Families should always plan on how to help seniors maintain their independence while under their care. Whether family members modify their home, find temporary caregivers, or take full responsibility for an elderly loved one’s needs, an independent senior is a happy one.
One of the biggest fears of most seniors is that one day they will have to live a life that is not independent. If you are getting older, the best way to ensure you maintain your independence as long as possible is with proper planning.
It is much easier to think through things and make good choices when your mind is clear. Once you are in a situation that has turned into an emergency, it is more likely you are to make rash decisions made on your behalf.
You need proper planning to have the best chance at living independently for the most extended amount of time.
Tips to Help Seniors Maintain Their Independence
It gets harder to maintain our independence as we age. However, proper planning allows us to do it much longer.
The first step to maintaining independence is identifying all the things you do and having a backup plan for each. You need to know how you will get around, and when and how you can do your shopping and banking.
You must plan down to the small details like how you would take a bath if you become incapacitated in some way. It would even include more substantial things like what the plan would be if you required assisted living care or other long-term care.
If you want to live independently, you have to think about safety. If you can no longer manage to do the day-to-day tasks, then it is not safe for you to keep living alone. However, if you have planned well for maintaining independence, then you will have a backup plan for each task which will make it easier to keep being able to live on your own for longer.
Imagine for a moment if you fell and had an injury that would not allow you to drive for a few weeks. If you have created a checklist for maintaining independence, you have all the information ready.
During your planning process, you may have identified community resources that can drive seniors around town to run errands. You may have identified a family member that is ready and willing to take you where you need to go. Whatever solution you have determined, the good news is you are prepared to put it into place.
Imagine if you had no plan. What if you had an injury and the doctor told you that you couldn’t drive for a few weeks. You have no idea on how to get around, and you have to go to the grocery store or bank tomorrow. You have to call people to give you a ride or run your errands for you. All this while you just want to rest and recover from your injury. Mapping this out in advance could eliminate all of this.
Your needs will vary significantly based on medical issues, interests and the level of activity you hope to maintain. Think about what you do and what is important to you and use that as a guide for managing independence.
It is helpful to get family members and other close friends involved in this process, as well. Although the decisions and choices are ultimately yours, it is good to have the feedback of the people who will make up your support system if the need arises. It can be hard to reach out and ask for this type of help, but it is much easier to do it when you are in the planning process than having to make a last minute call to someone to rearrange their life to accommodate your needs.
How to Help Seniors Maintain Their Independence – Conclusion
The people who love you will be compassionate about your situation and want to be a part of any solutions you have to keep you happier and independent longer. The key is to plan for maintaining your independence.
If you take the time to do this, it will provide the best chance of you living independently for the most amount of time, which is the ultimate goal for most seniors. The reality is there will be a time in your later years that you might have to reach out for help, but the better you plan, the less often you will have to do this.
I liked how you mentioned that you can add safety to an elderly person’s life by getting them assisted living care. My wife and I are wanting to help her mother who is getting older and she was wondering how she could make sure her mother is safe. I’ll be sure to tell her to hire assisted living care for her.