While having someone in your home who may present some sort of health threat is uppermost on people's minds at this time, there are other serious (IMHO) considerations in the decision to age in place or CCRC that may be, ultimately, more impactful over the long term.
It’s not my intent to recommend whether a CCRC or aging at home is the better choice – you get to decide. But aging in place is not simple if you don’t remain in relatively good health physically and mentally.
Here’s a few observations based on my own experience of caring for someone at home as well as watching others in the thick of it. As always, YMMV.
1. You may need a small army of helpers which include people to perform maintenance activities (mow the yard, fix the roof, etc.), and assist with personal care. This is like running a small business with interviews, hiring, firing and payroll. It can be exhausting.
2. You may need modifications to your home and vehicle to permit use of a wheelchair. I promise renting one and going about your imagined activities (laundry, cooking, bathroom, etc.) will be enlightening. Try it for a day or a weekend to build confidence you are prepared. You’ll need transportation to medical appointments and if you would like to go out somewhere.
3. If you plan to rely on family, neighbors or other social networks (church, etc.) as volunteers, you’d be wise to begin developing a list of at least 15 – 20 helpers so that none are overwhelmed for the long haul. A sustainable strategy is to plan for asking for help about an hour or so a week as people generally won’t burn out at this rate. You’ll be the project manager scheduling tasks or need to have this be a task someone else does.
