5 Costs of Aging at Home You Probably Haven’t Thought Of

Aging is inevitable, and it may be only a matter of time before you are faced with the decision of staying at home or moving into a facility. However, there are many things to consider before making such an important decision, including how it could impact your finances .

If you choose to age at home, you’ll likely encounter difficult circumstances at one time or another. Daily matters like driving, grocery shopping, laundry, meal preparation and yard maintenance can eventually become too much to handle, which could mean extra expenses. In addition, falling, car accidents or other unfortunate circumstances can occur, resulting in unexpected costs.

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It pays to be prepared. Consider these costs of aging at home that may not have occurred to you .

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Transportation

While most assisted living facilities offer transportation, if you choose to age at home and don’t own a car or no longer drive, you might have to pay for a ride service, such as Uber or Lyft, to get to places you need to go. On average, you’ll pay $1-$2 per mile, which can add up fast.

However, there are ride programs that can help provide transportation to and from your doctor. Most insurance plans offer these types of programs. Lyft Healthcare and Uber Health are available for people with Medicare and Medicaid and others who meet the eligibility requirements at no or low cost. Both transportation services provide patient transportation and may have additional benefits, including home delivery for same-day prescriptions, over-the-counter items and even groceries.

Check your local area for other public transportation options, like buses or paratransit rides. Be sure to remember that you will need to think about scheduling ahead since you will be sharing the ride with other people.

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Safety Modifications

Depending on your individual needs, it may be necessary to make modifications to your home to make it safer to stay there or to assist you after an accident. Unfortunately, Medicare plans often don’t cover the cost of home safety equipment. Here are some potential costs.

• Medical alert smartwatches: Some medical alert smartwatches you can get for as low as $40, while others are in the mid-$100s. And there may be additional equipment fees and service fees.
• Ramps for accessibility: On average, these can cost anywhere from $1,100 to $3,500, per Forbes.
• Grab bars and handrails: You can find grab bars for as low as $15 to over $300, and handrails for $29 to over $200 on Amazon.
• Walk-in showers and tubs: Per Forbes, walk-in showers can range from $7,000 to $16,000, while walk-in tubs can cost between $2,000 and $20,000 .
• Wheelchair lifts and/or stair lifts: The cost of vehicle wheelchair lifts often range from $2,000 to $7,000, per Forbes, while the cost of stair lifts can range from $2,000 to $30,000, depending on the type you need.

Meal Preparation

If you stay at home, you may need some assistance with meals. You can use meal delivery services like Meals on Wheels or Mom’s Meals. Many of these services can be reimbursed through Medicaid waivers. But if that’s not what you want, unexpected food costs may arise.

A wide variety of meal preparation services are available. For example, Hungryroot offers meal kits and grocery options, and Home Chef offers meal kits with over 38 different meal options to choose from each week. Many offer meal kits, step-by-step instructions and different diet options that make preparing meals at home easy. However, many are priced between $8 and $12 per serving, which can add up.

Another option is to have your groceries delivered from your neighborhood grocery store. Delivery fees are usually posted on the grocery store app or website.

Help at Home

Nonmedical home care services offer companionship, help at home with laundry and dishes, light house cleaning chores, and errands. Unfortunately, most insurances do not cover the cost of nonmedical home care, but be sure to ask. If you are paying out of pocket, be aware that the national median cost of in-home care is $30 per hour, according to A Place for Mom.

Medical home health services are available to help with medications, blood pressure and wound care, among other things. And they can be a liaison with your physician. To receive help at home with this type of service requires typically requires a doctor prescribing it as medically necessary. Some private insurance companies will cover a portion of the cost, depending on your plan, and Medicare will provide coverage if it is medically necessary.

Outdoor Maintenance

Difficulty with mobility or stamina can often interfere with working in your yard and doing basic upkeep at home. Having the energy to maintain your yard during good weather conditions is one thing, but during the fall and winter months, the task can be more difficult. You can hire a lawn service or an individual person depending on your needs. The costs will vary based on your location and yard size, but here are some cost estimates for standard lawn services, per Forbes.

• Basic mowing: $45 to $185
• Weeding: $10 to $100
• Leaf removal: $150 to $600
• Snow removal: $50 to $200

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 5 Costs of Aging at Home You Probably Haven’t Thought Of