It’s something that becomes increasingly on our minds as our parents age – Where will they live? How will they continue to manage? How will they be future-proofing their home?
Whilst traditionally, this might have resulted in moving to a care home – today there are so many more options. From independent living and ageing in their own home to independent living communities, assisted living communities as well as living with relatives/family.
I was recently commissioned by Premier Care in Bathing to give my thoughts on this topic. Premier Care in Bathing is one of the first-ever companies to specialise in the installation of bathrooms specifically designed for customers with mobility needs. They are on a mission to encourage families to talk more openly about how to make our homes safe for older family members by future-proofing their home.
A man’s house is his castle
Having interviewed my own dad recently about his attitudes towards ageing, where he will be living when he gets older and future-proofing their home, one thing is clear – he loves his house and doesn’t want to move! In his words: “We are staying here forever, as long as we are able to manage it.”
His desires to stay at home is not surprising, given that is what most older people say when asked. “They have made their home into what they want, and modern communications gives them the security that they need in terms of staying in touch”, he reflects.
That said, staying in your home can present an increasing number of challenges, especially when mobility is concerned. However, he is upbeat and optimistic, sharing, “So long as I am continent and able to move around OK, I don’t see any problems.”
A home for years to come
My dad is a savvy man, and has already researched the kind of home adaptations are available for future-proofing their home, which is good to know! That said, he hasn’t yet considered making home improvements, such as safety measures or home adaptations to enable him to stay home for longer. Thankfully, he is already being more careful about holding onto the banister when he goes downstairs and turns on the lights when he does so at night!
He feels that “The key today is the wireless network, so we can use all our digital devices easily in every room. We recently bought a smart TV for our bedroom, and that is a real winner, going to bed early on winter nights and snuggling down to watch the enormous choice of films and past TV programmes now available – free!”
“The most important adaptions are for people who are frail and/or lonely. Robotics seems to hold out a good prospect for them. Falls in the home are a real disaster, and these are often caused by morning dehydration, so having a robot or even just Alexa to tell you to drink when you wake up is important. Smartwatches are proving really helpful for some also.”
Never say never
When I asked my dad whether he would consider moving from his home, I was actually quite surprised at his answer. His response was that if my step mum was the first to go and he was left alone, he would definitely consider going to sheltered housing, “We have a friend who manages a complex, and her mother is in another one, and we can see the benefit.”
What I loved about this exchange with my dad was how open and comfortable he was about the topic and the prospect of what might be to come in future years. In his own words, “I have always been realistic about personal futures, whether housing, financial or health, and having had a difficult health history I know what can lie around the corner.”
Although I had not planned to have this conversation with him at this stage in his life, it was refreshing to see how well researched and confident he seemed about the path ahead and future-proofing their home. In contrast we the children can often be beside ourselves with concern over the prospect of the coming years.
Opening up
Ageing can so often be a taboo subject in our culture, which is crazy because nobody can escape it. It’s wonderful to be able to have such an open and honest conversation well in advance of any changes to be made, and actually – it is rather empowering! If you have never spoken to your parents about future-proofing their home, then I would definitely advocate have a relaxed chat about it before it becomes a pressing issue. You might be pleasantly surprised at what you discover
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