WHERE TO LIVE

Deciding where to live as we age can be pretty complicated, especially in Maine where so many people live in rural areas, said Jess Maurer, executive director of the Maine Council on Aging.

While moving into a senior living community might be a good option for those who can afford it, many other folks will choose to or need to stay in their homes.

There are many types of senior communities and care facilities in Maine. They range from nursing homes or memory care facilities, to assisted living centers where some level of help is provided, to retirement communities geared toward independent living. Some communities offer independent, assisted living and nursing care on the same campus.

Staying in one’s own home and community can often be better for an older person but might require some renovations to make the house more accessible, Maurer said, and that can come at a cost, too. Some of the things people might consider doing now, to slowly age in place at home, include: installing flush thresholds throughout the home, installing a curbless shower or walk-in tub, adding handrails to all indoor and outdoor stairways, adding grab bars in the bathroom and replacing standard toilets with high seat models.

Maurer said that if someone is willing and able to relocate, it could make sense to find housing in a town center where it would be easy to walk to stores, entertainment, churches and places to socialize and get exercise.

HOW TO GET AROUND

While not everyone will face major health problems as they age, everyone’s eyesight at some point worsens, Maurer said. That means you’ll need to decide when it might no longer be safe for you to drive at night, or at all.

AARP offers an online driver safety course designed to help you qualify for insurance discounts. But it’s also meant to make people aware of the challenges of driving as they age, including the effects of medication on driving and how to compensate for age-related challenges.

In Maine, drivers over 65 have to get their license renewed every four years instead of every six, according to the Maine Department of the Secretary of State website. Drivers over 62 are required to get an eye exam every time they renew their license.

WHEN TO ASK FOR HELP

For people who have stopped or cut back on driving and want to stay in their homes, there are volunteer transportation programs operating in all 16 of Maine’s counties. Some programs have age limits, or limit destinations to medical appointments or grocery stores. Most are free. To find a program in your area and more specific information, check out the list on the Maine Council on Aging website.

MEDICAL CARE

Barbara Schlichtman, chair of the trusts and estate department at the Perkins Thompson law firm, recommends people have several legal documents in place as they get older.

She encourages people to sign a financial power of attorney over to someone they trust, and create an advanced health directive and sign a HIPPA authorization. Those three things will help ensure that someone else can make decisions for you if you’re not able to, can talk to your doctors and that your end-of-life wishes are known, she said.

Most of these require a visit to a lawyer, but the Maine Hospital Association offers a free Maine Health Care Advance Directive form on its website.

WILLS AND TRUSTS

Schlichtman says that dying without a will or a trust to specify how your assets should be divided and distributed can create legal complications for your family and friends. Even if you think you don’t own much, you probably should have a will or a trust, she said. Schlichtman said that while a will is simpler and less expensive, a trust provides more privacy.

Our Aging in Maine series explores ways to prepare for retirement, navigate the challenges of growing older and deepen community connections. More stories will publish throughout October, and all articles will run in a special print section of the Maine Sunday Telegram on Oct. 19.