AARP Hearing Center
For many older adults, aging at home is preferable to the cost and effort that comes with transitioning to assisted living. But aging-in-place requires a supportive community – for safety, social, and health reasons. For example, did you know that in adults 50 and older, social isolation is associated with a 50% higher risk of dementia? In addition, poor social relationships and loneliness have been associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke, according to the CDC1.
In fact, over 77% of adults 50 and older want to remain in their homes for the long term — a number that has been consistent for more than a decade.2 To age-in-place safely and comfortably, communication is key. Here are three recommendations for making aging-in-place safer with some structure, outside support, and effective technology.
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Daily Check-ins
Putting in place a structure for regular communication is essential to safer aging-in-place. This way, you or your parents can stay up to date on any needs, as well as foster genuine social connection. Plan check-ins for the same time of day, every day, to create an easy-to-remember schedule. Use alarms to ensure no one forgets. Video calls are preferable to phone calls so you can see each other. Be sure to ask your loved ones if they have eaten, taken medications, or performed daily tasks.
