Have you thought about where you will spend your retirement? If you’re like most older adults, you may want to spend those years in the comfort of your own home. That’s what aging in place is all about, but it takes some work to ensure you can age in place safely. One of the biggest threats to that safety is a fall-related injury. Injuries from falls can make it difficult to stay in your home, but these simple measures can help you prevent them.
Keep Your Home Tidy and Free of Clutter
Clutter can have so many negative health consequences for older adults. When your home is cluttered and chaotic, you are more likely to feel chronic stress. You are also more likely to suffer a serious fall in your home. You can consider hiring a cleaning service to help out with the chores if it feels like too much to tackle alone. If you can budget for a cleaning service, you’ll have an easier time keeping your home tidy. Professional cleaners will take care of all of the tasks around cleaning, organizing and decluttering your home, which can help reduce your risk of falling. For cleaning services in Orlando, the majority of homeowners can expect rates of $118 to $215. So, think about working this amount into your retirement budget.
Consider Moving to a More Manageable Home
If cleaning and maintaining your home feels overwhelming and you cannot afford to hire help, it may be time to think about downsizing your home. True, you won’t be staying in your current home, but you will still be able to age in place somewhere that feels like home to you. Moving to a smaller home will mean less effort on your part, and you can even look for features that can reduce your risk of falling, such as carpeted floors and more lighting. Before you move into a smaller home, you will still need to take care of some decluttering. Don’t be surprised if decluttering feels more difficult than you expected. It’s common to have emotional attachments to the objects you collect, no matter how simple or small. Just try to think about whether holding onto all of that clutter is worth risking your health and happiness.
Make Your Current Home Safer for Aging in Place
If you decide to stay put in your current home, know that you can still make changes to help you age in place comfortably. Even simple home modifications, like installing grab bars in your bathroom and getting rid of rugs, can reduce fall hazards. Another change that can help you feel safer and more comfortable in your home is installing brighter lighting. Better lighting is essential for older adults since eye health tends to decrease with age. You may need to update fixtures, add more lighting to fall-prone areas and use night lights to help you see better. Some of the latest home tech can help with aging in place too, such as medical alert devices.
Start Taking Better Care of Your Health and Wellness
You can also greatly reduce your risk of being injured in a fall by making better lifestyle choices, no matter where you age in place. Create a comprehensive exercise plan that includes strength training, cardio, and balance training to keep your body protected from falls. Wondering where to begin to improve your balance? The first workout that comes to mind may be yoga, but a regular tai chi practice can give you a major boost too. You should also talk to your healthcare providers about any medications that could put you at risk for serious falls in your home. You may need to exercise more caution if you take medications for better sleep or blood pressure.
Aging in place can be a great option for retirement. After all, you’ve put so much love and effort into making your house a home, so why not enjoy it throughout your golden years? So, take some simple steps to lessen your chances of experiencing a serious fall.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Home Care Services in Orlando FL, please contact the caring staff at Flourish in Place Home Care Solutions today. Proudly serving Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Brevard Counties. Call 407-845-9797.
