Everyone faces the unavoidable consequence of getting old. It can be a terrifying thought for some people since it means that you will be giving up many things that you used to do and replacing them with a quieter life. It's completely normal to have fear about your old age, but there are ways you can prepare to make your life much better. There's nothing to fear, but something you should embrace, just like any other changes in your life. The following are some of the ways you can prepare for old age:

Save Money

Once you retire, you'll be losing a lot of your income. Of course, you'll be surviving with your pension, but it wouldn't be enough to cater for your lavish life once you have enough time to spend in your retirement. That's why it's essential to start saving as early as possible on guaranteeing enough finances to do whatever you want once that time comes.

You don't have to put aside all your money either. All you need to do is take a small percentage of your paycheck and save it. It might hurt at the moment, but you will be thanking yourself when you're old. Ensure that you put enough money aside for when you retire.

Write Your Will

You should name your beneficiaries if you own several assets, even though your investment firm requires you to state your beneficiary. Your will establishes what will happen to your property and children after your death. It also designates an executor who can oversee all your wishes. The probate court gives the executor the power to handle all your assets, including your debts and real estate properties.

Unless you have lots of properties, you can write down a simple will by yourself. However, it's always recommendable to seek the help of an attorney to navigate the tricky state laws and ensure that everything is legally binding.

You should also have your will notarized. Your lawyer will provide a notary public, but you can arrange to own through a bank, package mailing service, or a real estate office. Notarizing your will is worth the effort since it simplifies the process of having your will admitted to probate after you pass on.

Assign a Power of Attorney for Your Finances

You will also need someone who'll manage your finances when you're unable to do that. This is referred to as power of attorney. You can choose the same person you choose to be an executor or someone else you trust.

There are different powers of attorney to choose from, but it's recommendable to have a "durable" power of attorney. This allows that person to make decisions on your behalf if you become unfit to handle things yourself.

Remain Active and Engaged

The best way to ease the burden of your future caregivers is to remain physically active. You should also establish a strong support system in your community. Stay close to the people in your people, and learn about the different service providers for older adults. You should also learn to make tough decisions before you're forced to, whereas you don't know anything about the organization you'll be relying on when you need assistance.

Adapt Your Home to Cater to Your Old Age

Several things can pose a hazard in your home in your old age. You should make several adaptations that would make your living more comfortable in your old age. Some of the aspects that you have to consider are as follows:

Make Installations That Will Help You Get in and Out of Your Home

You can install a ramp or a rail to help you reach your house's main door if steps are at the front door. You can also add an outdoor light that will help you see inside your home when it's dark. Ensure that the light is positioned at a place that won't disturb you while sleeping or annoy your neighbors.

Install a Door-Answering Device

As you grow old, it can be difficult to answer your home's front door now and then. Installing a system that allows you to speak to your visitors and manage who you will let you in is the perfect way to deal with this situation. You can also use a police-approved key safe if you want your relatives, caregivers, and friends to get into your home by themselves.

Install a Device that Will Help You Navigate Your Stairs

You should also plan how to navigate your stairs before you grow old. An extra stairlift or banister rail can make it easier to get up and down your stairs. You can also install a through-floor wheelchair if your house's layout can accommodate it.

Think About Your Bathroom

Your bathroom also needs some adjustments to adapt to your old age. You can use automatic washing and drying functions that are operable while you're seated. You can also install battery-powered bath lifts to support your weight as you get in and out of your bath tabs. Alternatively, you can make a complete overhaul of your bath and install a side opening to avoid climbing over the side of the tab anytime you want to take a shower.

Choose Your Kitchen Appliances and Utensils Carefully

Think about what you'll be using in your kitchen to make life much easier for you. Some of the basic adaptations that you can make for your kitchen include:

  • A perching stool that you can use as support in a near-standing position
  • A kettle tipper to allow you to tilt your kettle
  • A spike board to let you cut and peel your vegetables using one hand
  • A sturdy trolley that can help you move your food from one room to the other

Choose Your Housing Option

It's recommendable to plan your housing option as early as possible to avoid unnecessary hustles when you're old. You can choose different options from aging to home to full-time care nursing home.

Taking note of the basics will help you narrow down your list to a few options that you can investigate further. This will make your decision easy to make.

First, consider how much help you might need every day. Next, take note of how much you can afford. From that point, you can evaluate the following common senior housing options to narrow down to a housing type that fits your needs and budget.

Aging at Your Home

Aging at your home means that you'll be living in your home alone or with your family. It is suitable for older adults who are relatively independent or can access the level of help they need. However, you might need the help of an in-house caregiver to help in your activities of daily living, meal delivery, and cleaning.

