What Are the Most Common Barriers to Aging in Place?
For many older adults, aging in place is a much-preferred living situation than living out your days in a long-term care facility. “Old folks homes” are especially undesirable given the current coronavirus pandemic we’re all enduring. Sadly, such living facilities are known to have tough battles with COVID-19 cases and deaths.
Naturally, most Americans would prefer to keep their aging parents at home with them. But accommodating older adults isn’t all that easy. There are many barriers to aging in place to overcome.
The Transportation Situation Is Dire
Is your elderly love one not physically able to operate a motor vehicle? Do you live in a rural community without quick access to public transportation? If your answer is “yes” to both questions, he/she may have some issues with getting around. No, we are not currently living during a time when frequently traveling outside of the home is recommended. But, for future considerations, it’s wise to consider how your aging parent can comfortably get around your community.
“In communities, transportation is a serious concern for older folks,” says Ohio’s DeVol Design.Build.Remodel, “This is mainly due to people not being able to drive or choosing not to. Unfortunately, most cities and towns don’t have transportation systems that are easily used by older adults.”
Not Every Level of the Home Is Accessible
Most bathrooms are on the top floor. Most kitchens are on the ground floor. Most laundry rooms are in the basement. If you live in a home with multiple levels, it won’t make life easy for the elderly loved one who lives there. This is especially true if he/she requires regular access to the aforementioned rooms in the home. Have you considered how to make your home more accessible to your aging parent?
“Our ability to accomplish daily tasks diminishes with age, and as a variety of health issues creep in, living needs increase accordingly,” notes Carol Pardue-Spears of Family Matters In-Home Care, “That typically means people need easier access to everyday tasks, objects, and locations. Surrounding our homes, most cities include ADA regulations to enforce the bare minimum of accessibility, but it is severely limited. Office buildings, public areas, sidewalks, and restaurants are simply not easy for the elderly to access.”
Renovating Your Home to Accommodate Seniors Is Expensive
“Aging in modern America is also a costly process, particularly as many Americans lack sufficient retirement savings to cover the cost of healthcare and other necessary expenses,” affirms 3BL Media, “Overburdened by these costs, millions of aging homeowners simply cannot afford to hire someone to make their homes more accessible through aging-in-place modifications.”
At Forward Day, we’re very proud of the fact that our Shower Bay portable showers help people eliminate the need to overspend on renovations. Shower Bay can be snapped together in any room of the home where there is a faucet nearby. As a result, individuals who use shower wheelchairs can roll in to take showers with running water. No longer is a tightly-spaced bathroom a hindrance to the bathing experience!
If you have any questions about our Shower Bay portable showers, please don’t hesitate to contact us to ask them. Give us a call at 1-877-593-4461 or email us at info@showerbay.com.
