It's not any fun getting any older and if you have ageing parents it can be difficult to manage as they find it harder to move around due to health or mobility problems and become more and more forgetful. The elderly living alone is a concern for everyone, a slip in the bath or a fall downstairs can be a terrifying and serious worry for all parties. If you have an elderly loved one who lives alone then the odds are you are worried about their welfare. Many senior citizens like to maintain their independence and live in the home they have probably occupied for many years as long as possible. In other words, they would love to age in place. Reports state that people who are over the age of 85 are the fastest growing population segment of the elderly in America, luckily there's lots of assistance available to help the elderly who live by themselves. While some senior citizens may be happy to go into residences that offer assisted living, there are plenty of others that are happy in their own homes and may just require a little help now and again. If you don't always have the time yourself to check on their well-being daily then there are other options available. You, the caregiver, are more likely to realise your elderly relatives need an extra helping hand than they are but the last thing you want to do is take away their independence. If they insist on living alone then it may be smart to get someone in on a part time basis to help them keep the house clean and tidy, even do some cooking, and this way the change isn't too drastic. Employ a gardener to keep the garden neat and ask neighbours, friends and various members of the family to pop in on a regular basis to keep them company and generally keep an eye on them. Check with a local agency that works with the elderly and find out more about available community resources. They might actually qualify for free programs and assistance to help maintain independence. Various social groups in your area may have volunteers who visit the elderly or those who can't get out much to chat and provide company. However, people don't always have time and there may be some days when no-one has been able to visit, the only way you're going to be reassured of their health and safety each day is by going there yourself or calling them. For people with really busy schedules however, even calling a few times a day to check your mother or father are up and doing ok can be a task that gets neglected due to lack of time or being in a situation or location that doesn't make it easy to use the telephone. If you simply can't afford to get them full-time live in help or they refuse, don't despair as there is another kind of help at hand. Cost effective solutions can help you care for your seniors with a daily care call programme designed to help them and put your mind at ease. What does a care call programme entail exactly? Well, it's very simple to get started all you need is a basic telephone - you decide how many times a day you want the service to call the elderly relative, it could be just once in the morning or every morning, noon and night depending on the circumstances. Services are provided everyday, 24 hours a day depending on your circumstances. If the person concerned doesn't pick up then a notification is sent to whoever you have chosen, either yourself or a neighbour or family friend, and you can then make arrangements to check the situation out. Put your mind at rest with reassurance everyday. For anyone worried about an elderly relatives well-being, whether it is a grandparent having small accidents due to lack of mobility, your dad's failing eyesight, or a neighbour you've known for years that you worry as they become gradually more and more confused, a daily care call or two can mean all the difference. As well as giving you reassurance that all is well, it also offers a support line to the senior, and if anything has happened help can be sent very quickly. An easy service to help aging in place, it's the perfect way to balance effective care for people you love and still be able to get on with the daily routines of your own busy life. Find out more about independent living for seniors in their homes and make sure those you worry about are safe and protected. Stuff to add: "Aging in place" is growing older without having to move. According to the Journal of Housing for the Elderly, it is not having to move from one's present residence in order to secure necessary support services in response to changing need. Some 70% of seniors spend the rest of their life in the place where they celebrated their 65th birthday.
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