Know When to Hold and When to Fold

Just like playing cards, there are times in your life when you need to either hold on or fold when deciding to 'age in place' or downsize and move. Making these decisions is often difficult and can cause people, particular older or elderly people, stress and anxiety. There are reasons on post sides of the pro and con list to either hold or fold.

One way to decide is to find the pain. Are you:

• Overwhelmed doing your everyday tasks?
• Are you tired going up and down the stairs several times a day?
• Have you fallen and hurt yourself?
• Do you need help taking care of personal and household needs?

These and other issues are things older people are dealing with.

Some or all of these situations can handle to allow the family member to stay in the family home with a few changes. Such as:

1. Make one of the downstairs rooms into a bedroom.
2. Renovate or modify the downstairs bathroom.
3. Hire a homemaker, aide, or a companion to help with routine non-medical household and personal tasks.

However these or other solutions may not take care of the situation or the cost and management of the services may far exceed the peace of mind of moving a loved one to a safe and smaller home situation. One where they will received the amenities and services they need now.

There is not right or wrong answers, only whatever is correct for the person and their family. Whether you are holding or folding, be sure to research and educate yourself to make sound and thoughtful decisions.

Look at all your options; such as what the cost of remodeling and renovations. Also calculate and consider the monthly and annual cost of hiring or contracting for in home services to handle the day-to-day household and personal needs that you might have. Be sure to include both inside and outside the home services.

When you have evaluated this pros and cons of renovating and providing required services you then need to research the various optional living arrangements available. Deciding what is appropriate may require the services of a professional geriatric care manager or similar professionals qualified to evaluate the particular needs, such as physical, emotional, and mental, in order to determine the best fit for your loved one. Once you narrow the choice down, visit them with and without an appointment. Make sure that you have you list of questions to satisfy your own concerns.

Now do your analysis. Compare the costs of aging in place against the costs of downsizing and relocating to a smaller home. The over all cost might surprise you or it might just make your decision easier if you go strictly by the numbers. However the last component of this evaluation must be how does your loved one feel about this, and will they be happy, safe, and secure with the final decision.

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