Independent Living

Independent living refers to a housing option that's exclusively designed to house seniors. It usually includes retirement homes, senior housing, senior apartments, and retirement communities. It's suitable for older adults who intend to live in an active community free from worries about their daily chores like housekeeping, cooking, and maintenance.

Independent living works as little mini-campuses where people of the same age live together. It works as a community by providing chances for socializing. This kind of housing is more compact, making it easier to navigate.

Residential Care Home

A residential care home is a small facility that provides personalized services to small groups of senior adults. They are also referred to as board and care homes, adult family homes, or personal care homes. They are suitable for seniors who require more individual home-setting care. It provides meal services, assistance with activities of daily living, and lodging.

Assisted Living Community

An assisted living community refers to a small apartment situated in an elderly-care community. It's suitable for adults who want to remain independent but requires some assistance. It offers services and staff available 24 hours a day, bathing, medication management, transportation, housekeeping, and meals. Most of these facilities have a common dining area and a social and recreational area.

Nursing Home or Skilled Nursing Facility

A skilled nursing facility or nursing home is an adult housing option for seniors who need 24-hour supervision with their activities, meals, and health management. It's ideal for seniors with debilitating mental illness and physical strength who cannot care for themselves.

Licensed physicians and other medical professionals supervise these facilities. Some of the medical experts available include occupational and physical therapists for dementia memory care and Alzheimer's.

Stay Healthy and Happy

It's crucial to maintain a healthy lifestyle to continue enjoying an active and fulfilled life even when you're growing old. You can achieve this by focusing on proper nutrition, regular exercise, and remaining socially active. Here is a breakdown of several activities that can help you stay healthy and happy.

Stay Socially Active with Your Family and Friends

Staying socially connected while you're getting older is essential in maintaining your physical and mental health. People who interact more are typically healthier individuals than those that aren't socially active. Social interaction brings positive feelings and decreases the level of stress. Older adults who are socially active also have low chances of Alzheimer's.

A good way to stay socially active is by participating in group activities. You should also make a point of occasionally getting out of your home to talk and walk with a friend, have a healthy meal together, and engage in other fantastic ways that will help you maintain connections and friendships.

Exercise Regularly

Living a sedentary lifestyle can significantly increase your body weight. Exercising is a better way to reduce your body weight and decrease the risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. You will also improve the quality of your life by reducing age-related heart changes like insulin sensitivity, lipid profile changes, and arrhythmias.

Start a Routine

If you want to start an exercising program, you should begin with gentle aerobic exercises or a walking routine to avoid increasing your heart rate without putting too much strain on it. You can do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activities like brisk walking or a 75-minute vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise like running and jogging.

Participate in Cardio-Based Activities

Cardio-based activities are ideal for burning your calories and cardiac health. Effective cardio-based activities include flexibility exercises, strength training, and cardio. Strength training is suitable for increasing your muscle mass, decreasing body fat and bone density.

Avoid Injuries

You should exercise to stay healthy, not injure yourself. The body undergoes certain degenerative changes and elasticity changes as people grow old, making older people more prone to injury while exercising. Your balance may deteriorate, and some of your medications can affect your exercise performance. Therefore, use lighter weights for dedicated body parts like your shoulders and avoid high-intense exercises. You should also avoid doing the same exercise too often to prevent overuse injuries.

Maintain Your Mental Health

Staying happy keeps your stress levels down and will go a long way in helping you age and live well. The following will help you keep your mood elevated.

  • Spending time with your friends and family members: Maintaining a strong social network and meaningful relationships improves your physical, mental, and overall well-being. Your pets can also be ideal in lowering your blood pressure, stress and reduce loneliness.
  • Accept your age: People who maintain a positive attitude about their aging lives longer. It's inevitable to age, and learning how to embrace it makes all the difference.
  • Participate in things that you enjoy: Taking time to participate in enjoyable activities enhances your happiness. Spend time pursuing new hobbies, volunteering, or in nature as long as it brings you joy.

Look for a Home Care Provider

It's best to find a home care provider as early as possible to plan for your old age. If you have any illness like emphysema or diabetes, talk with your doctor about the health problem concerns and how they can make it hard to get around as you grow old. You should reach out to different caregiving agencies, learn about the services they offer, and learn how much it will cost you to secure their services.

Find a Home Care Service Near Me

It's inevitable to grow old. That's why you should adopt relevant measures that will help you prepare well for your old age. Finding a home care service eases all the burden of preparing for your old age. These services offer all kinds of assistance that you need in your senior years. At Mom's Home Care, we are ready to assist our clients in various areas of their daily living and non-medical healthcare services. Our services are available to clients looking to find a home care provider to help them in their homes as they age in Los Angeles, CA, and its surroundings. For more information, call us at 323-244-4789 and learn how we can help you.