The Wall Street Journal (Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009) ran a huge article on how communities can help older adults age in place by making the community more senior friendly - Making Suburbia More Livable.
Things that make suburbia really nice when you're young - privacy, spread out houses, driving everywhere -- make it very hard when you're older. When you can't drive, you can become isolated. A house with lots of land is hard to take care of. When you need help with everyday tasks, being far from the centers of care and transportation make things really challenging. That's why many older adults move to life care communities, senior living, assisted living, etc.
But as more people age and more people want to age in place, the suburbs may have to change. Some are being redesigned and rebuilt in certain areas of our country to create a space where senior can live independently without leaving the community.
I've love to see this happen in Darien, CT, where I live. We have one area that could be conducive to a mixed-use area that could have market-rate and affordable senior housing, shops, restaurants, activities, outdoor greenways and a social center. I'd love to see our big, local developers join together with town leaders to make something like this happen in the business district of Noroton Heights. Our senior center is in Noroton Heights, so it could be a fine tie-in, especially if the senior center could get some renovation at the same time.
I'm probably dreaming. But in any event, the article in the Journal is really worth reading and pondering. Maybe you can do something in your community. Here is a link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574330801650897252.html
Financial Strain of Caring for Parents
When you need to take care of your older parents, it can be a drain on your emotions and your finances. I know this from first-hand experience. After a massive stroke, which left my intelligent mother permanently confused, I cared for her for eight years. I found her a nursing home after her hospital stay. But after 6 months, she begged me to take her out.
I did, finding her an apartment and a series of home-health-care aides to watch over her. Eventually, Babe (my mom) needed round-the-clock care, and we found a good nursing home for her. During all this, I had to manage her finances. I was an only child, and all the other relatives were dead, so in some ways, this made things a little easier. But I worked in NYC and later had a baby, so I had demands on my time.
My experience is one reason I have become so involved with Aging in Place in Darien. It's also why I found this article in the New York Times --
I did, finding her an apartment and a series of home-health-care aides to watch over her. Eventually, Babe (my mom) needed round-the-clock care, and we found a good nursing home for her. During all this, I had to manage her finances. I was an only child, and all the other relatives were dead, so in some ways, this made things a little easier. But I worked in NYC and later had a baby, so I had demands on my time.
My experience is one reason I have become so involved with Aging in Place in Darien. It's also why I found this article in the New York Times --
Taking Care of Parents Also Means Taking Care of Finances,
Friends Can Make You Healthier
Here is a link to a fascinating article on how friendships can help you age successfully and stay healthier. The more friends you have, the better off you are.
Interestingly, friends can influence you in a positive way -- quitting smoking, losing weight -- or negatively -- not studying when a student, gaining weight to the obese stage.
The article was in the New York Times and is based on the long-running Framingham Heart Study in Framingham, Massachusetts. People who stuck around Framingham and basically aged in place have done very, very well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/magazine/13contagion-t.html
Interestingly, friends can influence you in a positive way -- quitting smoking, losing weight -- or negatively -- not studying when a student, gaining weight to the obese stage.
The article was in the New York Times and is based on the long-running Framingham Heart Study in Framingham, Massachusetts. People who stuck around Framingham and basically aged in place have done very, very well.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/magazine/13contagion-t.html
Practical Assisted Living Structures
The first PALS unit is about to be installed at the East Haven home of a Vet. PALS stands for Practical Assisted Living Structures. It's great for anyone who wants to stay in their home but needs the bedroom and bathroom to be accessible and safe.
You can attach a PALS unit to your home. Later, when it isn't needed, it can be removed. I think this is great for older people or disabled people of any age. I started doing some consulting work for the company that makes and installs the PALS units and have been so impressed with what they do and their management.
They have a great story and are really doing good by helping out one Veteran in particular.
You can read more about this at:
http://palsbuilt.com/Content/Vets_Helping_Vets.asp
You can attach a PALS unit to your home. Later, when it isn't needed, it can be removed. I think this is great for older people or disabled people of any age. I started doing some consulting work for the company that makes and installs the PALS units and have been so impressed with what they do and their management.
They have a great story and are really doing good by helping out one Veteran in particular.
You can read more about this at:
http://palsbuilt.com/Content/Vets_Helping_Vets.asp
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