Home instead the care journey
Ageing is a journey. At Home Instead Senior Care, we promote ‘successful ageing’ – planning along every step of the way so that senior citizens can live happier at home.
Here are five crucial steps along what we call the ‘care journey’.
1-THE AGE WAVE: The census says that if you’re 65 in Ireland today, chances are you will make your 85th birthday. Medical interventions and social changes are leading to an increase in longevity – although this is great news, it can be complicated and needs to be planned for.
2-PLAN FOR QUALITY OF LIFE: We plan throughout our lives – our education, family, career, retirement. We also need to think about what our goals are and how we are in our 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. We must recognise that we sprint, bounce and hurl a little slower than we did as a 25, 45 or even 65 year old. A successful ageing plan looks at quality of life as we age and how to maintain it.
3-PLAN FOR RETIREMENT: We plan our funerals but not the time we might be unwell before our funerals. This means we are more likely to end up in a nursing home – but older people want to remain in their own homes for as long as possible. A little planning can make this happen and help maintain good family relations.
4-THE PLAN: SET GOALS: How will I maintain happiness when I’m 80? What do I want from life? Where do I want to live and who do I want to live with? How will I socialise, participate at church and where will I holiday?
5-THE PLAN: THINK OF CONTINGENCIES:How will I achieve my goals in the event of a highly probable change in health? If my mobility declines, or I can no longer drive, how will I cope? Legal plans, family plans, budgets and care plans need to take all the possibilities into account.
For more information call 04493 85260 or send your questions to j.acton@homeinstead.ie