October 15, 2019 —By Frances Kolarek —
Aging in place is a concept coming up for a harder look. “We tend to think of aging in place as staying where we lived during our working years, but that might be an abysmal place to spend retirement,” says author and retirement expert John Nelson. “Most of us will move at some point in retirement. If we’re smart about it, an easy early move can prevent a difficult later move. We can make it proactive and positive, instead of reactive and negative.”
Researching the concept I stumbled on a website for the National Aging in Place Council. Visit it. By the time you have run down the list of things you must do to adapt your house to your advancing years and the expense they involve, you’ll seriously consider an early move to a retirement community with all its amenities.
A word to the wise. Where possible, make your own decisions. “We are so lucky to live here!” is a chorus I hear all the time. Dissent comes from those whose children have “put” them here against their wishes, for their parents’ welfare and their own peace of mind. An example: when the old neighborhood had degenerated to the point where Mother never went out of the house without an escort, Son took matters in his own hands and set Mom up in a Collington apartment where she grumbles.
There will always be those who cling to the family home. I read about a son, highly skilled in cyber techniques, who, no matter where he may be, can monitor his mother’s every move in her home. Sensors tell him when she gets out of bed, goes into the kitchen and makes coffee! He knows when she has opened the door to her medicine cabinet — and presumably taken her pills. He knows if she has gone outside via the back door. Enough already. A degree of role reversal is inevitable, but this doesn’t give our adult children permission to treat us like infants.
None of us can predict contingencies that will require medical attention and subsequent care. Falls. Elective surgery. Parkinson’s disease. Even dementia. Suppose that you have spent thousands of dollars remodeling your home — and boom! Tragedy strikes and you require closely monitored institutional care. Retirement communities provide this when independent living is no longer feasible. Collington’s Alzheimer’s patients and those with other forms of dementia have their own wing — The Arbor.
Check lists suggest that we pay heed to others factors when choosing a place to live:
- Transportation? Collington offers free bus trips to a variety of supermarkets every day of the week and an hourly shuttle to the Metro station where you can also board an Amtrak train. Trips to the doctor are also covered at a minimal charge.
- Pets? Oh yes. We have lots and lots of them. The campus has recently sprouted little stations offering plastic bags and trash receptacles as a convenience for dog walkers.
- Activities? There are dozens of stimulating, creative outlets and classes. Plus walking trails, a gym and an indoor pool.
If you choose to “age in place” at Collington, you will have the companionship of dozens of like-minded neighbors, of people with a variety of interesting professions and careers. But if you’d rather dine alone, watching Jeopardy, takeout meals are a popular option.
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