Age-appropriate living

This kitchen is the place where the important family decisions have been made. Does Stefan get a second baptismal name? Is the holiday going to the Baltic Sea again this year? Is Helen allowed to do the moped driving license? Every room in this apartment is full of such memories. Give up all this? Those who know the various options can make the right decision for age-appropriate living. Even if the decision is difficult.

Checklist: Age-appropriate living

The infrastructure must be right for age-appropriate living: Is there a doctor, shopping facilities, friends and relatives living in the neighborhood, is there any leisure opportunities?
The location of the apartment may not be too great obstacles even with first infirmity: at most a few steps to the entrance, ideally at ground level or with elevator
Are apartments or houses perhaps too big for age-appropriate living? A move could bring financial benefits for age-appropriate living.

What does age-appropriate living mean?

Often, small conversions are enough to make living suitable for older people. This can prevent a hasty move.

Information is provided by the Chamber of Architects and craft enterprises, many of which have already specialized in age-appropriate living.
Small aids for everyday life with appropriate advice, for example, in the medical supply store.
Detailed advice on age-appropriate housing is provided by the Federal Working Group on Housing Adaptation or the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Wohnberatung.
Timely planning and information on funding options: Conversion measures for age-appropriate housing may be subsidized. Conditions include, for example, low pension, illness, disability, long-term care or little savings.
Medically prescribed aids (for example bath lift) are provided by the health insurance.
For people with disabilities, interest-free loans are possible.
Housing offices inform about funding programs.
In some cases, a mixed financing from different payers offers itself.
Do not save at the wrong end!

Age-appropriate living: a home for yourself and others

Housing is scarce, especially in university towns. Are students or travelers grateful for temporary accommodation? and can be a relief for age-appropriate living.

Often, only small modifications are needed to make room for a subtenant.

A roommate brings financial relief.

If you do not want to sublet your apartment permanently, you can, for example, find out about student, youth or cultural exchange. For example, young apartment seekers read the ads at "WG gesucht", "Studenten-WG" or "Studis Online".

Some residences are based specifically on the idea of "living for help", for example one hour a month help for one square meter of living space or for one hour help ten euros discount on the rental price.

Age-appropriate living: support in the pitfalls of everyday life

If you want to stay in your old home, you can easily get support in your old age. Mobile services have specialized in many areas:

meals
home help
Shopping services
Other errands
Hairdresser home visits
Driving / escort service
Book service, read / write service
visiting services

An overview with a search engine for senior citizens 'initiatives can be found at the "Federal Association for Senior Citizens' Offices".

Age-appropriate living: Outpatient care in your own home

When the forces gradually subside, professionals also help in their own homes. A relief not only for the patient, but also for the relatives.

Outpatient care services work with professionals who care for basic care, medicine and home-based support.
For example, the relief can already consist in the fact that it is no longer necessary for a person close to you to care for things like body care.
The supply in this sector is great. Quality features in the search for the right provider can be whether the service works with sufficiently trained personnel, whether it is recognized by all nursing care funds, whether there are cooperations with other service providers, what services are included in the price, how individually the prices can be designed , More information under "www.hilfe-und-pflege-im-alter.de"

Age-appropriate living in your own home and still cared for

With care services, the service goes beyond the normal care services. Here comes the entire care from a single source and is available at any time.

Regular home visits take place. They prevent poor nutrition, lack of hygiene and loneliness.
For example, care services also organize an emergency call that is immediately available in case of accidents.

Age-appropriate living: partial inpatient care

With increasing need for care makes a semi-stationary care sense. The professional support then takes place during the day or at night in a special facility. For example, if the person is particularly anxious at night, or caring relatives work during the day.

The offer of day care is very low and not available everywhere.
Caregivers may also contact such providers for short-term or weekend care. Especially in the holiday season, the seats are quickly sold out.

Info: "Living and living in old age", Stiftung Warentest, Bertelsmann Stiftung, Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe