When making senior living arrangements, age or specific life events at different ages seemingly make the decision for an individual or their family. While this is not against the law, it’s an unsuitable basis for critical decision-making. The better quality of life extends to physical comfort, socializing networks, personal independence, and overall satisfaction; crucial factors in determining any senior living needs have more to do with quality of life than a birth certificate.
It’s easy for families to fall victim to the assumption that residents need to be of a certain age – 75, 80, awaiting significant declines in aging – to make the most drastic life change. But this works against arranging the best possible outcome for even those who could share a community earlier or for those who have the potential ability to stay out of a community for longer before someone gives up on them because they hit a number.
Adult Children Seeking to Safeguard Aging Parents
People are meant to grow older; it’s only natural. But people do not age the same. A 70-year-old with significant chronic conditions rendering them unable to get out of bed is on par with an 85-year-old looking for the next travel opportunity, volunteering daily, and constantly engaging socially and medically. Thus, using age as a primary measurement of when good decision-making occurs is inaccurate.
For example, those with chronic conditions would rather supplement medications; need assistance with mobility, errands, and meal preparation; or require resources to ensure health and safety do not age into certain professionals or safety measures at a specific age and are better suited in community settings sooner. On the contrary, healthy seniors shouldn’t be forced into situations that best suit older populations if they do not need them yet.
Mental well-being is more critical than age when determining what’s right for loved ones. If there are early signs of memory loss, it may be helpful to integrate into a community setting sooner to avoid significant issues at home – but someone with sound cognition may have no problem living independently well into their 90s.
The Importance of Connections
One of the least considered components of senior living arrangements comes down to social connection. Loneliness is detrimental to overall life impact more than many medical challenges over time. A person becoming homebound and sad due to a lack of sociability would benefit from enjoying others in a community setting regardless of health concerns or age.
Thus, quality communities are aware of this socialization component and create their layouts and programs accordingly. Such communities like Willoughby Village strive to create long-lasting communities with existing friends and new friends through shared experiences, meals and community connections.
Quality of Life over Age-Funded Decisions
People prefer certain levels of privacy and accessibility over others. This fluctuates throughout aging regardless of a person’s social standing. Some people love having neighbors at arm’s length and readily available organized activities; others want something different entirely. This isn’t based on age but personality preference.
Some people love the idea of downsizing, giving up on maintenance, finding affordable amenities available to everyone but themselves in their larger homes; others sense that community living is synonymous with giving up their independence.
Honest discussions about priorities, what each person finds valuable, allow families to make decisions based on quality of life instead of assumptions about numbers that mean nothing personally but could make a big difference personally down the line.
How Finances Play Into Age-Based Decisions
There are qualities about finances that go beyond age – people can be financially set at 65; people can need community accommodations regardless of age – and finances are based on individual results, plans and values arranged beforehand.
However, the cost of waiting too long far exceeds anticipated planned community living arrangements. Those who age in place require renovations that come with increased costs; those who find themselves needing more care need more assistance that also requires cash flow; emergencies happen – but proactive moves based on intended goals before hitting certain ages provide better finances for everyone involved.
Health Management Before and After Decision Making Process
Community health is versatile today with assessments more than ever before and arrays of options determining what’s possible. The proper decisions can be made based on intangibles instead of solidified health where it’s either too little, too late or unexpectedly in decline for golden-age opportunities.
Those who struggle or wait until they start struggling only put themselves at a significant disadvantage. How helpful it could be to be in a safe community with planned wellness strategies instead of adding the stress of moving as another factor in community transition.
Why Quality of Life Reigns Over Age-Based Decisions
It’s less about what age is critical for the healthiest option than what works best to determine quality of life – a younger person should live in a community setting sooner than expected if this means social opportunities mitigate living alone; others can wait if arrangements and support can be accessed within the family home – whatever works best.
Quality of life matters because it encompasses physical comfort and safety, socializing opportunities, mental exercise, personal independence opportunities based on what matters most among them all. These don’t apply evenly well among all seniors as they’re not treated the same in age increments anyway.
If some benefit from community efforts – great; if others benefit from staying put – let them if that’s good for their quality of life.
Age based decision-making is arbitrary; decisions should come down to what makes the most sense now and why any expectations mean nothing when the goal is happiness above all. Transitioning under these pretenses is anything but forced if families can avoid forced emotions by considering quality of life instead.
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Meet the blogger behind Life In Velvet – Bec, a mum of 4 currently living on the US East Coast with her kids, husband and numerous pets. Bec shares her favourite things on this award-nominated lifestyle blog – especially recipes and baking, crafts, home and interiors, DIY, her love for all things seasonal, and a good motivational quote!