Feeling At Home With Your Future

For older people seeking an easier life, inner-city apartments aren’t always the best solution.

- Ruth Nicol

So, you’re in your seventies, still fit and well, and you’re thinking of downsizing from your long-time family home and moving to an inner-city apartment. You like the idea of being able to walk to the supermarket, eat in local cafes and generally enjoy the central-city vibe.

But although city living has a lot to offer, Miranda Smith, whose company, Miranda Smith Homecare, provides in-home care nationwide, says that if you want to continue living independently into your seven ties and beyond, you need to take practical considerations into account. What happens, say, if your apartment is in central Auckland and you have a fall or a stroke, or develop a chronic illness that means you need someone to help you shower?

“It’s impossible to get people into the middle of the city if you want help with showering at eight or 8.30am, because the rest of Auckland is trying to go there, too.”

Even if nothing calamitous happens, it’s likely your health needs will change as you get older, which may also make inner-city living harder. “How easy is it to be in an apartment and get to the doctor?”