One of the keys to aging well is maintaining independence. Yet few consider the practical steps that would most likely lead us there.
The people who stay independent longest aren’t the ones who ignore the future. They make a few smart decisions before they’re necessary.
What Maintaining Your Independence Actually Means
If you have found yourself avoiding planning for the future, it may help to realize that it isn’t about preparing for decline. It’s about staying in control and in charge.
For older adults who are proactive, early decision-making also provides the benefit of choice and not being left to only react to a situation.
Five Considerations to Maintain Independence
The following can build your independent lifestyle or point to where attention might be needed.
1. Maintain Independence with Mobility: The Foundation of Everything Else
Investing in your strength and balance today can pay off big later.
Review your mobility and ask these questions: Can I get out of a chair without using my hands? Do I avoid certain activities because I’m worried about my balance? Can I get back to an upright position from the floor?
Talk to your medical team for specific advice, but exercising even three times a week can make a real difference. A routine of sit-to-stand while watching TV, taking a short daily walk or using resistance bands while talking on the phone are a few options.
Bonus tip: Get your vision and hearing checked. Both affect balance more than you might think.
2. Maintain Independence with Transportation Options: Build a Backup Plan Now
Driving represents much more than just getting us from Point A to Point B. It’s our freedom. One of the best steps you can take to protect that freedom is by considering your options, not by pretending you’ll drive forever.
Do you avoid night driving? Highways? Unfamiliar areas? Those are all examples of being self-aware. But make sure you create a Plan B.
Make a shortlist of options: community transportation, ride-share apps, a friend you could call, family members who’ve offered.
Bonus tip: Write down where you go regularly and match what options are available if you no longer drive.
3. Maintain Independence with Home Safety: Remove the Hazards, Keep the Style
Your home should support you, not trip you up. Literally.
Those beautiful rugs? They can be potential hazards. That dim hallway? A perfect place to stumble. The shower without grab bars? They don’t have to look institutional but can stop you from slipping.
Walk through your home and take note of where you feel unsteady, where there are dark or cluttered pathways and if you could eliminate using a step stool if you moved items lower.
Bonus tip: Write down your top three home improvement projects that could help keep you safe. Check with contractors or local aging councils for programs or recommendations.
4. Maintain Independence with Health Management: Less Chaos, More Clarity
Managing healthcare can become more difficult as we grow older. There can be more appointments, several medications and confusing instructions from different specialists who don’t seem to talk to each other.
Take a few minutes to create order:
- Make a current medication list and put it in your wallet and phone.
- Decide and designate your main contact person if something happened and you needed help.
- Make sure you keep up to date with all doctor visits and follow-ups.
Bonus tip: Talk to your healthcare team about your medications. Some have dizziness or sleepiness as side effects.
5. Maintain Independence with Better Communication: The Power of Knowledge
Sometimes the biggest threat to independence isn’t health. It’s miscommunication with your family.
Adult children get nervous. They love you and want the best. But that can also mean one stumble or one forgotten appointment and suddenly they’re suggesting you move in with them.
The fix? A simple conversation before anything’s wrong. Decisions made in crisis are often not what we might have preferred.
Bonus tip: Try this to start the conversation: “I’m doing well, and I want to stay that way. If anything changes, here’s how I’d like us to handle it.”
Tell them what support looks like to you. Set expectations now, while things are calm. It prevents assumptions and keeps you in control of your own life.
How an Independent Living Community Can Help
If you would like to see how easy it can be to find support for your independence and freedom, you may want to learn what today’s independent living communities offer.
Beyond accessible residences and a no-maintenance lifestyle, you’ll discover a calendar full of activities, chef-prepared meals, provided transportation and the ease of meeting and making new friends.
You’ll quickly realize that your future doesn’t need to be feared. It just needs a little attention so you can live your life to the fullest.
Independent Living at Presbyterian Village North
We offer a unique blend of comfort, convenience and peace of mind with our non-profit senior living community set on 66 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. Whether you prefer a spacious apartment or a freestanding home, the variety of beautiful residences ensures you’ll find the perfect space to call your own.
With chef-prepared dining and a wide range of amenities, including a fitness center, therapeutic aquatic center and walking paths, every day offers opportunities to stay active and engaged. Residents enjoy a vibrant, welcoming community, open to all faiths, with endless opportunities for connection and personal growth.
From our on-campus pharmacy services to a resident clinic, professional security 24/7and a wireless emergency call system in every residence, your well-being is always a top priority. With exceptional amenities like a performing arts theater, woodworking shop, dog park, putting green and salon services, every detail is designed to enrich your life.
For more information about how Presbyterian Village North can help you or your loved one thrive in retirement, please reach out by calling (214) 355-9000 to request a personal tour or more details today.