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Living out the Golden Years How to choose the right care and housing options for seniors
Keeping aging loved ones happy and safe while respecting where they want to live can be a serious challenge. “They’re still adults, so unless it’s determined they are a danger to themselves or others, their rights and desires have to be honored,” says Scott Emch, director of Friendship at Home, which provides one-onone, non-medical assistance to seniors in their own homes. Physical limitations such as difficulty climbing stairs, diminishing eyesight or balance issues can be obvious, but symptoms of cognitive decline can be trickier to spot. “There are physical and cognitive tests that can be done to determine how safe
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it is for someone to remain in their home,” says Emily Smith-Conlon, sales director for Friendship Village of Dublin, which is affiliated with Friendship at Home. If such tests indicate in-home help or relocation to a senior care facility is needed, take action. “The earlier the better for everyone involved—especially your loved one,” says Greg Cini, president and owner of Kemper House, a memory care community in Worthington. “This is a harsh reality, and often the person dealing with it is unaware of the severity. Let your loved one know you are all in this together and you are there to support their needs, whatever they look like.”
ILLUSTRATION: WANLEE PRACHYAPANAPRAI/GETTY IMAGES
By Nancy Byron