To Stay or Go – Making the Decision to Age in Place or Seek Assisted Living

We all get older. As we age, we face new challenges and decisions. We struggle with things like decreased muscle strength and flexibility. We might start to wonder about things like:

• What is the accessibility of our bathroom?
• Can we get in and out of our current bath or shower easily?
• What will the cost be for ADA bathroom remodeling?
• Do we let go of our homes to seek out more accessible housing, or do we stay and invest in accessibility bathroom design and remodeling?

These are not easy questions to answer, and I’ve sat through many sessions with families who agonize over these decisions. It’s an emotional process that’s about more than just the inevitability of the physical changes that occur during the aging process. If you decide to move in with your adult children or to an assisted living facility, you will gain much-needed help with routine daily living tasks, but the psychological and emotional costs can be high. You’ll need to consider things like:

• Limited Space: If you decide to move to a retirement home or assisted living facility, you may give up space. Most likely you’ll live in an apartment or even a shared room in a small group home. If you move in with your adult children, you might find yourself in a small room or in-law suite.
• Reduced Independence: Whether you live in a more accessible facility or with family, you will most likely lose at least a portion of your autonomy. You might live with other people, or surrounded by nurses and attendants dictating what you can eat and when.
• Lost Respect: This includes self-respect. It’s not easy needing help from others and losing control of your autonomy when you’ve been independent and self-sufficient for most of your adult life.

Maybe you worry about losing your current doctors if you move, or how close your family will be – especially your grandchildren. Perhaps you’re concerned about what it would cost to make your home accessible, especially if your home is older. How will you go about finding an interior designer who has experience with remodeling bathrooms so they are more accessible?

With so many variables to consider and questions to answer, sometimes it helps to have an experienced professional by your side to help get you the information you need. I have over 30 years of training and experience in accessible kitchen and bathroom design and remodeling. I can look at your home, make critical suggestions for improvements, and even provide you with an estimate of how much it may cost.

Remodeling your kitchen or bathroom so it’s accessible could mean the difference between moving to an unfamiliar environment or remaining in your own home. The emotional benefits of keeping your home are many, including:

• Increased Quality of Life: With a remodeled bathroom, your old home will be more beautiful, and revitalized.
• Keep Your Independence: By remaining in your own home and retaining your autonomy, you have the freedom to do what you want when you want.
• Keep Your Dignity: With an ADA remodeled bathroom you won’t need assistance to get in and out of the bath or to take a shower.

Ultimately the decision to stay or go is up to you. But if you decide to age in place and remodel your kitchen or bathroom, I am here to listen to all your concerns, and can work with you to design a truly accessible kitchen or bathroom that complements your home and makes it possible to continue to live an independent lifestyle.

Categorised in: Aging in Place Design

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