Home is not just a building nor a place people live in, it's a lot more than that. Home is a place filled with emotions, built with care and binded with love. Seniors spend the most of their time in and around the home. The size of the home never mattered for them, it's the time they spent there and memories created there matters. Seniors always prefer staying in their homes for many reasons. Even Though their children reside abroad, seniors hesitate to leave their ancestral homes. Aging in place is one such debatable topic, as it has got its own advantages and disadvantages. Lets see what are the factors that are favorable and what are not favorable for seniors living alone.
Advantages of Seniors Living alone:
Independent Life:
One of the major advantages of living alone is that you need not depend on anyone. Living a self-reliant life always gives great joy and confidence in the heart. Most seniors hesitate to depend on their children (Or) friends as it affects their dignity. A peaceful home doing all the household chores, gardening, chatting with neighbours gives them a greater pleasure than multi storey apartments But the real challenge begins when the body goes out of control, things get harder than usual. As people age, doing their daily chores might also become difficult. There are various reasons that constitute the cause for example, Health issues like azhiemers, dementia might make it hard to find things which they misplaced. Inorder to solve this issue seniors can opt for home care attenders for the elderly. These home care attenders might take care of all your needs right from cooking your meal to checking your BP at the comfort of your home.
Cost Efficient:
Choosing to stay in the same home is a highly cost effective option. People with their own homes don't have to be spending thousands of money in senior living amenities. Rather than spending their money on it they can invest on something which might help them in their finances. Few modifications in their home can completely transform their home into a senior - friendly home.
The above stated factors may or maynot suit you, as situations and requirements change from person to person. These are the common facts to consider while deciding to live alone.
Dis-advantages of living alone:
While there are great acceptable reasons to choose living alone rather than senior living amenities. There are some considerable disadvantages too.These factors may change from person to person.
Health Conditions:
As people age, their body stops responding properly causing various other issues. Climbing stairs (or) walking a small distance might become difficult due to Bone disorders like arthritis, Osteoporosis. Forgetting their way back home, Finding a misplaced thing might become difficult due to memory issues such alzheimers, dementia. These are some of the few examples we see in a senior’s life due to deteriorating health conditions.
Health is one of the important factors that has to be checked from time to time. Proper monthly health checkups are essential to maintain a healthy and proper living. Situations like fainting when no one is around,a sudden mild attack (or) chest pain are biggest challenges while living alone. Seniors might some time take a medication
(or) might change the medication by mistake which might also create an issue. There always needs someone to take care especially during times like this. Losing your loved ones is one of the greatest nightmares. Therefore rather than risking the lives of your loved ones, spending little is not always wrong. Situations vary from person to person, if it is a joint family you will always have people to look after. Those cases are the exception while considering this factor.
Loneliness:
A major cause for stress and depression in seniors is mainly due to loneliness. For seniors who are self-reliant, living alone is not a big issue. But for seniors who always fear staying alone will find it hard. loneliness in seniors might lead to serious mental issues like hallucinations, etc.Even Though seniors would have people around to chat, they always long for care and affection from their children. Having someone to take care of them and help them, feels great.
The above stated facts may (or) may not suit you, as conditions differ from person to person. Depending upon your condition choose an option that suits you. Best elderly care services like caretender services and errand services for elderly are offered by 60plusindia to help senior citizens with their daily errands and other activities. Hope this information would be useful for you to decide. Let us know your feedback.
Author: Team 60Plus India
Keywords: Home, Seniors, age, aging, living alone, alone, memories, dignity.
Tags: #seniorcitizen #senior #elder #livingalone #alone #loneliness #independence #home #house #emotion #residingalone.
