All these communities can be beneficial to older adults for decreased burden of home maintenance, increased health monitoring, and various socialization opportunities to decrease depression and loneliness. However, many people do not wish to leave their homes. Additionally, there is a shortage of available facilities as compared to the rising number of older adults. Older facilities were not always built with the unique needs of seniors in mind. Staying at home does have benefits of its own in terms of quality of life and providing a continued sense of dignity and independence. As a result, this course will discuss modification and design of homes in the community. The intent is to allow the older adult to reside in such a location as long as possible, delaying or preventing the need to move into a facility. the intention of older adults to remain in their homes as long as possible (Wiles, Liebing, Guberman, Reeve, & Allen, 2012). While the majority of older adults wish to age in place, people may also be forced to do so as a result of their socioeconomic status. Older adult communities can be very expensive. Because insurance typically does not cover rent, the cost of the facility and the move itself can be prohibitory for some people. People of lower socioeconomic status and means can be forced to age in place, simply out of necessity (Lehing, Smith, & Dunkle, 2015). The ideal situation is for people to have the autonomy to choose their living situation, be it to age in place or move to a different location, rather than to be forced out or forced to stay. growing older and the increased desire to remain at home as long as possible. Accordingly, physical therapists are encouraged not only to perform home safety assessments and home modification recommendations, but to become involved as consultants to architects, interior designers, builders, contractors, and other design professionals. Physical therapists are positioned to play a larger role in this area; it is part of our scope of practice and indicative of the desires of an entire population.
More older adults reside in rural and suburban neighborhoods as compared to urban centers. Many of these older adults prefer to live outside cities to feel connected with nature and enjoy the quieter life a more rural environment can provide. With the trend to age in place, older adults in these communities are finding themselves in naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs). NORCs are clusters of housing developments where the majority of the residents are growing older in their homes (Baernholdt, Yan, Hinton, Rose, & Mattos, 2012). Some NORCs have taken advantage of the unique composition of their neighborhoods and have instituted a variety of supports, ranging from neighborhood watches to mobile light housekeeping and repair services. Given the increasing numbers of older adults, NORCs are anticipated to increase in number. Desires of older adults in relation to living environments Aging in place in their own homes is the first choice of older adults living in the community (Ewen, Hahn, Erickson, & Krout, 2014). The ability to age in place relates to their sense of independence and aging with dignity. For many older adults, the sense of dignity relates to self-reliance and self-sufficiency – not feeling dependent on others for assistance (Black, Dobbs, & Young, 2012). A move into a facility or the home of a family member can rob an older adult of that sense of dignity. The social supports of a community play a significant role in contributing to the ability of someone to age in place; however, the physical environment of the home can be an initial barrier. Unfortunately, living conditions have not been designed to meet the needs of an aging adult completely, despite Establishment of aging in place as an emerging niche The American Physical Therapy Association recognizes the role that physical therapists hold in providing care for individuals aging in place. Geriatric and home health specialists are uniquely trained to help patients and their caregivers in creating a safe environment. It also stresses prevention of potential disorders and deficits, such as falls and cognitive decline, through adaptation of the physical environment (Hayhurst, 2017).Aging in place and home modifications are growing to become a niche area, in response to the increasing number of Baby Boomers Home is a multifaceted concept, comprised of the physical building and the contexts that turn the house into “home.” People have strong attachments to their homes through memories, objects, and emotions that must be acknowledged Housing stock Different types of buildings make up the housing stock in the United States. Most homes are built of wood, completed piece by piece, though some are partially built and constructed on site. The majority of homes are single-family detached homes: a single building on a single lot, not attached to another structure. In some parts of the country, especially in cities, row homes are more common. Entire blocks are filled with houses that share the side walls. Duplexes and triplexes are two or three units in one building. People may also live in large apartment or condominium buildings. Homes may be single or multistory. Ranch homes are typically single story with low ceilings and attached garages. Split-level homes will have an upstairs, downstairs, and a sunken living or dining room, which requires more navigation of stairways than some other housing types. In some parts of the country, especially the Northeast and Midwest, basements are standard features. Just like split-level homes, basements cause extra areas of the home and stairs to be maneuvered, especially when important appliances, such as the laundry machines, are located in that area. Basements also have a tendency to raise the rest of the home, making no-step entries harder to obtain. Unfortunately, the majority of these homes were built without consideration that people will age and have different needs over time. Accessibility, design, and even location of the housing
HOME
when considering the desire to age in place and during the creation of home modification recommendations and completion.
stock is not supportive of aging in place worldwide (Tanner, Tilse, & de Jonge, 2008). The community should also be examined when considering aging in place. The suburb movement has caused issues with the isolation of older adults, which leads to increased rates of depression and loneliness. It is not uncommon to meet women of the Greatest Generation who never learned to drive, because societal norms of the time allowed only their husbands to drive. Additionally, older adults may no longer drive, a decision made either of their volition or due to implications of a medical condition. Research has shown that a lack of public transportation in a community correlates to decreased health and increased mortality of residents because people may be unable to attend needed physician appointments and complete activities such as grocery shopping (Clarke, Ailshire, & Lantz, 2009; Crabtree & Mushi-Brunt, 2013). The community is a great support to older adults. Older adults may choose to move into different housing situations to be closer to stores, physicians, and family. As mentioned earlier, people can be forced to remain in their communities for familial or economic reasons. Therefore, as physical therapists, we must also consider the outside community when assisting our clients in aging in place. Aging in place is more than just the physical building in which the person resides.
EliteLearning.com/Physical-Therapy
Page 84
Powered by FlippingBook