Why We Believe Not All Seniors Should Age at Home

by Stan Westbrook, President, Meadowview Manor

As many healthcare professionals and families will attest, not all Seniors do well aging at home. We believe that some older adults need the interaction, care and friendship of care givers and others to help them live longer and live better. Here are some reasons why not all Seniors should age at home:

1. Seniors often feel very isolated, especially once they can no longer drive. Seniors can feel especially lonely in the evenings, once care givers or family members have gone. At Meadowview, our residents enjoy interaction with staff, other residents and our many visitors. This interaction helps their outlook on life and emotional well-being. The evening snack time is well attended by residents who like to come in their bathrobes for the last chat of the evening.

2. Seniors often do not eat well when they live alone. While Seniors living at home may get meals on wheels or have meals brought in by family or friends, in general, they are often eating alone and many not eat regularly or consume nutritionally balanced meals. Meadowview offers three meals and three snacks every day, prepared by our Chef who has been with us for over 15 years.

3. Coordination of services can be difficult. Many seniors living alone must get transportation to their doctor appointments or other errands. This can be difficult to coordinate with family members, friends and even public transportation sources. At Meadowview, we provide transportation to doctor appointments and can arrange for CART services when family members are unable to assist. We handle all the arrangements when needed.

4. Seniors at home are often less mobile which can affect their overall health. We encourage our residents to get up and about many times during the day. This constant interaction can help extend a residents life and make it more enjoyable. Seniors aging at home are often less active, which can affect their health status.

5. Seniors at home may not be getting their health status checked often enough. Aging Seniors at home may rely on a visiting nurse or a doctor's visit to have their vital signs checked. We know from monitoring hundreds of Seniors over the years, that health status in the elderly can change rapidly, especially if the resident has a chronic disease such as diabetes, congestive heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. At Meadowview, we monitor the health of our residents daily, and our nurses schedule regular check ups and monitor vital signs so that many issues can be caught early.

Meadowview Manor does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, or age in admissions, treatment, or participation in its programs, services, and activities, or in employment. Meadowview is an equal opportunity housing provider.