It’s not an easy conversation to have, but the reality of life is that everyone gets old, and everyone needs to decide how they want to age. While everyone’s situation is likely different, usually seniors’ choices are boiled down to two general options: living in a senior community or preparing to age in place.
Buffy Fisher, general manager at Home Instead in Columbus, which offers non-medical caregiving and assistance throughout the area, said she believes the decision ultimately comes down to the situation, more than the person. But if the option is available and the senior can do so safely, she said most people would prefer to stay in their home.
“It really supports independence and when you’re at home you have more decision making around how you’re living your life,” she said. “When you’re aging at home, you decide what day you want to shower, how long you want that shower to be, what you’re having for breakfast, lunch or dinner, if you’re going to go out. When you’re living in a facility or community – there’s nothing wrong with that, it’s a great alternative for people – there are shower days. (With meals) this is what, for the most part, is being served today in terms of a meal and at this time. There are a lot of decisions that, when you’re at home, you can make for yourself and when you’re in the facility lifestyle, you’re part of the group, so the facility is administering things for the good of the group.”
Niniana Thompson, executive director of Harrison on Fifth by Senior Star in Columbus, explained the decision will usually come down to what is right for everyone’s circumstances, but she does see some common reasons for preferring a senior community.
“It really depends on the unique needs of the person,” she said. “They might not be able to cook for themselves anymore. … A lot of times it’s about socialization. Aging in their home is amazing, as long as they have companionship. But oftentimes what we’re seeing is, my children have moved away, they’re living their own lives. Or my spouse passed half a year ago, and now I’m all by myself, my friends only come to visit so often. In senior living, your friends are all around you. They’re your family, and our team becomes family and other residents become their closest friends, and sometimes even companions. It’s amazing, because of how convenient it is, because of how safe it is, and these relationships that they’re building can last for the rest of their lives a lot of times.”
Fisher said their caregivers do more than provide companionship and perform tasks for the senior; they also benefit the senior’s family members.
“One thing I like to tell prospective clients is we are an avenue to getting back to being a son, a daughter, a spouse, instead of being the caregiver for their loved one,” Fisher noted. “Which is a beautiful thing.”
Thompson pointed out aging in place doesn’t necessarily have to mean in a home.
“Perhaps I’m fully independent right now, but I know my diagnosis could progress and down the road I might need some assistance,” she said. “At my community, for example, you could move into independent living and then as the diagnosis progresses and a resident needs more assistance, you could move into assisted living. Then maybe you have some memory issues, so can even move into memory care, but you stay within the same building. So, aging in place does exist, even in senior living communities.”
Ed Carroll is a freelance journalist.