Aging in place
Preventive care is key to staying out of nursing homes.
October 25, 2021
Staying in your home starts with a plan
As uncertainty around COVID-19 continues, staying safe in your home has become even more important, especially for older adults.
According to a 2018 AARP survey, 77% of adults who are 50 and older want to stay in their homes as they age. This is known as “aging in place.” But fewer than six in 10 think that choice will be open to them.1
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, COPD and heart disease can lead to a loss of independence. In turn, this can result in needing assisted living or other long-term services and support systems.2
If you want to age in place, you need a plan for meeting and managing your health care needs. You’ll want to think through everything from understanding your medical conditions to the people and resources you’ll need to help you at home.
What health conditions can be managed at home?
It’s easy to think that having a chronic health condition like diabetes or heart disease makes it difficult to age in place.
For example, loss of bladder control often makes people and their families feel that staying at home is no longer possible. That’s because rushing to the bathroom can lead to falls, which can be life-changing events.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to stay at home longer. The key is for you, your family and any caregivers to understand your medical conditions and learn to care for them correctly.
How can preventive care keep you at home longer?
Preventive care is an important part of aging in place. It involves:
- Getting regular checkups and needed tests
- Keeping up with your shots, including those for COVID-19
- Working closely with a team to help you manage chronic conditions, like diabetes
Your doctors need to be willing to spend time with you and to talk with one another. This helps make sure you’re getting the best possible care. You’ll also want to plan for how you’ll get your care — for example, at your doctor’s office or through a virtual visit.
What questions should you ask your doctor?
One of the most important things to tell your doctor is that you want to stay at home as long as possible. As part of that, you’ll want to talk about the people and resources you’ll need to support you and your medical needs at home.
WellMed suggests asking your primary care doctor how your care will be managed with specialists or any other health care professionals you see. If your doctor can’t answer that question easily, it’s a problem. Remember, it takes a team to keep you healthy.
Before any appointment with a doctor, write down the questions you have. That way, you won’t forget to ask about things that are important to you. Also, your doctors should give you time to ask your questions. And they should answer all questions patiently.
What is Medicare’s view on staying healthy longer?
Medicare regularly collects data from two surveys that focus on the quality of care that patients receive — CAHPS (Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems) and HOS (Health Outcomes Survey).
Medicare uses these questions to rate quality of service:
- How does your mental and physical health compare to one year ago?
- Has your doctor urged you to increase physical activity, and are you doing this?
- Are you able to handle any bladder-control problems that you may have?
- Is your doctor helping you to prevent falls?
Answering these questions can help you and your doctor make sure you’re getting the care you need.
For more information, visit the USMD SeniorCare page, or call 1-888-868-8727 (toll free). This number will direct you to Simply Enroll, a licensed insurance agency.*
* Simply Enroll (license no. 2623676) is a licensed insurance agency that explains Medicare Advantage and Medicare supplement insurance drug options to Medicare enrollees.
Sources:
1. AARP. 2018 Home and Community Preferences: A National Survey of Adults Ages 18-Plus. Last reviewed July 2019. Accessed October 8, 2021.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The State of Aging and Health in America 2013. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services; 2013.
The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.