well. This is an ongoing process to monitor and note how well our home is performing for us,