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	Knowing that many older individuals are looking to stay at home, while acknowledging that declining health and mobility is likely results in structural changes being necessary for the home in order for the individual to live comfortably in their home <ref name="Karin"> Johansson, J., Lilja, M., Pettersson, I. & Borell, L. (2007). Performance of activities of daily living in a sample of applicants for home modification services. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 14, 44-53. doi: 10.1080/110381200601094997 </ref>. There are some guidelines and standards set in place to make homes as accessible as possible. These guidelines include accessibility, ease of movement indoors and between levels, easy toileting and bathing as well as a controllable environment <ref name="Mark" />. These structural guidelines are put in place to ensure that seniors will have proper mobility and independence within their own houses for as long as possible <ref name="Karin" />.		Knowing that many older individuals are looking to stay at home, while acknowledging that declining health and mobility is likely results in structural changes being necessary for the home in order for the individual to live comfortably in their home <ref name="Karin"> Johansson, J., Lilja, M., Pettersson, I. & Borell, L. (2007). Performance of activities of daily living in a sample of applicants for home modification services. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 14, 44-53. doi: 10.1080/110381200601094997 </ref>. There are some guidelines and standards set in place to make homes as accessible as possible. These guidelines include accessibility, ease of movement indoors and between levels, easy toileting and bathing as well as a controllable environment <ref name="Mark" />. These structural guidelines are put in place to ensure that seniors will have proper mobility and independence within their own houses for as long as possible <ref name="Karin" />.
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	--[[User:Sl08ta|Sl08ta]]		--[[User:Sl08ta|Sl08ta]]

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Revision as of 01:46, 1 November 2011

Group #11

• 1. Sarah Lane
• 2. Janice Harrison
• 3. Krystal McCord

Aging In Place

Overview The elderly population has been increasing and will continue to increase over the next few decades^[1]. People are living much longer now and the ‘baby boomers’ are starting to become part of the elderly population^[2]. ‘By 2030, one out of every five residents will be over the age of 60’^[3]. The increase in the elderly population is going to push communities to make changes to accommodate this shift in population, some examples are changes to housing, transportation, community resources, care in the home, and the community lay out^[4]. The importance of where these men and women will age has become a very important topic. The majority of people over the age of 65 years are still living in the community in their own homes and not in long term care facilities^[5]. Research has been conducted around the differences between aging at home in comparison to aging in a supportive care facility, some advantages and disadvantages have been found for both settings. It is widely known that these men and women do prefer to stay in the home as long as they can, this is known as ‘aging in place’^[6]. ‘Aging in place is a process of individuals growing older in their own homes or community without moving out to another residential setting’^[7]. The popularity around the concept of aging in place is becoming very important to many individuals and families. Decisions and plans have to be made with the aging person to their wishes where they would like to age as well as to the ability they have to support themselves in the home. The elderly want to stay in their homes for many different and arguable reasons. Positives to aging in place… • Comfort/Familiarity/Routines • Privacy • Independence • Control over their own lives • Less financial cost • Positive psychosocial benefits Some reasons for staying in the home to age is that the comfort level that they have within their own homes is usually very established as they more than likely have been living there for many years^[8]. They are comfortable in their own homes, they have made their home to what suits them, they have routines that they follow, and they are familiar with their surroundings^[9]. They have an attachment to the items they have in their homes, they possibly have collected items throughout their life and now sit in their home to be constant reminders of what they have accomplished or completed in their life, it is their personal identity^[10].^[11] They have their own privacy and they can be seen as independent^[12].^[13] As well the communities they live are very important to them and provide many benefits to their ability to stay in the home^[14]. This option can also be more cost effective for the family to allow the person to stay in the home and if needed implement services in the home to help that individual^[15]. Social support in the home and community increases the likelihood of the person staying in the home^[16]. Specifically, family support, community support, good housing, social interactions are all very important to promote the opportunity for that person to stay in the home longer^[17]. ^[18] Negatives to aging in long term facilities… • No longer independent • Depression/Loss of friend and family connections • Not able to or used to change • Loss of control • Long term care is not appealing • Loss of personal space • Loss of privacy There are major concerns in terms of overall health, well being and life satisfaction when it comes to the elderly moving out of the home into long term care facilities. If these men and women move out of the home to age in a supportive care facility, some may believe that there is a stigma attached to that, and that they are giving up, they are unable to care for themselves, so essentially they may feel that they are not independent any longer. This loss of independence can create many problems for these individuals. Some research has pointed out that people who are relocated in late life may develop depression, increased dependency and dislocation from friends and family . Many of these people are not fond of change; the thought of change is not appealing to these individuals . They may see this move as the transition from independent to dependent as a lot of decisions are now taken away from them. They loose control over aspects of their lives for example when they take their medication, what they eat, and activities they may participate in. Another issue with aging outside of the home is the long term care facilities in their community may not be very appealing, they have to adjust to a much smaller area, for example they go from a home and must downsize to a room or even sometimes a shared room . They also loose their privacy, as they may now share sleeping, eating and social areas with many other people. The long term care facility is essentially a newer concept and still needs to be developed to suit the needs of the elderly population. It was common for the family to care for the elderly population in the home but now western society is getting further away from this concept and depending more on long term care facilities to care for the aging population.

