Managing your home & everyday tasks as you age

Looking after your home may be part of who you are. Handing over a job can feel like losing a piece of yourself. It helps to remember that choosing how a job gets done is still you in charge.

It is natural to feel a sense of loss when your body changes. Naming that grief, to yourself or someone you trust, can make it easier to adapt rather than push through and get hurt.

Some people hide struggles because they fear being pushed to move. Asking for help with one task early often protects your independence, rather than threatening it.

A dripping tap, a stack of post, an overgrown garden: together they can feel like too much. Listing them and tackling one at a time, or asking for help with one, can bring the feeling back down to size.

Things worth talking about

• What matters most to you about your home
• Which tasks you would happily hand over
• Who could help with what
• What you would want if staying became unsafe

NIA notes that deciding whether and when to move is often difficult and emotional. Some people move because they no longer want to manage a home. Others need regular hands-on care.

• Clean one room a day instead of the whole house
• Take a short rest between jobs
• Do harder jobs at the time of day you feel best
• Stop before you are exhausted, not after

• Chop vegetables at the table
• Fold laundry sitting down
• Use a stool at the sink or ironing board
• Garden in raised beds or containers

• Keep the things you use most on middle shelves
• Use a sturdy reaching tool instead of climbing
• Use a trolley or basket on wheels to move heavy things
• Buy smaller, lighter packs of heavy items

NIA suggests trading services with a friend or neighbour: one does the shopping, the other cooks dinner. Some jobs can be done less often, or not at all.

• A lamp you can reach from bed
• Night lights in the hall and bathroom
• Clear away rugs and cords you could trip over
• A flashlight by the bed

• Grab bars by the tub, shower and toilet
• A non-slip mat in the bath or shower
• Railings on both sides of stairs
• Good light at the top and bottom of stairs

The U.S. Fire Administration reports that the risk of dying in a fire rises with age, and is highest for people 85 and older.

Simple protections

• Smoke alarms on every floor of your home
• A phone with emergency numbers by your bed
• Never smoke in bed
• Ask your local fire department whether it offers free home safety visits or alarms

NIA describes emergency medical alert systems, worn as a pendant or wristband, that contact help if you fall or need urgent care. Ask your provider whether a medical ID bracelet makes sense for you.

NIA notes that people you know may be able to drive you to appointments, help with errands and chores, or simply keep you company.

Area Agencies on Aging, found through the Eldercare Locator, know what is available near you. They can point you to local help such as chores, transport, meals and more.

The national Senior Nutrition Program serves meals at senior centers and other community places, and delivers meals to people’s homes. Delivery volunteers also check on people who are homebound, which helps reduce isolation.

NIA describes volunteers who make regular short visits, adult day programs with activities, meals and exercise, and respite services that give family caregivers a break.

These trained professionals can make a care plan and find the services you need. NIA notes they can be especially helpful when family live far away.

NIA suggests checking with your state housing finance agency, social services department, community development groups or federal programs for help paying for repairs and safety updates.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps with energy bills, energy crises, weatherization and small energy-related repairs. It focuses on households with low incomes, especially those with older or disabled members.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program makes homes of low-income households more energy efficient. Households save an average of $372 or more a year, according to a national evaluation.

Medicare, Medicaid and the VA cover some kinds of help in some situations. Your Area Agency on Aging can help you work out what you might qualify for.

If you sign a contract at home, or anywhere other than the seller’s usual place of business, the FTC says it should include a written statement of your right to cancel within three business days.

Say, “I don’t make decisions on the spot. Leave your details and I’ll get back to you.” Then talk it over with someone you trust.

• Keep cards, cheque books and documents locked away
• Ask an agency whether its workers are background-checked
• Have someone else around for the first few visits if that helps you feel safer
• Trust your gut if something feels wrong

If you love cooking but hate vacuuming, get help with the vacuuming. Saving energy on chores can leave more for the things that make home feel like yours.

Things you could say

• “Thanks, I’d like to do the sorting. Could you carry the boxes?”
• “Please check with me before moving things.”
• “Let’s do it together this time.”

Swapping skills keeps help feeling balanced. You might mind a neighbour’s cat, share a recipe, help a grandchild with homework or simply offer good company.

Things you might notice

• Post or bills piling up
• Jobs left undone that they used to care about
• Little food in the house
• Rooms they no longer use
• Bumps, bruises or near-misses

Ask about it with curiosity rather than alarm: “I noticed the garden’s got a bit wild. Would some help with it be useful?”

Walk through the home together and let them choose what to change first. A home that has been rearranged without consent can feel unfamiliar and upsetting.

• Set up grocery delivery or online bill reminders together
• Research local services and share the options
• Keep a list of trusted local tradespeople
• Arrange a regular check-in call

NIA notes that a geriatric care manager can help when family members live far apart.

Share tasks with siblings and use local services where you can. Respite care can give you a break.