The 5 Tips To Be Able To Live Independently As A Senior

Everybody looks ahead and imagines their twilight years doing the things they love surrounded by the people they love. It’s the goal of everybody to be able to live independently even in their advanced years. However, you can’t just wish for it to happen. There are things you should do to make sure that you are able to live on your own for as long as possible.

As we age, there are more challenges to face than when we were younger. These challenges just need to be solved in a way that works. Once we take things into consideration, make some adaptations, and change our lifestyle, then we can enjoy independent living well into our senior years.

In this article, we will go over several ways that you can make sure that you are able to live on your own and take care of yourself so you can get the most out of your golden years.

1 - Have vision and hearing checked

It is essential to make sure that you are able to see and hear clearly when you are living alone. For instance, hearing a smoke alarm can be the difference between life and death. If you have undiagnosed hearing problems then there is a serious risk here.

The same goes for vision. When you have poor vision it isn’t just that it’s annoying to watch TV and not see clearly. It can seriously impact your ability to cook for yourself or maintain proper hygiene.

Make sure to get your vision checked frequently and have your prescriptions updated on time if you already wear glasses. Unfortunately, vision is a delicate thing and can deteriorate quickly. In as short a time as a year, your prescription could easily be outdated.

The same goes for hearing. Get tested and if needed, get some hearing aids to help your hearing. There are different kinds for different problems. Many are so small they can barely be seen so there is no reason to feel self-conscious about them.

2 - Stay active

Think of the body as a machine. Machines that work efficiently and effectively are ones that run on a regular basis. The problem with some machines is that if they aren’t started often enough and used then they tend to break down faster or have trouble running smoothly.

The body is the same way. You have to stay mobile and use your joints and muscles to keep them in good condition. Being active will keep your joints healthy and lubricated so you are less likely to have problems with pain in your knees and elbows.

One of the main causes of seniors losing their ability to live on their own is from falls. Falls usually happen when the joints get weak and they lose the ability to move around easily. Staying active keeps the joints strong and makes it less likely to have a fall.

In addition to that, staying active is great at keeping blood pressure under control as well as other problems like diabetes. Then there is the matter of having plenty of energy from working out, walking, and playing sports.

3 - Keep learning

The brain is like a muscle in the sense that if you don’t use it you lose it. One of the keys to living on your own for a long time is to have a sharp brain. Keeping it sharp requires a sort of training just like staying in physical shape requires regular exercise.

The best way to keep it sharp is to be a lifelong learner. Always be on the lookout for a learning opportunity either for a passion that you have or for something completely new to you. This can be done by taking courses if there is an adult education center nearby or even by signing up for some type of lessons online.

Belonging to a book club is also a good way to make sure that your brain stays active because not only are you reading for mental exercise but you will be required to talk about the book with others that further solidifies the learning aspect of reading.

There are lots of ways to go about this but the important thing is to find a way to maintain some level of mental stimulation.

4 - Be social

Having social time is one of the most important aspects of aging in grace and style. Friendships and social networks will ignite the brain and are also a way to stay mentally sharp. Loneliness is one of the hardest parts about aging so it’s important to maintain contacts with friends and family.

If you don’t already have a social circle then joining clubs is a great way to stay active and also be social at the same time. No matter what your hobby, you are sure to find some like minded people that share your passion so you can have a ready made group of friends.

5 - Have some help

Living on your own and being independent doesn’t mean you can’t have some help to get things done. There are lots of ways to be able to keep your independence and have a helping hand to make sure that you can enjoy it.

For instance, keeping up a house is a lot of work. You may have lots of time when you’re retired but it doesn’t mean that you have the energy to cook, clean and do laundry all the time. Hire a housecleaner to come by once a week or at a schedule that works for you and take some of the burden off of your hands.

You may even want to hire a driver if your driving skills are starting to fade or you have some health problems that prevent you from driving. You should still be getting around so you can have a full life.

Whatever the sticking point is when it comes to you being able to live on your own, you can find somebody to take care of it for you and be able to live however you like.