Home Care Tools Needed to Age in Place
Your dad keeps saying he wants to age in place, and you’d like to make sure that happens. But, you also have reservations. How can you ensure your dad is set up to succeed in aging in place as he gets older?
Spend Time With Him
Spend some time with your dad during the week. View his habits and pinpoint any issues that put his safety at risk. Does he often forget to take his prescription pills? If he does take them, does he suffer from side effects like dizziness, blurred vision, or sleepiness?
Should he still drive his car? Go out with him and have him do the driving. Check that he stops in time, is alert to sudden obstacles, and fully checks his blind spots by turning far enough.
Do Home Safety Evaluation
Go through your dad’s home and check for common safety issues. Are his smoke, fire, and carbon monoxide detectors working properly? Are his stair rails stable or loose? Does he have grab bars near this shower and toilet?
If your dad struggles to stand up after laying down or sitting, does he have a bar he can hold for support? Would a recliner that lifts him to a standing position be better and lower his risk of a fall?
Does your dad have hardwood flooring? If so, does he have loose rugs that he could slip on? If he has carpeting, is it worn and coming apart at the seams?
Invest in Smart Technology
Add smart technology to your dad’s home to help him with some of his daily activities. A smart speaker can be used as an alarm for medication and appointment reminders. He can use his speaker to build a shopping list, call his family, or play his favorite music. Your dad’s smart speaker can also find his favorite show or movie and get it started on his TV.
Voice commands or setting a specific schedule can turn smart light bulbs off and on. If he needs dim lighting during a middle-of-the-night bathroom trip, smart bulbs are ideal.
A smart thermostat can turn the heating or AC system to the desired temperature when your dad is home and when he’s out. It can turn the heat down at night while he sleeps, and has his home warming back up before he wakes up. It will also send you alerts if the home is too hot or cold.
Finally, a video doorbell alerts you to people at your dad’s door. You can ask them why they’re there, and even more use smart technology to lock or unlock the doors if your dad can’t or forgets to.
Schedule Home Care
One of the greatest tools for aging in place is home care. Whether your dad needs help with housekeeping and laundry, or personal care and transportation, home care aides are ready to help as needed. Arrange to have caregivers available to help your dad out each week. You can start by talking to a home care advisor.