In case you’re not familiar with the concept of aging in place, it means the freedom for an older senior to stay in their own residence, often a family home where they’ve lived for decades, though sometimes a smaller house or condo they’ve chosen to downsize into. The concept has been growing in importance and awareness in eldercare circles because it’s how 9 in 10 older adults want to live, and there are plenty of reasons why they should. Aging in place means maintaining a sense of independence, even if they receive assistance from a home caregiver, staying connected to their community, and holding on to the memories built up over a lifetime.
Loneliness is one of the leading causes of depression in the elderly, which in turn can exacerbate symptoms of dementia, and it’s been associated with an increase in the likelihood of cardiac disease. The two most effective ways seniors can combat depression are by remaining active within their community and receiving companionship care, which focuses as much on socializing as it does on assisting seniors who live at home with tasks like cleaning, cooking, transportation, and medication.
Many people who find themselves in a position where they have to look after the well-being of an older parent or relative belong to the “sandwich” generation, wedged between kids and parents who need support. Keeping up with all of the responsibilities can leave your head spinning, but you can find compassionate, professional homecare from places like Mavencare.com/toronto to help you manage. Great homecare can provide both companionship and assistance around the house, and it can also expand with your needs, especially important if your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia. As dementia progresses, your loved one may need more assistance with the activities of daily living, which refer to basic health and hygiene tasks like bathing, dressing, toileting, and transferring.
An agency such as Toronto’s Mavencare can grow with your family’s changing needs, and they can keep up with your busy lifestyle thanks to an app they use to build better communication between you and the caregiver. Update medication schedules, receive live updates during caregiver appointments, manage appointments through the app, and always rest assured that your loved one is in good hands.
Toronto is full of vibrant, rooted communities, whether they’re older neighbourhoods like Riverdale and the Junction or newer neighbourhoods with strong community ties from Humber Summit to Steeles. Older adults want to remain in these communities because it’s where their friends and family live, close by to the places where they worship, and convenient to the shops and services that they’ve come to rely on. In many cases, older adults who don’t speak English as a first language want to remain in their communities because they can communicate easily with everyone from their doctor or accountant to the cashier at the grocery store. One of the advantages of getting home care in a city as diverse as Toronto is that many caregivers are fluent in more than one language, and language is an important factor used by agencies that use matching technology like Mavencare. Aging in place is about dignity and being understood and able to communicate in the language of your choice, in your community; it all helps combat senior depression. Get home care that will help your beloved relative stay in the home and the neighbourhood of their choosing.