America’s Youth Team Up to Design a Dream Village for the Elderly

Dozens of middle school students formed teams to compete in a challenge to design the perfect village for the elderly. Finalists will head to Washington D.C. For the Future City Competition in February and try for one of the scholarship prizes and the trip to NASA’s Space Camp.

Caregiver in Draper UT: Dream Village for Seniors

The annual competition had students thinking about how the changing needs of a senior citizen impact what the “future city” should entail. Their ideas are amazing.

What Children See as Important for Aging Seniors

One of the villages designed for the elderly included a child care center where seniors could interact with children. Another had the idea of including sidewalks with a fast lane and slow lane to keep seniors with mobility issues from feeling that they are moving too slow for others.  Also, one group created medical centers with underwater rooms for seniors feeling stressed before or after a medical treatment or surgery to go watch fish.

However, some of the students liked the idea of a village where teens could move in with a senior as a transitional step between leaving home. While others liked having homes where walls had built-in sensors to move out of a senior’s way as they enter a room. Instead of stairs, homes and buildings were designed with ramps that eliminated the need to climb.

Furthermore, one thing that students brought up was that homes should be cheerful with bright colors. They figured with cheerful colors, seniors would be uplifted and happier.

What Do Your Parents Need Right Now?

All of those are great ideas, but they could be decades from becoming a reality. For now, your mom and dad’s needs are easily met with home care services and plenty of social activities.

Some of the home care services your parents may find help them live independently are transportation services, help with laundry and housework, and companionship. When they reach a point that cooking meals are becoming a challenge, caregivers can help them shop and cook meals for them.

If something happens, care needs will increase.

Should your mom fall and break her hip, she’ll need someone to help her in and out of bed and the shower. Certainly, if your dad has a stroke, he’ll need help with grooming, meals, and transfers. Dementia can lead to a full range of home care and respite care services throughout the day and, possibly, the night.

That’s just a start to the many services caregivers offer to help aging adults stay in their home. Why has your parent move to an unfamiliar location? With home care, they can live in the home that is filled with memories. Call a home care agency to get started.

Are you or a loved one considering a Caregiver in Draper, UT? Please talk to the friendly staff at December Rose Senior Care at Home. Providing Home Care in Highland, Utah and Surrounding Communities.
801-427-ROSE (7673)