Maintaining Independence: A Guide for Seniors

With age comes experience and wisdom that enables people to accept themselves in a way that many younger people find difficult. Unfortunately, this is usually accompanied by the decline of physical health and increasing feelings of isolation. While sometimes circumstances will prevent people from being able to live independently in their old age, there are steps that individuals can take to maintain their independence. Whether you are trying to help a loved one to remain in their own home or are a senior person hoping to continue to live independently, this guide explains how seniors can maintain their independence and ensure that they enjoy a high quality of life for as long as possible.

Remove hazards and adapt your home

One of the most common causes of older people becoming injured is falling or tripping in the home. The resulting injuries can be both physically and mentally devastating, and once hospitals become involved, it can be difficult to return home. To minimize the risk that you will hurt yourself at home, you should be proactive in making adaptations to the home and removing hazards. This might mean removing rugs, runners, and electrical wires that could cause you to trip, leveling door thresholds, installing a stairlift, and grab bars around the home. A shower chair can also prevent falls in the shower.

People who wear tint-changing eyeglasses may find that their vision is impaired as they move from outside to inside, so it is important to bear this in mind. If you are taking medication that makes you feel dizzy, ask your physician about alternative options.

Ask for help when you need it

Living in denial will not change the fact that you need more help than you used to, and it will make it more likely that you will run into problems. You may be in good health now, but over time this will change, and you need to be comfortable asking for help. Simple tasks like maintaining your home and garden, running errands, shopping, staying on top of paying bills, or keeping yourself clean may become difficult. Try to recognize when you are finding everyday life difficult and ask for help from friends, family, or professional services.

For example, you could hire a cleaner or an in-home caregiver who will visit a few times per week to help you and/or a meal delivery service that will provide nutritional and tasty meals that are easy to prepare. Your bank may be able to set you up on online banking so you can manage your finances without leaving the house. A Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) device, e.g., a bracelet or pendant that will alert emergency services if you should fall.

Maintain physical fitness through regular activity

It is important to maintain physical fitness at every stage of life, but it becomes an even more vital part of life as we age. By being physically active every day, you will boost your energy levels, strengthen your immune system, and maintain your mobility, but it also has benefits for your mental health. Physical exercise can reduce the risk of dementia and depression while simultaneously boosting your mood by triggering the release of endorphins.

It is important to find an activity that you enjoy and can incorporate into your day regularly, and the exercise does not need to be excessive. Walking, swimming, following an online exercise routine, lifting light weights, or even cleaning the house all count as exercise, and around 30 minutes (or three 10-minute sessions) per day is ideal. Make sure that you have a supportive pair of shoes with a sole that grips the floor to prevent slips and trips. If you struggle with your balance, consider getting a cane or a walker to support you.

Stay social and fill your schedule

Loneliness and depression are unfortunately very common in older people. Retiring from work, losing friends and family members through bereavement, and poor health can cause seniors to become isolated from society. In addition, without social and mental stimulation, the mind can lose some of its cognitive capacity leading to memory loss.

Therefore, it is important that seniors take proactive steps to maintain a social life by arranging to meet with friends, attending family occasions, joining a club that interests you, taking classes at the local college, or volunteering in the community.

Many older people choose to move into a senior living community like Frontier Management, where they can maintain their independence and become part of a thriving community with the option to participate in activities and attend social events. These facilities also provide additional support and medical care that can be increased or adapted over time.

Stay mobile

A big obstacle to independence is often the lack of transport or mobility issues that prevent people from being able to get out and about. If you are worried about your driving ability, there are refresher driving courses for seniors who want to increase their confidence and learn how to maintain their vehicles for optimum safety. While some seniors manage to drive a car for many years, others find that they do not feel comfortable behind the wheel. If you make the decision to stop driving, however, you do not need to stay at home all the time or feel that you can only go out if a family member can take you.

You should also look into the public transport network in your area. In addition to public transport, many community services will provide private transport to take you from A to B, and if you enroll in a community center program, they may provide transport.

In conclusion, the key to a peaceful and rewarding retirement is to be proactive about your health, realistic about the help you need, and continue to pursue hobbies and interests that make you happy. Take every opportunity to try new activities and visit new places and try to be open-minded about making new friends no matter what age you are.