Holding on to our independence as we age is something most of us would like to accomplish. But, it can be a challenge coping with every emerging niggle, new wrinkle, or gray hair that crops up. Where did the time go? It doesn’t seem so long ago that we were walking the kids to school, participating in those hair raising activities in college or trying to keep up with a busy social calendar when our kids were at home. Fast forward two or three decades and the signs of aging are showing up in places we never considered! Even thinking about life in a care home can cause us to break out in a sweat. The bottom line is, we want to stay independent for as long as possible.
If you are eager to retain your independence, it is important to be take steps now in order to remain healthy and alert as long as possible. It is only when our health, mental faculties, and emotional wellbeing start to slip that we must begin to seek help and support. Now is the time to consider making a plan and putting it into action to help maintain our independence.
Feeling Valued As An Individual
When you lose independence, you naturally become reliant on somebody else. This means that you may struggle to feel like an individual. You may lose your identity and feel isolated, even though you may be surrounded by more people than ever before. You want to stay in control of the major decisions that you may have to take. Your finances, your health, and your way of life are very important to you. To have to relinquish these important decisions to somebody else can be heart-wrenching.
Holding on to our independence as long as possible is facilitated by keeping our brain activity in good shape. Did you know that we can actually exercise our brains to improve their functioning? There are many enjoyable activities that we can incorporate into our daily lives such as sudoku or crossword puzzles. Alternatively, whip out a thousand piece jigsaw and do a section every afternoon.
In our working life, we were problem solving every day and we enjoyed taxing your brain. However, when retirement kicks in, we tend to take life at a gentler pace and this can mean using problem solving skills less often. Give your brain the chance to work effectively. This can reduce your risk of dementia, feelings of depression and isolation.
We also need to stay healthy to stay in control of our life. Eating well and exercising consistently is the best way to achieve optimum health. It is not necessary to be training for a marathon, or keeping up with the youngsters at your local health club. Cardio and strength exercises can be accomplished simply by heading outside for a long walk in the park to get the blood pumping. Spending time outside also boosts your confidence and can help you to stay social. If you live on your own, daily outings may be a good opportunity to talk to others.
Health also includes basic hygienics. Shower every day and keep up with the daily chores. If a relative visits, don’t give them cause for concern because you may need help treating and preventing adult diaper rash because you are struggling at home. Instead, keep the home clean and tidy, schedule routine doctor’s appointments, and don’t be afraid to ask for support if you need it.
Eat a balanced and nutritious diet. You might not feel like cooking some days, and that’s okay. Consider finding some quick, easy and healthy meals that you can microwave or order meals through a meal delivery service. The bottom line is, eat plenty of fruit and vegetables and keep refined convenience foods to a minimum.
Holding on to Our Independence with a Purpose
When you wave goodbye to your job for the final time, you may lose a sense of purpose. Retirement may sound like bliss but it can also leave you feeling surprisingly empty. How on Earth are you now going to fill your days? Consider what it is that you want to do with your time. Consider your interests that you haven’t been able to pursue because you were employed full time. Perhaps you might want to head out into the garden to grow your own vegetables or have a go at some bonsai tree coiffing. Alternatively, you might be keen to volunteer in the local community to give you a sense of purpose.
Keeping busy helps us avoid sitting on the sofa all day and feeling lost. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation, and cause our mental faculties to decline. The lack of exercise may reduce our quality of health as well.
Social Life
Being independent means taking control of who you see and when you see them. Leaving the office for the final time often means saying goodbye to workplace friends and people who have been an integral part of your life. Without the day to day contact, our social life may suddenly seem non-existent. It is necessary to fill this hole with a new social circle. Consider joining a new club to meet like-minded older individuals, many of whom are going through similar changes.
It’s important to remember that, as far as our social lives are concerned, that it doesn’t end if we ever have to give up our home and make the move into a care home. Far from it! Assisted living providers like Rosewood Memory Care will always work hard to help people live a life as close to what they used to be like. And we can think that if we ever go into a home, that life is over. but we must remember that we make the most of what we have now.
Your twilight years should be full and fun. There’s no reason why it can’t be an exciting time in our life. It’s simply time to think about enjoying new experiences. If you have always fancied learning the cello or the banjo or the trumpet, enroll in a class. If you want to brush up on your language skills, take part in an online tutorial. Or if you want to travel, find a pal to be your travel buddy.
Retirement doesn’t have to mean saying goodbye to the fun in your life and becoming more sedentary. It is an opportunity to start a new adventure. Follow this simple guide and holding on to your independence may be a challenge that brings many new opportunities.
