Georgia Magazine - August 2022 - 21

Aging in place
Dennis Lippy, owner of TD Contracting in Tucker, specializes in aging-in-place
renovations of older homes throughout metro Atlanta and several of Georgia's large
lake communities. He has seen an uptick statewide in the multigenerational-home
market.
" Grandparents are moving back in with the parents, and sometimes the kids are
still there, too, " Lippy says.
It's part of the growing desire to allow the elderly to age in place, says Izzie Sadler,
executive director of the Sowega (Southwest Georgia) Council on Aging/Southwest
Georgia Area Agency on Aging. The Albany-based nonprofit organization provides
programs and services to more than 60,000 seniors and adults with disabilities in a
14-county region.
" We all start thinking about it when we get to a certain place in life, especially if we
have parents still living, " Sadler says.
Statewide, demand continues to grow for home and community-based senior
services, such as meal deliveries, caregiving, assistive devices and home modifications,
says Debra Stokes, executive director of the Georgia Council on Aging, based in
Atlanta. In her position, Stokes oversees the state's budgetary needs for elderly services
provided through 12 Area Agency on Aging regional offices and directs the statewide
Coalition of Advocates for Georgia's Elderly.
" People are living longer; the goal is to live longer better. People want to be at
home with their families, " says Stokes, who took in her mother so that she could age in
place. Eva Mae Noye lived with the Stokes family for several years and passed away at
age 89.
" When I was caring for my mom, I never knew all the available services.
Fortunately, I didn't need these services, but there's so much help available to
manage an older person in the home, " Stokes says.
Here's some expert advice about things to consider before creating a multigenerational
home with elderly loved ones.
Plan ahead
Sadler says families often wait until they're in a crisis and want immediate help,
but it takes time to coordinate senior services and obtain funding.
It also takes time to make the house accessible. Lippy says he gets numerous
calls from people in the hospital or rehab center who need immediate help with
remodeling jobs.
" People are reactionary, " he says. " They aren't worried about making their home
accessible if the need is not there, but once the need is there, they react. "
The best aging-in-place plan, Sadler says, is to educate yourself before the crisis
hits. Then think through " what-if " scenarios, such as how to handle food, bathing,
medications and doctor visits. Information about caretaking and other health and
aging issues is available through Area Agency on Aging regional offices.
Also consider whether you can do it. Mull over important questions. Do you get
along? What kind of care do you have in place? What will you need?
" Often, people say they are available to take care of their parents but later on
admit they're not, " Sadler says. " You need to think that through because two moves
are more stressful than one on someone. First moving them into your home and then
moving them out of your home-that's very stressful. "
Watch out for falls
Most people think of bathrooms as potentially hazardous, but rugs and carpets
can pose the most risk for older adults, Sadler says. Many seniors don't pick their feet
up like they did when they were younger and can trip easily. Falls can result in severe
Stair lifts are not inexpensive but cost less
than elevators and are an eff ective way to
help older people navigate stairways.
www.georgiamagazine.org 21
MORE
Grab bars and seating can make existing
showers and tubs easier for elderly residents
of the home to use.
Renovations to make houses more accessible,
such as this ramp to a deck area, do not have
to be unattractive to be functional.
ISTOCK.COM / ONURDONGEL
ISTOCK.COM / BENDC
ISTOCK.COM / WILSHIREIMAGES

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Georgia Magazine - August 2022

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