Remember when people got to ‘a certain age’ and it was just assumed they’d move to ‘a home?’ An old folks home…a nursing home…a senior care facility…an institution? For many of previous generations, if an older person didn’t move in with family members, it was simply a foregone conclusion that a nursing home was the only viable alternative. It was as if, after a certain point, age seemed to automatically equal incapacity; and the number of candles on your birthday cake was not so much a celebration but rather a resignation of your rights and preferences.
“Happy Birthday, Grandpa…start packing; we’ll take over from here.”
Crazy, huh?
But today’s senior citizens are different. They have other ideas about how and where they want to spend their next 10, 20, or 30 years…and it is most assuredly not in a nursing home. Seniors, understandably, want to have a say in the rest of their lives, and they’re becoming increasingly more vocal about what they want and how they want it. And as it turns out, they’ve got good reason for wanting something different than institutionalized living arrangements.
Known as the Baby Boomers, or Boomers, for short, (adults born between 1946-64) this generation is by far the most capable, most healthy, and most active generation (for their age group) ever. Current Boomers are squarely facing the challenges of aging intentionally and they want it known—they will not go quietly into the night. They’re ‘not buying what the market has been selling,’ and instead, are laser-focused on debunking a whole slew of long-held generational beliefs and practices that no longer apply to them.Things like:
“Granny can’t do all that she used to. It’d be easier for all of us if she were in a place for old folks.” Of course she can’t do all that she used to—she’s 90 years old! But what about what Granny wants—shouldn’t we at least ask her preferences and honor her requests as much as possible?
Or how about – “Papaw just needs to be around people his own age, have somebody take care of his meals, and do his laundry.” First off, Papaw is still very much capable of many things. Meals and laundry are easy details to address without totally upending his entire life. Moving from his home of 30 years is not on his list of priorities.
Or even “Mom and Dad just have too much home for what they need. They’ll probably be relieved not to have to take care of so much space. Downsizing to a full-care facility will be good for them.” Hold up, kids. Sure, Mom and Dad do have a few needs, but the garden is a source of joy for them both; Dad spends hours at his workbench, and Mom would be lost without room for her hobbies. Why would they want to leave these places that bring them so much enjoyment?
“Baby Boomers are redefining what it means to be old,” says California State University Professor Stephen Chung. “…As they continue to age, many Baby Boomers are actively challenging and rejecting stereotypes about aging.”
From Chung’s perspective, Baby Boomers are shifting societal perceptions and expectations of what it means to be “old.” “Today’s older adults are often active, engaged, tech-savvy and eager to learn and experience new things…The popular saying ’80 is the new 70 and 70 is the new 60’ encapsulates the idea that as life expectancies lengthen, and overall health and vitality improve into later years, age definitions are evolving. Now, people in their 70s or 80s often exhibit the health, activity levels and quality of life formerly associated with those in their 60s or 70s.”
The tide has clearly turned in caring for this aging, yet oftentimes still dynamic, generation. More and more of today’s seniors (and those fast-approaching their ‘advanced years’) are opting to ‘age in place,’ the cool and hip new term for those senior citizens who want to do what most of us just take for granted—to simply live their lives as long as feasible in their own homes, on their own terms, and most definitely not on the schedule of someone else’s making.
The Boomers, it seems, are on to something. This concept of remaining in your home, your neighborhood, your community for as long as possible can (and usually does) have tremendous—tremendous!—positive outcomes. First off, seniors who remain in their homes in their later years almost always enjoy a much greater sense of independence because they are free to live the life they want to live. They can eat when and what they want, have visitors whenever they want, and continue to enjoy the place they know as home. The comfort of familiar items—furniture, photos, mementos—all provide a sense of comfort that makes home feel like home.
Remaining in a familiar neighborhood, close to people who know and look out for you, and in the proximity of friends (and possibly family) cannot be overstated. Little things, like knowing the check-out crew at the grocery store or the pharmacist at the drug store or the mail person can go a long way towards feeling known and seen—inherent needs we all have. Staying socially connected can also have lots of benefits for seniors such as lowering their risk for developing certain diseases, increasing longevity, and boosting feelings of happiness and fulfillment. Additionally, knowing there are others to call in an emergency is a great source of comfort to both seniors aging in place and their families.
Finally, and sometimes most importantly, aging in place is almost always considerably less expensive than moving to a full-care nursing facility—and this is before transportation, medical treatments, and many of the other costs associated with aging are factored in. To complicate matters, many full-care facilities do not accept long-term care insurance or other forms of payment assistance. For better or worse, finances inevitably play into deciding what’s best for seniors’ long-term care even when extensive in-home care is needed. It is also important to note, for seniors in the early years of needing a bit of assistance the cost between in-home care and comprehensive care facilities can be huge. Saving money in the early days of caregiving through in-home care can often make broader, more inclusive care much more feasible when it is needed most.
What Does In-Home Care Look Like?
Here’s the thing—the absolute best feature of arranging in-home care for your aging loved one is that caregiving arrangements are precisely tailored to the individual. Everyone involved has much greater control over the level of care requested and provided, who is providing the care, the schedule of care, and the specific details that make personalized care so beneficial.
At Mom’s Best Friend, we are quick to recognize highly personalized in-home care is the hallmark of a well-cared for senior and that it can make a significant difference in a loved one’s quality of life. We offer a complete range of services from regular and dependable companionship to help with hygiene, meal prep, and light housekeeping. Our caregivers are available to transport and accompany their seniors to doctor appointments (always attentive and taking reliable notes), grocery shop or run errands with (or for) their seniors, tend to laundry needs, and handle the basics of whatever will make the lives of the seniors in their care as comfortable and trouble-free as possible.
We are proud that our MBF caregivers are individuals who are called to serve senior citizens, to enrich their lives, and to do so with dignity and respect. We know it takes a special person to serve so selflessly and we’ve cornered the market on the best of the best senior care in-home specialists. We know most any caregiver can make a simple meal or toss a load of laundry in the washer, but we also know genuine care is shown in the everyday moments of caregiving. Things like remembering Mr. Jackson doesn’t do well with onions or spicy food, but loves him some lemon pie on occasion. Or knowing Nana still swoons when her sheets are washed in the lilac-scented detergent that reminds her of her childhood. Little things can often make a big and meaningful impact.
From our perspective of serving hundreds of seniors and over a decade of experience, we’ve seen the relationships between our seniors and their caregivers can become a special bond. Friendships are formed, trust is established, and the kindest and most proficient care is extended day after day, one small task at a time.
If you or a loved one is approaching the stage of life where a bit of in-home assistance could make life easier, we are here to serve and honor. Our senior caregivers know the significance of what they do and are faithful to the calling to serve. It takes a lot of living to reach old age. At Mom’s Best Friend Senior and Elder Care, we believe our senior citizens are to be celebrated and enabled to live at home as long as possible and consider it an honor to do so however best meets your senior loved one’s caregiving needs. Our services are available across the DFW Metroplex, in cities like Dallas, Highland Park, University Park, Plano, Frisco, Southlake, Flower Mound, Argyle, and more.
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