Posted January 16, 2025 by H. Kelley Riley, M.D., MBA, Chief Medical Officer
Dorothy said it right in The Wizard of Oz: “There’s no place like home!” It comes as no surprise that most aging adults want to stay in their homes and maintain independence for as long as possible.
Unfortunately, maintaining a home and remaining safe in it becomes more and more challenging as we age due to declining vision or hearing, reduced muscle mass and physical endurance, problems with balance or other increasing health concerns.
Depending on health, physical abilities and mental health, some people remain highly independent well into their senior years while others require at-home support much earlier.
Either way, with some careful consideration and planning ahead, you can not only live at home but thrive at home well into your senior years. SummaCare offers 5 items to help you plan now to safely age in place to maintain your quality of life and well-being — no ruby slippers required!
It’s important to start planning to age in place many years before you need to make any actual decisions about care in order to help eliminate stress and worry later on.
Be realistic about what you might need in the future and the necessary support to stay in your home, which may require saving money or asking loved ones and your community for help. If you start now, you can slowly make changes over time. That way, you’ll be prepared when the challenge presents itself.
First and foremost, strive to keep yourself in top physical health to prolong the challenges of aging in place.
It starts with following a healthy lifestyle. Maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular physical activity, limiting alcohol, not smoking and visiting the doctor routinely can help ward off chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, dementia and depression. It’s also important to stimulate your mind to keep your brain — and mental health — sharp.
When planning for the future, consider your current health and what you think you might need later on to get around and take care of yourself, such as medication management, physical therapy or assistive devices. Your physician can help answer questions you have about your current health condition and future needs.
You’ll want to complete an audit to make sure your home is safe to get around to reduce the future risk of a fall or accident. You might find you need to make a few modifications to make it safer as you age, including chair lifts, bathroom grab-bars and nonslip tubs, adding lighting to stairways and hallways and securing area rugs. In addition, a home or personal medical alert system to call for help in case of emergencies may be necessary.
Because most people aging in place will need some form of assistance, it’s helpful to plan now for who can be there to care for you in the future. At-home care may be short-term, if you’re recovering from an operation, for instance, or long-term.
Home-based support may include:
Taking care of your home is an ongoing task and requires constant monitoring. You’ll want to create a plan for yard maintenance, home repairs and chores for when they become too strenuous to complete. Look into companies that offer regular housekeeping or lawn services. You also can ask neighbors or community groups if they can help.
Having regular company supports your emotional and social needs as you age. In fact, research shows loneliness and social isolation can lead to anxiety, depression, heart disease and stroke.
Start now by creating your own social opportunities by participating in community groups, such as a tennis club or cooking class, volunteering or getting active in your church. This makes building social support easier as you age.
In addition, make a plan for regular visits, or schedule online calls or video chats with loved ones, consider getting a pet to keep you company and look into in-home care companies that offer companion support to ward off loneliness.
Think of SummaCare as your partner for aging in place. Our 2025 SummaCare Medicare Advantage plans go beyond basic Medicare coverage with valuable extra benefits on select plans that are designed to keep you healthy and in your home well into your senior years. In addition to comprehensive healthcare coverage, benefits included on some of the seven plans we offer may include*: