Some Support • Life Changes • Goal 1:
Evaluate Your Housing Situation for Your Current Needs and Wants
Action step 1.
Reassess your housing needs and wants.
As you age, your housing needs and wants may shift. For example, you might wish to make a change in your living situation because of your work or because you no longer want to have roommates. Or, you might take the step of moving in with or finding a new home with a life partner or dependent children. Whenever you experience big life changes that involve an adjustment to your living situation, plan to reassess important factors like:
- Your space needs at home
- Your support network
- Your housing budget
Words to know
Action step 2.
Select the housing option that best fits your needs and wants for this new phase of your life.
Return to the practice of scanning your home environment for how it suits your own needs, as well as how those fit with the needs of others who you may now live with. Consider what you need in terms of space, independence and proximity to your community.
Scanning can help you notice these shifts, decide if you need more comfort, and find solutions that work for you.
Resources
Words to know
Action step 3.
Refine any housing modifications and your support network.
Use your scan results, review your housing options and identify the top matches for your current needs and wants. Consider the level of support you may need in these new environments, as well as any adaptations or adjustments to the living space to make them safe and practical for you. This can help you refine your decision-making process to identify the best match for you and others you may live with.
Federal nondiscrimination laws require housing providers to make reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications for individuals with disabilities.
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Words to know
Action step 4.
Adapt services and supports for your current needs.
If you have not already, learn about your options for Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS), the system of in-home and community assistance for people with autism, provided by state and local government and connected organizations. Assess whether or not these services are right for you, based on your current needs.
If you have already applied for or are receiving HCBS, remember to consider whether you need new services, or perhaps need fewer than before, as your housing needs and daily routines change.
If you need to add or change any services, it is important to apply as soon as possible. You should expect adjustments of services to take time to process. Your support network, including your medical doctors and any caregivers can advise and support you in this decision.
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Words to know
Action step 5.
Assess and adapt your housing for the future.
Whether or not you are choosing to move housing locations right now, you may notice you have been reevaluating your housing needs. Other factors in your life might be changing, including your support network.
As you look into the future, there may be some supports that you will find necessary. These supports could include more assistance by home health aides and other staff, help with transportation and case management. You may or may not need these services in the years ahead, but thinking about your potential future needs regularly will keep you prepared for any possible adjustments.
