There's no place like home

If you ask most seniors, including me, where they would like to live out their lives, the answer is usually "in my home." If that's your answer, there are some important considerations to take into account now to make staying in your home a viable option.

Where do you live? In town, in a neighborhood, or out in a rural area with few or no close neighbors? Regardless of where you live, do you have an adequate support system? For 24/7 free emotional support, well-being check-in, crisis intervention, information and referrals, you can contact the Friendship Line at 1-800-971-0016.

As we age and our ability to complete household maintenance items and yard work declines, we will need to rely on family members, friends, neighbors, or paid help. Will you have the financial means to pay for such services if you don't have a strong support network?

If you own a home, how best can you utilize your equity? Sell and downsize, or secure a reverse mortgage to make modifications to your current home or to provide needed finances for the rest of your life? Could you more easily stay in your home if you share it with someone who might help out with finances and chores?

Community services available to seniors vary by area. Organizations in Sisters are currently beefing up their offerings to include a Senior Safety Program (see article "Fire Department launches senior program, page 20), the local Senior Alliance, and resource specialist Toni Landis with the Council on Aging of Central Oregon (COA) 541-797-9138.

A COA senior lunch is held every Tuesday at the Sisters Community Church including monthly foot-care services and blood-pressure screenings as well as informational presentations and weekly bingo.

Mosaic Medical has a mobile clinic at the Kiwanis Food Bank at 328 W. Main Ave. every Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon.

For those needing assistance with food there are two food banks in town, the Kiwanis one on Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and another at Westside Church, 442 Trinity Way, every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. and second Friday at 4:30 p.m. Furry Friends in the Art Works building on West Adams can help with pet food, supplies, and vaccinations for your four-legged and feathered friends.

Sisters Park & Recreation District offers senior-oriented exercise classes, as well as their senior activities program (SAGE) Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and senior outings with transportation provided. Scholarships are available for those who need assistance with the fees.

Low-income seniors living inside the city of Sisters may apply for a 25 percent discount on their water and sewer bills by contacting City Hall (541-323-5209). Sisters Habitat for Humanity (541-549-1193) offers some in-home repair services for qualified applicants.

The Council on Aging provides a number of services in Sisters Country, including the following, all of which can be accessed at 541-678-5483:

• The Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) provides information and advice on help for seniors and people with disabilities, their families, and caregivers.

• For those qualifying, the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) will coordinate respite care for the caregiver. The consumer will need to hire a caregiver and COA will reimburse. Talk with a case manager to pre-qualify.

• Seniors 60-plus who do not receive Medicaid may qualify for Oregon Project Independence (OPI), which provides in-home assistance with light housekeeping and personal care. Income guidelines do apply and the client must demonstrate need for assistance.

• Free consultation about Medicare options and help with prescription drug plans for age 65-plus are provided by Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA). Contact COA for an appointment.

• Home delivery by Meals on Wheels can be arranged for those 60 and over who meet eligibility requirement. Call COA to talk with a case manager.

If the choice is made to remain in your home, there are a number of other considerations to take into account.

Will transportation be available if you aren't able to drive yourself in the future? Here in Sisters Country, that is a big concern with so many services, businesses, and medical providers located in Bend and Redmond. Without friends, family, or neighbors who can give you a ride, the options are limited to Cascades East Transit with a limited ride schedule or private taxis that are expensive. Dial-a-Ride is available within Sisters only on Tuesdays.

An important consideration to enable an easier and safer stay in your home is the modifications that can be made. Do you have handrails on all stairs, whether it's the two steps into the garage or the full flight to the second floor? If your current bedroom and bathroom are located on the second floor, is there space on the ground floor for a bathroom/bedroom so it isn't necessary to climb the stairs?

Grab bars in your shower or tub and next to the toilet increase safety in the bathroom, as do low-entry shower entrances and tubs with front entry doors. Hallways should contain adequate lighting, and all loose throw rugs need to be removed to avoid tripping hazards.

Personal finances can be simplified by using automatic bill-paying services or turning over financial tasks to a trusted family member or friend.

Maintaining your health with adequate rest, nutritious meals, sufficient physical and mental exercise, and proper medication management are all essential to maintaining your independence. There are a variety of useful devices available to help manage your medication and ensure you take it as prescribed. Ask your pharmacist about their pill-pack program.

As the saying goes, there's no place like home. Most of us want to stay in familiar surroundings with the memories of a lifetime around us. It is important to conduct a thorough, honest assessment about the viability of aging in place. If the answers don't add up, it's time to consider other options - downsizing, adult foster homes, moving in with family or to an area where they live, or residing in an assisted-living facility.

There is no avoiding aging and the necessary accommodations required. What matters is the roadmap we design for ourselves so we are ready for the eventualities.