Posts Tagged ‘aging in place’

Stay Socially Engaged As You Age

Tuesday, July 21st, 2015

Staying socially active as you age not only makes life more fun, it can be good for your health. Researchers with the Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center conducted a study that found that seniors who were highly social had a rate of cognitive decline 70 percent lower than less-social seniors. Interacting with others and keeping your mind stimulated can help ward off depression and dementia in some cases. Perhaps surprisingly, such mental stimulation and social interaction seem to have positive effects even when they take place on the Internet. Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found a 30 percent drop in symptoms of depression among Internet users.

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There are lots of easy ways for seniors to stay socially engaged and intellectually stimulated. Seniors should, according to their ability, make an effort to attend social events, visit friends and neighbors, and keep in touch with family members, if not in person then by phone, email or social media. Seniors can also play games, such as crossword puzzles, or chess to keep their minds active.

Older individuals may also want to do volunteer work or even work a part-time job for the social benefits. Non-profit organizations like At Home on the Sound are run by volunteers and assist their members with a range of services that are designed and coordinated to empower senior citizens and support their wellness, independence and vitality while aging in place, in their own homes within the community they love.

People often become socially withdrawn as they age, but that is something that should be resisted as much as possible. It is important for seniors to take advantage of opportunities for social interaction, to get more satisfaction out of life, and to stay healthy.

 

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Guest Blog: Universal Design Elements Assist Aging in Place

Friday, November 14th, 2014

Our guest blogger this week is Priscilla Toomey, Associate Broker, JD, Top 5, ABR, SRES, Certified EcoBroker, Julia B. Fee Sothebys International Realty.

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While many of us have heard the terms “universal design” and “aging in place,” their meanings and implications may be vague to us. They are universal movements and also have implications for house design going forward.

Basically, universal design is the concept that spaces should be aesthetically pleasing but also be easy to use by people with (or without) disabilities and by the aging population. A few examples  that are commonplace are audiobooks, slip-resistant surfaces, automatic doors, closed captioned television, curb cuts at corners, low-floor busses, Velcro, cabinets with pull-out shelves, lever handles instead of knobs for opening doors, and no-stair access to housing.

A major benefit of universal design is that it makes it easier for people to continue living in their own homes. We are living with an aging population.  By 2030, the US population aged 65 and over is expected to grow to 71.5 million people, from about half that number in 2006.  More and more people want to “age in place” (AIP) rather than go into assisted living, if at all possible.

Aging in place is a world-wide movement, because populations everywhere are living longer. The idea is to enable people to remain in their own homes as they age by providing resources and support services, rather than having them move into assisted living, which is far more costly and more disruptive. Universal design elements can help them do that, while postponing the need for expensive institutional care.

There are more aging in place organizations in Westchester than you may have imagined. There are currently three aging in place models in Westchester County and several organizations in different parts of the county encouraging the formation of AIPs. One close-by example of an aging in place resource is Gramatan Village in Bronxville, NY.

For legal needs, there are lawyers who specialize in a relatively new field known as “elder law”.  For real estate, agents who are interested in working with older clients can become certified as Seniors Real Estate Specialists (SRES). When you need the expertise of one or the other, it’s nice to know they’re there.

 Click here to contact Priscilla.


Learn more about our elder law services by visiting www.elderlawnewyork.com.