Self-determined living in old age
The quality of life in our later years also depends on our living environment. Your own home stands for quality of life like almost nothing else - at any age. Tips from eldercare expert Jürgen Griesbeck.
Most people would like to live autonomously and independently in their familiar surroundings. After major changes have already taken place - the end of a career, children moving out - mobility can decrease in old age and the need for assistance can increase.
If we feel socially desirable and integrated in our living environment, we can feel safe and, not least, successfully manage our everyday lives - and thus also realize our ideas of a fulfilled old age. It is therefore important to think in good time about how and where you want to live into old age.
Better quality of life in familiar surroundings
Here, the previous living environment is a secure constant. We want to maintain this quality of life for as long as possible. For many people, it is therefore an unpleasant idea to have to swap their familiar surroundings for a retirement home.
What does "age-appropriate living space" actually mean? First of all, it refers to the furnishings of the apartment or house. Accessibility is particularly important here. For example, a senior-friendly bathroom can be installed at an early stage or the bedroom can be moved from the second floor to the first floor.
Equipping living space for the elderly: This is part of it
Age-appropriate properties are those that have level access or suitable aids that also allow people with restricted mobility to enter via ramps, stair lifts or similar. It is also important that doors are wide enough to allow people to move between rooms easily with the help of a rollator or wheelchair, for example, that they have non-slip tiles, an easy-to-use toilet with an ideal seat height, a wheelchair-accessible washbasin and grab rails in the bathroom, individually adjustable wheelchair-accessible work surfaces and easily accessible cupboards in the kitchen. In addition to various other co-financing options, the KfW Bank grants special loans and subsidies for age-appropriate conversion and renovation of residential property.
Support through modern technology
The use of ambient assisted living (AAL) products, i.e. digital technical aids, can also increase comfort and safety and make communication easier. In addition to suitable technical AAL equipment, a connection to a local care service can be arranged if necessary, which can be notified quickly and easily in an emergency. You can see sample apartments on the Internet that clearly show how AAL aids affect everyday life.
In recent years, additional interesting opportunities have been developed in this context to improve the need for human interaction. First and foremost is the "Living for help" project. There is also assisted living at home or the possibility for those already in need of care to initiate a residential group in their own home.
The pme Familienservice provides comprehensive advice on these topics to employees of its contractors and can provide active support in the realization of individual plans.
pme Familienservice Group - Your EAP provider since 1991
On behalf of more than 900 employers, the pme Familienservice Group supports employees in achieving a successful work-life balance and being able to work with a clear head.
The pme Familienservice Group supports working people in crises, e.g. conflicts at work, addiction or partnership problems. With a homecare eldercare service, it helps working people to organize and finance care services and offers psychosocial support. The pme Academy offers seminars, workshops and coaching on the topics of personnel management and development.
You can find out more about the pme Familienservice Group here: www.familienservice.de/wer-wir-sind
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