IntroductionReturning home after an extended stay in a hospital, rehabilitation center, or assisted living facility is a significant milestone for seniors. However, transitioning back to familiar surroundings can present challenges, both physically and emotionally. In this guide, we'll explore tips and strategies for thoughtful move management to ensure a smooth and comfortable homecoming experience for seniors.Understanding the Transitionoving back home after a period of absence requires careful planning and consideration. Seniors may face various challenges during this transition, including:Physical Recovery: Seniors returning home may still be recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, requiring adjustments to their living environment to support their recovery.Emotional Adjustment: Returning home can evoke mixed emotions, including relief, excitement, and apprehension. Seniors may feel overwhelmed by the prospect of readjusting to independent living.Home Modifications: Changes to the home environment may be necessary to accommodate seniors' changing needs and abilities. This may include installing safety features, rearranging furniture, or decluttering to improve accessibility.Care Coordination: Seniors may require ongoing care and support upon returning home, necessitating coordination with healthcare providers, caregivers, and family members.Tips for Thoughtful Move ManagementManaging the transition back home for seniors requires a thoughtful and proactive approach. Here are some tips to help make the homecoming experience as smooth and comfortable as possible:Assess Home Environment: Before the senior returns home, assess the living environment for potential hazards or obstacles. Ensure pathways are clear, and essential items are within reach to facilitate safe and independent living.Coordinate Support Services: Arrange for necessary support services, such as home healthcare, physical therapy, or meal delivery, to assist seniors with their recovery and daily living activities.Communicate Openly: Foster open communication with the senior and their caregivers to address any concerns or preferences regarding the homecoming process. Listen attentively to their needs and collaborate on solutions to ensure a positive transition.Plan Home Modifications: Evaluate the home for necessary modifications to enhance safety and accessibility. This may include installing grab bars in bathrooms, ramps for wheelchair access, or adjustable beds for comfort.Declutter and Organize: Clear clutter and organize the home to create a comfortable and functional living space for the senior. Remove unnecessary items to reduce the risk of falls and improve mobility within the home.Create a Supportive Environment: Make the home welcoming and comfortable for the senior's return. Set up a cozy bedroom with familiar belongings, soft lighting, and calming decor to promote relaxation and restful sleep.Establish Routines: Establish daily routines and schedules to provide structure and stability for the senior. Incorporate regular activities, such as meals, medication management, and exercise, to promote overall well-being.Provide Emotional Support: Be empathetic and supportive of the senior's emotional needs during the homecoming process. Offer reassurance, encouragement, and companionship to help alleviate any feelings of anxiety or uncertainty.At A Call to Order Professional Organizer, we understand the importance of thoughtful move management for seniors returning home. Our team specializes in creating organized and functional living spaces that promote safety, independence, and peace of mind. With our expertise in decluttering, home modifications, and care coordination, we strive to make the homecoming experience as seamless and comfortable as possible for seniors and their families. Let us be your partner in creating a welcoming and supportive environment for seniors returning home.

