July is the month that Americans reflect on and celebrate the gift of independence. Living life on our own terms is a cherished freedom.
However, as we age, most of us have to concede some of our independence as our health or physical and mental abilities change.
Three-quarters (75%) of adults surveyed by AARP consistently report that they want to stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible. Even if they were to experience an illness or disability, two-thirds of survey respondents indicated that they would want to have a combination of help from family and paid professionals in order to continue to stay in their own homes.
Factors that support independence
When assessing a senior’s level of independence, there are several factors to evaluate:
- Home matters: Is the senior able to move around the home safely without serious risk of falling? Are they able to clean and maintain their home to acceptable standards?
- Getting around: How is the senior’s driving? If they’ve stopped driving, do they have access to adequate transportation options?
- Social relationships: Does the senior have a strong network of friends and family to spend time with? Are they participating in the activities they enjoy? Is isolation a concern?
- Health: Is the senior able to get to doctor appointments? Are they able to keep up with medications and eat healthily?
These are just a few considerations regarding quality of life for seniors as they age and strive to remain independent.
When it’s time to ask for help
Some families start to notice changes in their loved ones’ abilities. There may be a health setback – such as an illness or surgery – or cognitive changes may become evident.
One common standard for determining a senior’s level of independence is how well they manage both Basic and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Basic ADLs are skills required to manage physical needs, including personal hygiene or grooming, being able to get dressed, toileting and continence, being able to walk and move without assistance and eating. The Instrumental ADLs include more complex activities such as being able to manage finances and medications, food preparation, shopping, housekeeping and laundry. Families should seek help and support for their loved ones if any of these tasks becomes burdensome, difficult or impossible to perform.
Having a plan in place means that seniors can have greater control over their quality of life and maintaining independence. Kadan Homecare is highly experienced with assessing seniors’ needs and creating personalized plans to keep them enjoying life at home for as long as possible. Call our team at 770-396-8997 or email info@kadan.org to schedule a free in-home consultation.
