Retiring at Home

According to a recent poll by Ipsos, nine out of 10 seniors will choose to say in their homes after they retire.

While staying in the family home has many benefits to a retired lifestyle, there are a number of challenges facing seniors who remain in their home well into their later years.

The poll surveyed homeowners of all ages and found that for Canadians aged 65 and over, it is important to live out retirement years in the home despite these challenges.

The complications that rise from this choice require a new support structure that will allow seniors to enjoy living in their homes.

Regular tasks that had always been a standard part of living in a house such as housekeeping, accessing different areas of the home and connecting with their friends and families may become more difficult with age.

Going to the grocery store, doing laundry, preparing meals and cleaning the home (a space that is traditionally quite large for aging seniors) are just some of the household tasks that can become increasingly more cumbersome and even dangerous.

Accessibility becomes a major issue for aging seniors who remain in their homes especially as getting around stairs and other obstacles can be exacerbated often by illness or inclement weather.

For seniors living alone, it is often difficult to avoid feeling isolated as driving to visit friends and family can become demanding, especially during the winter months. As many seniors choose to stop driving, reaching different areas of the city to visit family or to make appointments, can be a challenge.

Isolation in turn has been shown to contribute not poor mental and physical health.

According to a study by National Seniors Council, isolation contributes to a number of other mental health issues, and has as its driving factors living alone and major lifestyle changes such as retirement.

The report highlights “the value of the age-friendly communities” and regular companionship as they enable seniors with varying needs and capacities to live in security, good health and to participate fully in society.

This is why many new organizations have begun helping seniors through personalized at-home support. Seniors for Seniors, one of Ontario’s leading non-medical home care providers, has been expanding its roster of services from driving assistance, companionship and housekeeping, all the way to live-in companions.

It’s also unique in that all caregivers themselves are seniors, which leads to great relationships and a sense of understanding and belonging between client and companion. Seniors for Seniors for connects seniors with caregivers that are 55+, allowing for a stronger bond between caregivers and clients.

For over 30 years Seniors for Seniors has been a source of caregiving services through the Greater Toronto Area. Combining quality home care services with companions close in age to clients creates the support structure needed to help seniors live in their own homes all through retirement. Services such as house keeping, driving assistance and personal companions help many seniors take care of their homes, have fulfilling relationships with their friends and family, and take care of themselves as they transition into a retirement lifestyle in their homes. As more and more seniors cross the US and Canada choose to remain in their homes after retirement, the need for similar services will continue to grow in order to support an independent and fulfilling lifestyle.

For more information on home care services from Seniors for Seniors, call 1-844-422-7399 or visit www.seniorsforseniors.ca