Ten things older adults want
If you’re involved in independent living apartments, assisted living residences, rehabilitation services, or nursing homes, you’re familiar with the amenities these residences and services offer. But what do the people who use them really want?
Research on this topic has allowed me to pull this list together for you. Below are ten top things that people say they want as they go through life’s stages:
- “Don’t call me senior”. We all want to be recognized first and foremost as the human beings we are inside. As we get older, we’re still the emotional, life-filled adults who we were when we were twenty. But wiser! So, what do “seniors” want to be called? People.
- To “live in place.” Many people don’t think about the aging process. They move forward one-day-at-a-time, and prefer to live in familiar surroundings. Of course, there’s help if this should become difficult or impossible, ranging from home-healthcare to full nursing home care. Yet, as human beings, this is difficult to plan for.
- People want to:
- Stay close to friends and family
- Have the ability to socialize with others easily
- Remain engaged in the community
- Interact with people of all ages
- To feel at home. When asked, people said this means:
- A well-designed home and floor plan that will be workable at any age and stage of physical needs
- Spacious living quarters
- Storage for their items
- Windows and light
- They prefer not to ask for help. People like to remain independent and able to take care of themselves. Should there come a time in their lives when they need to ask for help, they want to know who to ask. Residences have many people working there, and it’s helpful to let residents know who to ask for what services or items.
- People can be nervous about the costs associated with getting extra help or moving to a new residence. They want to know:
- How much does it cost?
- Are there charges for changing needs?
- Are there “hidden” costs?
- What happens if the money runs out?
- Staying physically fit is important so that people feel strong, are able to secure their needs, and can move easily.
- Walking trails
- Proximity to parks
- Transportation is a must for doctors’ appointments and other necessities. And, it allows people to remain involved outside a residence, in activities within the community.
- Transportation via car or mini bus provided by residence
- Access to safe public transportation (depending on abilities and desire of residents)
- Whenever people move, or give up any amount of their independence, they need to know they can rely on the people who are there to help them, and on the soundness of the building they’re living in. They need to be safe from:
- Crime/fraud
- Abuse
- Falls and accidents in and out of the home
- Security
And they want to have control over their own environment
- Disaster preparedness—people need to know what to do in case of an emergency, like a tornado or fire.
It’s important to address the needs of the population we serve so they can continue to live full, safe and happy lives.
The information for this article is from the following websites:
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2013/09/05/2667952/what-do-seniors-want.html#storylink=cpy
http://www.atriaseniorliving.com/senior-living-care.aspx?PageID=145
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/45376299/ns/health-aging/t/aging-place-most-seniors-want-stay-put/