Aging-In-Place Planning Calgary
Aging-In-Place Services Calgary
Aging-in-place is a way to support seniors in Calgary and Alberta-wide to live in their homes and communities for as long as possible as they age, rather than having to relocate to an assisted living facility, nursing home or long-term care facility.
It can involve modifying one’s living environment to be more accessible such as by converting a bath to a walk-in shower, exploring how to access services to assist with housekeeping, yard maintenance, cooking, transport etc., or any task you no longer want to or are able to be responsible for and how to remain connected to the people and activities most important to you.
Aging-in-place allows seniors to maintain their autonomy, dignity, and connections to their communities while receiving the assistance and care they need to age gracefully. You choose the format that works best for you! Here are ways you can reduce your risk of falls at home.
OT2U also provides aging-in-place planning for seniors in Chestermere, Airdrie, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Medicine Hat and Okotoks Alberta.
Related Blog: The Most Common Worries Adult Children Have About Their Aging Parents
A Roadmap to Aging-In-Place in Calgary
1. It Starts with You!
Our Calgary occupational therapist will spend 1-2 Sessions learning about your needs, the activities you value, and where your current challenges lie. An occupational therapist can help you with your physical, emotional, and cognitive concerns.
2. Home Safety Visit
As part of the independent living assessment an occupational therapist, here in Calgary, will visit your home to identify any safety risks in and around it. This session is followed up with a report that documents the recommended home modifications or equipment that would be of benefit to you.
3. Getting Connected
An occupational therapist will support you through multiple sessions, ensuring you feel confident utilizing the community resources in Calgary. These services include housekeeping, yard maintenance, grocery delivery, navigating public transit, and enrolling in classes, among others.
4. Practice, Practice, Practice
After receiving new equipment and making necessary home modifications for safe and comfortable living, an occupational therapist will revisit your home to ensure proper use of the equipment. Additionally, they will provide ample time for practicing strategies discussed, such as medication management and community access.
FAQ About Aging-In-Place in Calgary
What are the 5 Pillars of Aging-in-Place?
The National Aging Council defines the 5 Pillars of Aging-in-Place as: Home Accessibility, Physical Health, Social Wellbeing, Transportation & Finances. While social wellbeing can influence one’s cognitive and emotional wellbeing, we’d propose these can be their own pillars.To watch our free webinar on Aging-in-Place, click here or continue reading below to
learn more about each pillar.
1. Home Accessibility
Home accessibility refers to the design and modification of living spaces to accommodate the changing physical abilities of older adults. This includes installing grab bars, ramps, wider doorways, stairlifts, and accessible bathroom facilities to ensure safety and ease of movement within the home.
2. Physical Health
Physical health encompasses maintaining and improving bodily functions through regular exercise, proper nutrition, and regular medical check-ups. For aging individuals, this might involve tailored fitness programs, managing chronic conditions, and preventive healthcare to maintain mobility, strength,and overall physical well-being.
3. Social Wellbeing
Social wellbeing involves fostering strong, supportive relationships and staying engaged in community activities. For older adults, this can mean participating in social clubs, volunteering, staying connected with family and friends, and avoiding social isolation to enhance their quality of life and mental health.
3a. Cognitive Wellbeing
Cognitive wellbeing refers to maintaining mental sharpness and cognitive functions through activities that stimulate the brain. It can also be learning to adapt to changes in cognitive abilities, such as memory and planning and organization.
3b. Emotional Wellbeing
Emotional wellbeing involves managing and expressing emotions in a healthy way and finding purpose and meaning in life. For seniors, this can involve practices like mindfulness, therapy, hobbies, and maintaining a supportive network to manage stress and enjoy a fulfilling life.
4. Transportation
Transportation refers to the availability and accessibility of various modes of transport to ensure older adults can travel independently and safely. This can include public transportation options, ride-sharing services, community shuttle programs, and driving assistance to maintain mobility and access to essential
services and social activities.
5. Finances
Finances involve managing and planning financial resources to support a stable and comfortable lifestyle. For aging individuals, this includes budgeting, retirement planning, understanding benefits and entitlements, and ensuring sufficient funds to cover healthcare, living expenses, and other needs.
What are the benefits of Aging-in-Place?
Aging-in-place empowers seniors to exercise their choice, to stay in homes filled with memories, to maintain the social connections they’ve developed in their communities over the years, to have an easier time leaving their home when needed as they are familiar how to get to and from places from it and to go through their daily routines with greater ease as the environment is comforting and familiar.
Establishing a clear plan for how one plans to remain at home instills aging parents and individuals with greater confidence and peace-of-mind around the future.
Can seniors get financial help to stay at home?
Many insurance companies offer $500-750 in occupational therapy coverage each year. This could help cover the costs of 1:1 consultations and home modification assessments.
OT2U Ltd. is committed to making occupational therapy services accessible and offers sliding scale fees for those who are low-income and may not have access to insurance coverage.
There are also several free resources online to assist seniors plan how to age-in-place such as the Government of Canada’s Aging-in-Place Planning Tool.
Am I able to book an Aging-in-Place or Home Modification Assessment on behalf of my aging parents?
It is normal to feel concerned about the changes we witness in our aging parents. Adult children often find participating in a planning session or home modification assessment alongside their elderly parents brings them greater peace of mind as they are surprised to learn how much their parents have already prepared for and it gets everybody on the same page.
Your parents’ consent is required for any assessments you’re c0ordinating, but many aging adults are relieved that their children have taken the reigns on booking a consult, as they would have booked something themselves if only they knew who to connect with.
Often times our aging parents have thought about many of the factors that could help them to be safer and more independent in and around their home and communities, but have yet to implement changes because it can be diffecult to know where to begin.
Our occupational therapists help you and your loved ones to stop feeling overwhelmed by coming up with a clear plan of action to implement based on priorities and budgets. We can help you explore informal, community and paid supports, to ensure you or your loved ones are connected to the type of support that works best for them.
What programs does Calgary offer senior citizens?
Here are a few of our favourite resources:
o Learn how to access home support, get connected to community funded programs, reduce social isolation and more.
A Guide to Mobility and Independence
o A summary of services available to support seniors livingindependently, including a list of local seniors support groups.
o Falls Prevention Guidelines, Videos and Exercises
Calgary Seniors’ Resource Society
o Volunteer programs connect seniors with caring community members, whoofferpractical, social and emotional supports. o Social workers provide information and long-term support while connectingseniors to the services and resources they need, when they need it.
o Empowering individuals 50+ to live active fulfilling lives
through offering a wide array of programs and services
o Sport, recreation and fitness development for people 55 years and older.
Calgary Association of Life Long Learners
o CALL is a member-led, non-profit organization incorporatedunder the Societies Act of the Province of Alberta in February2011. CALL’s mandate is to facilitate lifelong learningfor
residents of Calgary and area. Programs and activities arewide- ranging, focusing on arts and culture, society and politics, andhealth and science.