If you can’t bear the thought of leaving a much-loved home and community, fear not—with a little resourcefulness, you can successfully age in place—as long as you have the right supports in place (and your health needs are manageable). Read on for some ideas on how to create a support system that makes aging in place a breeze.
Food
If making meals is onerous, meal delivery services could be your answer. FiftyForward Fresh is probably the most economical bet as they offer meals for $5. Another option is Eat Well Nashville, which delivers fresh and healthy cooked breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks. There’s also Dinner Belle, which relies on ingredients that are unprocessed and often organic, and TinWings, though it only delivers to select Nashville and Brentwood neighborhoods. (Call 615-454-5250 to see if you are in the service area.)
Another way to cut down on cooking is to order frozen meals, like Magic Kitchen and Silver Cuisine by bistroMD, which have developed meals tailored to specific health conditions like diabetes. Ordering pre-assembled meal kits, such as the ones from Blue Apron or Hello Fresh, is an alternative as well.
If cooking is not the issue, but shopping—or driving is—consider buying groceries online and having them delivered. Call your favorite grocery store to see if they offer this service, or check out Instacart.
Transportation
Speaking of driving, getting out, and attending appointments and social functions are vital to your emotional and physical health. You can avoid the hassle of driving by taking taxis or signing up for Senior Ride Nashville, an affordable, assisted ride service that provides drives to medical and hair appointments as well as grocery stores. Besides this, GoGo Grandparent can arrange drives from Uber or Lyft, especially useful if you don’t have a mobile phone or dislike using apps.
Home Modification
If you find it challenging to maneuver stairs, consider having your home modified to meet your changing physical needs. Access & Mobility is a local company that adapts bathrooms –everything from installing grab bars to creating wheelchair accessible showers and cabinets—as well as kitchens. On top of this, its specialists can install indoor and outdoor lifts, giving you an alternate way of moving from floor to floor.
Senior Move Managers
If home modifications would be extensive, it might make more sense to move into a more manageable place. If this is the case, ponder getting some support from a senior move company, like Nashville’s Home and Office Transitions, which can help you minimize the stress of moving. In addition to helping you sort, organize, declutter, and pack your belongings, senior move managers can arrange storage, help select a realtor, and set up your new home.
Help Around the Home
Whether you move or not, you could probably use some help with the multitude of chores associated with running a home and yard. You can find cleaners, lawn cutters, handypersons, or the like, through an online search, though an old-fashioned word of mouth referral can often be the best way to find reliable services.
Finally, consider learning more about the advantages of care coordination by contacting us online or speaking to a LiveWell team member at 615-665-0694.
More Links
Find a Home Remodeler in Nashville, TN
Tips for Decreasing Fall Risks
A Checklist for Aging in Place
The Best Smart Home Devices to Help Seniors Age in Place
How To Become Tech Savvy Seniors In 10 Days
National Directory of Home Modification and Repair Resources