What does aging in place mean? It means that thanks to advances in both medicine and technology, it is now possible for elderly to remain in their own homes while securing the necessary health care services. fIn fact, according to SeniorResource.com, more than 70 percent of seniors currently grow old in the same residence where they celebrated their 65th birthday.
Aging in place is very important for a variety of reasons. First, moving is a stressful event, one that can be even more harrowing for someone with health issues. Second, many independent living and assisted care facilities are quite expensive, and Medicare and Medicaid often cover only a portion of the bill. And third, many communities for seniors are located far from friends and family members, making the move a lonely and upsetting endeavor.
The concept of aging in place is not only beneficial to the senior citizens themselves, it offers significant advantages to the communities in which they reside. For example, seniors have more free time than younger residents, allowing them to serve as volunteers in local programs designed to enhance the neighborhood. Additionally, since a greater percentage of their financial assets are “disposable”, and they can shop during the day while others are at work, they have a greater impact on the success of local stores and businesses.
However, aging in place presents many challenges. Transportation, accessibility to recreational activities, and many of the other resources the elderly rely on are scarce due to budget constraints. Additionally, aging in place forces seniors to be more independent, and play a more active role in their own care. For example, nurses won’t be available to remind patients to take medication when needed.
RememberItNow! provides seniors with a wide variety of services that make it easier for them to successfully age in place. Calendars with dynamic alerts help them remember when to take medications, or when scheduled health care appointments are approaching. The contacts tool helos organize and retrieve important contact details, so they can reach out to doctors, pharmacies, and others whenever they need. Also, our secure information-sharing allows caregivers, family members, and practitioners to participate and assist in the patient’s care, even if they are hundreds of miles away. Senior citizens can become more self-sufficient, and be more proactive when it comes to managing their own healthcare activities.
Tags: assisted living, caregiving, Healthcare, medication compliance, rememberitnow, seniors
