You’re getting on in years and you can’t do the things you used to. Some people believe that that’s just a part of growing old, but accepting the truth of the situation will make it easier for you to make some crucial choices in the future.
Not everyone is capable of taking care of themselves on a daily basis and can start forgetting simple things that used to be so commonplace. Instead of leaving it up to chance or pretending like there isn’t a problem, you can take control of your situation by admitting to yourself that senior independent living may be the right choice for you. If you want to check out some great options, you should consider Simply Senior Living. It’s not going to be easy at the beginning, as it’s going to be different from what you’re used to, but we’re providing you with some tips and tricks to make the transition as smooth as possible.
Identifying Your Needs
Before you can even consider taking up independent living residence, you should first consider the kind of care you’ll need. Are you capable of doing your own laundry and making your own meals or do you need some help in these departments? The trained staff at the majority of these independent living facilities are willing to tailor their skills to help you in any way they can.
Not sure where to start? Get a pen and paper, and start listing your illnesses and conditions, as well as any tasks you have problems doing on your own. This will make it much easier for you to find the right facility for you and what kind of help you need. This list could include anything, such as brushing your hair, remembering to take your medication, doing laundry, preparing your own meals, or just running errands. Whatever really comes to mind.
The next tip is to look for facilities that accommodate those means, as well as provide you with extras. Maybe you don’t have aches and pains now, but it could be a good idea to look at a facility that has a physical therapist to help you when you do develop pain in your joints. Consider what you want to have access to in order to make your life comfortable. Check out more at www.pegasussenorliving.com/.
Keeping Expectations Reasonable
A lot of people are afraid to consider assisted living facilities because everything is going to change. They don’t like the discomfort of being somewhere they’re not used to. It can be hard to let go of those old memories too, but you should this as an opportunity to make new memories with new people. So keep your expectations reasonable when you’re looking at an independent living community. See it as a way to still have your independence while getting the help that you need when you need it. It can be hard for people to swallow their pride and recognize that they need help in the first place, but a conversation with your friends and family can help you to figure things out.
Figuring Out What to Bring
To get the most out of your independent living situation, you want to have your belongings with you so that it can feel like a home away from home. But not many facilities are equipped for you to bring everything with you. Focus on the basics first: clothing, toiletries, medications, and a few mementos. If you have a little space leftover, then you can consider bringing some of your favorite things with you to make the place feel more like home.
Independent Living at Home
Another alternative is to consider solutions that make it easy for you to remain at home. It will take a lot of patience, alterations, and costs but if it’s really what you want to do, then it could be the solution for you.
A lot of senior citizens prefer to make this choice instead, as it allows them to remain in a place they’re already familiar with. With the many options and professional services available, they can still be independent in their own home while still getting the assistance that they need.
Solutions with Technology
The world that we live in today makes it easier for people to stay connected with just the touch of a button or an app on our phones. This technology can vastly improve the senior citizen’s life and make remaining at home an even more viable solution. Some of the simplest devices to start including in your home are a home alarm system, medical alert systems of some kind that have 24/7 assistance, medical tracking devices, cell phones or tablets to stay in contact with friends and family, and medical dispensing systems so that you always know when to take your medication. Even simple things like these can make your life a lot easier to manage.
Home Modifications
There is a wide range of products and installations you can make to your home so that it’s more accessible and easier to get around in. There are bathroom accessories that minimize your risk of falling in the shower or bath, or simply just make it more comfortable for you to get clean, like a shower chair. There are special items to make grooming easier, such as dressing aids and adaptive clothing. There are mobility products such as walkers, canes, and wheelchairs so that it’s easier to get in and out of your home, or just move around normally. This is just a very small list of some of the items available in the market that can keep you independent while making your life easier.
Transportation Solutions
If you feel like you’ve lost your independence because you can no longer drive yourself around, there’s an easy solution for that. There are shuttle services that will pick people up from their homes and take them to wherever they want. That provides you with a lot of independence and the freedom of being mobile, which is great for the senior mind. Getting new interactions with people and staying active can greatly improve those feelings of loneliness and isolation. And you won’t have to rely on family members and friends as much to drive you around since you can call a shuttle service whenever you want. No more butting into their busy schedules during the workday and feeling like a burden.
Shuttle services can be a bit expensive too, so there’s always public transportation. It does mean finding stops that are near you or waiting for a taxi cab to arrive, but they’re still viable options when you just want to get out of the house for a few hours.
Assistance Solutions
Even with all of the solutions presented above, you may still need that extra help for peace of mind. Don’t feel like it’s a burden to ask for help; it’s some people’s jobs to provide you with the assistance you need, and it would be foolish not to consider these options when you so greatly need them. These solutions will make it so much easier for you in your senior years so that you can focus on the things you enjoy doing without having to worry about anything else.
Some of the more popular assistance options are:
- In-Home Caregivers: these are private caregivers who are trained to provide assistance to the elderly in their everyday lives. This can include performing daily tasks such as grooming and assistance with hygiene, doing some cooking or housework, running small errands outside of the home, or driving you to various appointments.
- Home Health Nurses: these are nurses who provide medical assistance to you in your home when you can’t make a trip to see the doctor. They usually work under the prescription of a medical doctor, so you’ll have to speak with your primary care physician first to see if this is a viable option for you. They can provide you with medication, monitor your health, and report any medical conditions to your doctor so that actions can be taken to stabilize your health.
The choice is really up to you what kind of assistance you need and what you’re comfortable with. Some in-home caregivers may only need to be there two to three days a week if that’s what you want and you have everything else under control.
It can take some time to find the right solutions for you, whether you choose to admit yourself into an independent living facility or if you choose to remain at home and make some changes to your life to accommodate your golden years. Having a conversation with your friends and family, as well as your medical doctor, will make it easier for you to determine what’s right for you and what you should plan in the future.
The process itself is not going to be easy and will take some adjustments, but no matter what you decide, know that you’re not alone in the situation and everyone around you only want the best for you.
