Seniors like to remain in their own home for many reasons: the familiarity of neighborhood and belongings, the ability to keep their pets, socializing with neighbors, gardening, local markets, and more. The big intangible reason: the ability to keep one’s own independence.
The alternative is an assisted living facility or nursing home. An assisted living facility provides “hands-on” personal care as well as medical care for those who are not able to live by themselves, but do not require constant care provided by a nursing home. Nursing homes provide skilled nursing care 24 hours a day.
However, there are hard financial reasons to stay independent as long as possible. Typically, seniors already own their home, which is an investment as well as a residence. The long-term trend of real estate has been up, so the net worth of the elderly who live in their own homes continues to rise.
In contrast, a private one-bedroom in an assisted living facility cost a US average of $2,825 per month, according to Genworth Financial’s 2009 annual survey. The cost has been increasing at the rate of 4.7% per year over the last five years, double the rate of inflation.
Similarly, the cost of a private one-bedroom in a nursing home is $6,099 per month. Again, the cost has been rising at the rate of 4.3% per year, double the rate of inflation.
Often the main reason for having to move is the fear of falling and injury. More falls happen in the bathroom and stairs than anywhere else in the home. This is where a walk in tub can help. With a low step threshold and a seat, the risk of falling is dramatically reduced. Some are wheelchair accessible, meaning the person can slide off the wheelchair onto the seat of the tub without assistance.
Walk in tubs, fully installed with accessories, range from $9,000 to $16,000. This compares favorably to the cost of $34,000 for just one year in an assisted living facility.
Walk in tubs can save seniors money and allow them to keep their independence by safely staying at home.
Wayne Gerber writes about issues affecting the elderly and disabled. The makers of marine-quality walk in tubs and wheelchair-accessible bathtubs has a large number of resources for seniors and the disabledto help them stay safe and in their homes.
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