Life Transitions
If the go-go years are a time of expanding interests and activities, the slower go years at the other end of the spectrum are a time of narrowing down as declining health and stamina necessitate staying closer to home and family. The nature of “home” may change too. It may be the time for selling a long-time home and moving in with family or selling the home in an active retirement community in order to live closer to family. Or, home may come to be an assisted living facility, a continuing care retirement community, senior apartment, or nursing home.
When health or life circumstances change, living arrangements may need to change too. Homeowners, and their families, experiencing such a life transition want a living arrangement that maintains privacy and an appropriate level of independence but also provides safety and security. Choosing an appropriate level of care begins with an objective assessment of needs and capabilities. Normal, healthy aging does not necessarily require a medically oriented environment, but declining strength, stamina, mobility, and mental acuity may necessitate assistance for accomplishing some daily activities, like meal preparation.
Where does the real estate professional fit into this picture?
Selling a longtime home may be part of the transition to an assisted-living arrangement, and families may be unaware of the options that are available in the community. A specialist can provide helpful insight on how others have made similar transitions, information on helpful services, and assurance that a successful transition can be accomplished. Some congregate, assisted, and continuing-care facilities work with real estate professionals. When a resident needs to sell a home, a specialist who has a reputation as a trusted and understanding resource may receive a referral from the facility.
Time to Make a Transition?
The slower go years don’t begin exactly on a person’s 85th birthday. So, when is the right time to make a transition in living situation? The ability to perform key activities of daily living (ADLs) provides an objective standard to determine the right time for making a transition and choosing the right level and type of care. The list can guide decisions about aging in place and in-home assistance.
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING
- Bathing
- Dressing
- Toileting
- Eating
- Transferring moving from a bed to a chair
- Maintaining continence
Instrumental ADLs, a secondary list, are required activities for independent living; some examples are using the telephone, grocery shopping, doing laundry, and managing medications.
Up to age 85, most people report little or no difficulty with ADLs and about one-third of those who experience an ADL disability recover. After age 85, more than three-quarters report some degree of permanent limitation, and more women than men report more limitations.
