We’ve all heard the term before: “Aging in Place.” What does that mean to you?

About a month ago there was an update from ALFA that included some information on a “home” specifically built for aging in place. Think of it as a “smart” house equipped with special functions and amenities that support people with disabilities. The purpose, obviously, is to offer a comfortable environment for its residents regardless of their age or circumstance.

Imagine growing old in a house with wide hallways and multiple floors designed to be wheelchair accessible. Imagine a place to store walking aids while enjoying a common area lit with the proper lighting and decorated with just the right amount of flora to provide a healthy and pleasant atmosphere.

But is this definition of “aging in place” too narrow? Many would argue that the needs of an aging person go beyond the actual space.

True aging in place involves:

• Assistance with activities of daily living
• A scalable care program (built through communication and consultation with experts and providers) to match the changing health situation of individuals
• Activities and event to keep people engaged and social
• Stability and safety provided by the strength of the COMMUNITY in which one lives

As we have seen at many facilities, activities and social interaction are among the most important things in helping keep residents happy and healthy. We all know that humans are social creatures, and that fact doesn’t go away as we get older. Cascade Park offers the rich and diverse activities program we do because we understand the importance of it to our residents.

Through these social interactions, residents build a sense of community not only among one another but also with the staff. It is that community which offers the stability and safety needed to truly age in place.

Ask yourself: How do I want to age in place?

A couple weeks ago a new website was launched. The name? Time Slips. The mission? To “bring the joy of creativity to families with dementia wherever they live.”

That’s what Dr. Anne Basting says. Basting is an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and Director of the university’s Center on Age & Community. She has dedicated over 15 years in blending the fields of the arts and long-term care, with a focus on developing effective therapy methods for those with cognitive disabilities like dementia.

Time Slips is the latest of Basting’s works. It is an interactive website that enables users to read, write, and share stories, providing a powerful outlet of expression and communication.

Time Slips has been described as an ”improvisational storytelling method that replaces the pressure to remember with the freedom to imagine.” It is designed to support growth and learning for those sufferring from dementia and the caregivers who help them through creative engagement.

Time Slips offers training, certification, and consulting for facilitators and organizations.

Check out the website and see how Time Slips can benefit you or someone you know.