Aging in Place: The Home

As the population ages new issues are coming to our attentions as we must develop plans to deal with the potential problems which may result. One of the trending movements in the aging communities is aging at home. Research as shown that the number one reason behind the aging populating wishing to remain in the home is to maintain the maximum level of independence they can, for as long as they can ^[19]. It has been stated that as a person ages and passes various milestones, their location needs change, as such, an older adult is entering a new period in their life, and as such will face changes with their needs at home. These changes can be influenced by emotional attachment to the home structure, any necessary homecare that may be needed, finances and the structural layout of the home.

Emotional Attachment

There are three different terms that can all be used when discussing a place someone lives, there is a house, which is the objective space, a home which refers to the emotional attachment to the building and a dwelling, simply referring to a comfortable space ^[20]. The importance of a house during older age can come down to the emotional attachment to the building, their home. At all ages, having a place to call home is important, somewhere familiar, and safe that you can return to at the end of the day. The home can hold place to a person's sense of identity, self-expression and belongingness ^[20] and may even contribute to positive health benefits ^[21]. This importance of a home does not change as individuals age. Aging in place can provide the aging individual the opportunity to feel a sense of protection against determination as they age, may boost their esteem and can add to their sense of independence ^[20]. Researchers believe that by aging in the home, the elder will age in a healthier environment, knowing the environment, having a social network and a sense of belonging will provide positive emotions and support while the individual ages and may need more support that they did when they were younger ^[22]. While the world around them is changing, and their bodies are not working quite as well as they did when they were younger, a familiar home can provide the comfort and support an aging individual needs in their lives.

In-home care and finances

Support provided to help with daily activities

Medical aid available to your house

It is inevitable, that if an individual remains in their home for long enough, that they will at some point need some assistance in their living, whether it be for a short-time, or more long-term, it is an issue that must be addressed. Not only must the individuals find the in home support necessary, they must also find a way to pay for the added care. There are broad variations when considering what help may be needed to an aging individual, however when deciding if aging at home is that right option, one must explore all possibilities. Care that one can receive at home can range from someone coming in to take care of housework as the house becomes too much to care for, to someone coming into to help with daily activities, such as hygiene, transportation, control medications etc. Or, the individual maybe in such poor health that a 24-hour nursing service is required ^[21]. If an individual does enough research, resources are available to help the aging community in all stages of aging ^[23]. For someone aging at home, it is highly likely that they will need to look into seeking some assistance while living in the home ^[21]. However, with such intensive help, comes expensive costs. Currently, the older population spends a larger portion of their income on fuel and food when compared to any other age group ^[21]. This is likely a due to the fact that much of the older population depends on pensions and many are facing a new way of living, as their spouses pass away ^[21]. In an attempt to help with the financial strains that many elderly face, the Ontario government has developed a new "aging at home strategy" which will include more that $700 million in funding throughout the provinces with various health networks to aid seniors who are aging at home ^[23].

Structural changes in the house

Accessibility between floors

Knowing that many older individuals are looking to stay at home, while acknowledging that declining health and mobility is likely results in structural changes being necessary for the home in order for the individual to live comfortably in their home ^[24]. There are some guidelines and standards set in place to make homes as accessible as possible. These guidelines include accessibility, ease of movement indoors and between levels, easy toileting and bathing as well as a controllable environment ^[22]. These structural guidelines are put in place to ensure that seniors will have proper mobility and independence within their own houses for as long as possible ^[24].