7 Holiday Gifts Senior Homeowners Can Really Use
According to AARP, 87 percent of adults who are 65 or over and 71 percent of those age 50-64 want to stay in their current home and community. This means smaller towns and cities, all over our country, are rising to meet the needs of the elderly in their communities. One no longer has to live in one of the top 10 cities for a technology-assisted living to successfully age in place. Nowadays, you can successfully age in place all over the nation.
This holiday season, give a gift that honors your loved one’s wishes to remain in their home. Their home is their own special safe haven. And even though it can add extra work, stress, and a few roadblocks consider these great gift ideas. Ideas that will help them maintain their coveted independence.
Set up a plan with Instacart.
Instacart works when your loved one shops for their groceries on an iPhone, Ipad or Android Device at their favorite grocery store. Once the items are selected, they can either chose to go pick them up or have them delivered to the home.This usually takes about two hours. A great gift would be a standing weekly order of nutritional basics. If Instacart isn’t available, do try other grocery stores in the home area. For example, check out Walmart’s service.
A weekly caregiver visit
Perhaps there are some hygiene issues that have become challenging for your loved one. Or they need help with dressing, cooking or laundry. Do a little investigating. Discover what they could use help with. And then secure a caregiver once or twice a week to come in and help with these items.
A cleaning service
Cleaning a house can be a large task for folks as they age. While day to day tidying is manageable, deeper cleaning of floors and windows and such can be difficult. A great holiday gift would be a weekly maid service with an assignment list of those tougher jobs.
A lawn service
A great holiday gift is a weekly lawn service during the summer. This will free your loved one up from having to mow the lawn or hassle with hiring teens that don’t show up. Contract a weekly service for mowing the lawn and edging the property. that way it will look tidy and be something they can be proud of. For a little extra bonus, throw in one end of the season tree and bush pruning service.
Daily money management assistance
If your loved one is struggling with managing their day to day finances, a great gift would be the expertise of a daily money manager. These professionals help with the daily management of bills, budgets, and record-keeping. And their sole goal is keeping your family member financially organized and independent. Some of their services include reviewing mail and determining what needs to be paid and discarded. Also preparing bills for payment either via an electronic method or manual method. Additionally, the service includes reconciling bank statements, making banking deposits, organizing tax materials, and record-keeping. Review Age In Place’s list of recommended daily money managers.
Transportation
If your loved one is no longer driving, give them the gift of freedom with a transportation gift card from Uber of Lyft.
Home medical alert system
Perhaps no gift will give you and your loved one greater peace of mind than knowing emergency care is at their fingertips in the event of an emergency. Furthermore, these affordable plans offer on-call assistance when you may not be available to help. Review the various providers. Then determine which company might best fit your needs.
As writer Betty Friedan said, “Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of opportunity and growth.” By supporting your loved one’s decision to remain independent while they enter this new stage, you’ll be giving them the greatest gift of all. Share a gift to help with their new opportunity and growth, and it will be that much more rewarding.
Author:
Jim Vogel, co-founder of ElderAction, is passionate about promoting senior health and safety.
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New Technology Helps Senior Age In Place