As we all continue to age, the question of how to ensure a fulfilling and healthy life for older adults becomes increasingly important. Recent research, including a comprehensive analysis by the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI), underscores the pivotal role of societal engagement in promoting well-being in old age.The Foundation of Well-being: Good Relationships The cornerstone of a fulfilling old age lies in cultivating meaningful relationshipswith others and with society at large. The MHI survey of adults aged 55 and older across 21 countries affirmed this, with purpose in life and meaningful connections emerging as vital factors in promoting the health of older adults worldwide. Personal fulfillment and social bonds were frequently cited as key motivators for work or volunteering, underscoring the intrinsic value of engagement.The Health Dividends of Societal Engagement Engagement in societal activities emerges as a powerful catalyst for older-adult health. Those who participate experience a notable boost in overall perceived health, according to MHI survey data. This aligns with extensive academic research, revealing six key health benefits of societal participation: reduced mortality rates, decreased cognitive disability, lower functional disability and frailty, decreased loneliness and depression, increased physical activity, and heightened meaning and quality of life.The Harvard Study of Adult Development stands as a compelling testament to the pivotal role of relationships in healthy aging. Good relationships emerged as the strongest predictor of happiness and health in old age, affirming the profound impact of meaningful connections.Breaking Down Barriers to Participation Despite the evident benefits, numerous barriers hinder older adults from active engagement. Outdated beliefs regarding age, isolated efforts across sectors, inequitable access, gaps in structural support, limited data, and an under-researched landscape all contribute to this challenge. Addressing these barriers requires a fundamental shift in societal attitudes and infrastructure, extending across social, physical, and political realms.Societal participation holds the key to unlocking a vibrant, healthy future for older adults. By breaking down barriers, empowering older individuals, encouraging collaboration, and investing in support structures, we can pave the way for a more inclusive, engaged society. The collective effort of governments, employers, communities, and older adults themselves is essential in building a world where aging is synonymous with purpose, fulfillment, and vitality. Together, we can usher in a new era of healthy, purposeful aging for all.About the Author: Deb Taylor is the CEO of Senior Community Services, a local nonprofit with a mission to empower people as they age, through serving compassionately, connecting communities, and supporting independence.  

Every parent knows the urgency of waiting for the arrival of a newborn. They have nine months to plan and prepare. There are purchases to make: furniture, stroller, car seat, informational books, and such. Work plans and childcare often must be arranged. Significant planning goes into this important life event, but what about the other end of life, the later years?More than 90 percent of all moves to a senior living facility are driven by a crisis: a fall, reduced mobility, poor diet, cognitive challenges, and other illnesses. And families are often caught in the gap between an effective response and feeling ill-prepared. Unlike the blissful parents of newborns, the caregiver of an older adult may feel caught off-guard, stressed, and confused.Among Minnesota seniors still living independently in their own homes, over 90 percent of their care is handled by family and friends, often with little or no experience and understanding of whats required of a caregiver. Its the classic on-the-job training, with plenty of potential mistakes to be made without adequate preparation. While taking care of a loved one is a valuable and honorable role, it can be an overwhelming and exhausting responsibility without adequate support services.Thankfully, Minnesota families facing senior care decisions have helpful resources available. Experts are available to help you better understand the care needs and help you connect with the support thats right for your situation. Local nonprofit Senior Community Services www.seniorcommunity.org, is one such resource.The range of services includes assistance with resources, hourly consultation, family meetings, needs assessment of the senior, and caregiver coaching (similar to the format of life/career coaching). All of these services are designed to reduce caregiver stress and improve the caregivers ability to provide care longer, in a way thats healthier for them and the senior for whom they care.Studies have shown that services to support caregivers can allow them to delay nursing home placement for loved ones. This is so important because seniors prefer to live independently for as long as possible at their own homes in the communities they love. And, frankly, the cost of staying at home is usually much less than living in a more restrictive senior care community.Like planning for a newborn, getting the best information ahead of time when the situation starts to change can help avert a senior care crisis. If an older adult struggles with household chores, maintaining a nutritionally balanced diet, and making the best healthcare decisions, an effective care plan with the right support services eases many challenges in a respectful and dignified way. As the familys helping role increases, the appropriate caregiver services can better equip them to care for the older adult as well as for themselves.Just like arming parents-to-be with the resources they need to parent, we all benefit by taking care of the caregivers and ensuring support is in place for aging adults. Lets reimagine aging so that our community is as accommodating of the needs of seniors as it is for children. A place where walkers and wheelchairs are as welcome as bikes, strollers, and scooters. A community where all generations can enjoy the best of this time we call the later years, with less stress and more promise. Are you ready?About the Author:Deb Taylor is the CEO of Senior Community Services, a local nonprofit with a mission to empower people as they age, through serving compassionately, connecting communities, and supporting independence.