A Helping Hand in the Journey of Aging in Place

The Four Stages of Aging in Place

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  1. Fully Independent at Home

  During this stage, seniors are able to fully take care of their own personal care needs and are able to drive themselves to and from shopping and doctor appointments. With the help of simple reminders, they are able to keep track of appointments and medication routines. Seniors in this stage are able to do light yard work and simple home maintenance.

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  2. Declining Mobility

  As seniors age, they are likely to be unable to keep up with large cleaning projects, yard work, and home maintenance tasks. A decline in mobility and energy can necessitate the hiring of a landscaping service, a periodic house cleaning service (such as once or twice a month), and a handyman to help take care of any home maintenance or repairs.

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  3. Difficulty with Personal Care

  As mobility and cognitive functions continue to decline, even more help may be needed. This stage is typically when home care aides are brought in to provide personal care services. Everyone is different, but these services can help with everyday tasks such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, dressing, etc. In this stage, home care aides can also provide transportation to and from doctor appointments and assist with shopping and other errands.

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  4. Increasing Healthcare Concerns

  When you or a loved one has serious health concerns – either from an ongoing disease (like Alzheimer’s) or an injury (such as from a fall) – home healthcare services can provide medical care and disease management services in the comfort of your own home. In addition to the services mentioned in stage 3, additional care is provided such as various types of therapy, injections, and wound care.