In Oxford and elsewhere around the country, it’s always a worthy objective to help our seniors enjoy the best possible quality of life, and that means allowing them to have a full and independent existence, to whatever extent is possible. Senior home care professionals do this on a regular basis, and the rest of us can pay extra attention to that fact throughout February, which has been designated National Senior Independence Month. By the same token, the third Friday in February is designated as National Caregivers Day, and that’s a great time to appreciate all the hard work and dedication offered by home caregivers all around our country. Here are some ways we can all help our senior loved ones live more independently, and appreciate a fulfilling lifestyle.
Support their independence
There are more than 40 million people in this country above the age of 65, and that means there are far more accommodations and services than have ever been available before, for an aging population. Supermarkets have battery-powered carts for disabled and elderly persons, geriatric products are available on mail-order service, and meal delivery can be arranged.
Many other services are also available to the elderly, and your senior loved one may not be aware of all the things that can help them maintain an independent lifestyle. You can help them by providing information and access to some of these opportunities. Have them try out the grocery store shopping cart, introduce them to the meal delivery service, or start a subscription to online catalogs that carry products for seniors.
Avoid coddling them
Most people instinctively want to do everything possible to help their aging loved ones. While this comes from a good place, too much of it can drift into the area of coddling, and that has to be avoided if your senior loved one is to maintain an independent lifestyle. What you should use as a guideline when interacting with seniors is this: if they can safely do it themselves, allow them to do so. For situations where they can’t do something on their own safely, offer some help.
Listen to their concerns
One of the best ways you can help you’re senior loved one age independently is to pay close attention to any frustrations or concerns they voice. Often overlooked as a supportive measure, this can be one of the most important to your parents. Very often, these kinds of concerns can be resolved fairly easily just by listening closely and reacting. As an example, your loved one may have difficulty going up and down the stairs. Without you having a conversation with them about it, you wouldn’t realize it’s necessary to take some kind of action to avoid all that stairway traffic.
Let your senior loved one dictate the pace
Anyone who has ever raised children should be aware of the fact that children achieve an independent mindset at their own pace. In the case of your senior loved one, you should consider all the cues and signs they issue, in order to know what they need from you as time goes by. This will be different in all cases, and there’s no real rule of thumb you can apply to the situation. By closely monitoring the signs used by your senior loved one, you can identify what they need from you in order to maintain a reasonably independent lifestyle.
Modify their environment as necessary
If your loved one requires a modified living environment, you can do this with the tools contained in an ordinary household toolbox, and some easily obtainable accessories. Doing this for your senior can allow them to live independently for a longer period of time. Some of the things you might need to tackle in order to prolong their independent lifestyle include:
- replace breakable china and glassware with plastic dishware that cannot be broken
- have the kitchen and pantry shelves lowered so that your senior loved one won’t have to reach too high
- install a rail inside the shower and next to the toilet to help with mobility issues
- remove tripping hazards and area rugs that might promote slipping
- use stools and chairs to hold objects like shoe bins, knitting bags, and magazines, so your loved one won’t have to reach down and bend over.
Provide telephone access
One of the things that are scariest to a senior citizen living independently is being able to reach out for assistance when it’s needed. You can provide access to telephone service, and make sure your cellphone number is included on their phone. It’s also a good idea to subscribe to an emergency assistance service, so they only have to press a button if help is needed, and so someone can be speeding to their location right away.
Find an independent living community
In years past, it was often necessary for a senior loved one to go from their own home directly into a nursing home when they could no longer fend for themselves. Nowadays, senior living communities have sprung up all over the country, and these can provide an excellent transition when your loved one simply can’t manage the big house and property they’ve lived in for years. You can help them prolong the independent lifestyle they’ve come to love by helping them find an independent living community, and to take up residence there.