The Book Club and Aging in Place

I recently saw the movie "The Book Club" and it was hysterical.  Although meant as a comedy there were also some insightful reflections on the aging process as brought out by the stages of four adult women who got together since college days, baby booming and now through to the early retirement stage for their monthly Bookclub.  One of the characters, Diane recently lost her husband and had two grown millennial daughters who lived out of state.  They worried constantly about her safety and encouraged her to leave her comfortable home and lifestyle in Southern California to move nearby to them in the Scottsdale Arizona area.  Although well intended this was not what Diane aspired to and would have preferred to continue living independently in her California home.  That being said I am not going to write much more about the movie other than to say that often Millenial's think they know what is best and may force a situation that really is not what the "Adult" in the family wants.  Often it is better to allow one to remain independent and to stay in their home until it is their decision to move on or downsize.

Of course as we age safety measures may change based on physical ability.  When we have young children it is important for example to have child safety locks to prevent unwanted access to dangerous tools or hazards.  On the other extreme there are safety measures that should be considered as one ages to safely stay in place. The NYT recently had an article on such safety measures which should be considered. click here.

A recently published book “Age in Place: A Guide to Modifying, Organizing, and Decluttering Mom and Dad’s Home,” by Lynda G. Shrager, may be worth picking up as a guide to help a loved one begin this process if the goal is to stay put.  For those with out of state parents there are professionals who can help orchestrate this process to help declutter and make necessary recommendations for safety modifications to an existing home.

If you are into technology, there are now Robots available to help monitor health and even offer companionship to an elder who may be living alone.  Of course,  a digital companion cannot provide empathy or physical help one but they can help monitor vital statistics and send an alarm to medical services when intervention may be required. 

If you live in Massachusetts there are some very helpful options for those living alone.  MassOptions is a resource that provides a network of services available for both elder and disabled residents who wish to bring help into their home.  If you live in Norfolk County there is a service called Are You OK?  Registered seniors will get a daily phone call from the Norfolk County Sheriff's office to ensure the senior is safe.  

There are many resources available to allow seniors to age in place.  Often seniors don't like to ask for help so it may be helpful for those who are worried to do some homework and make a list of services and resources available.  When the older relative is ready for help they will indicate this by their behavior but perhaps you can proactively engage and make recommendations to ensure safety ahead of time.  

Wendy is a Realtor with Coldwell Banker in Needham, Mass.  She also works with buyers and sellers on the lower Cape during the summer months.  Since earning her SRES, she has been networking and learning about available resources to help her more mature clients.  She is always happy to chat and make recommendations to help baby boomers and their aging parents.  She can be found at www.wendybcb.com or on facebook  @wendybcb.