Aging is something that all of us experience daily, even if we don’t always realize it. However, there comes a point where you go from simply aging to being old. Often, this is when you may experience a loss of freedom.
Seniors indeed need to make a lot of sacrifices – it is the hard reality that older bodies and minds simply cannot always achieve what their younger counterparts can.
That being said, if you are not willing to completely give up your sense of freedom, there are a few things that you can do to stay independent, even as you age.
Stay safe
Unfortunately, older people are a bigger safety risk. Firstly, burglars may see seniors as easy targets, so investing in an alarm system, burglar bars, or both is a worthwhile idea.
Secondly, if you are elderly, you have a bigger risk of falling ill or suffering some kind of injury. Of course, if you live alone, this is even more negative, since it may be a while before anyone realizes that something happened to you.
Luckily, there are ways to work around this without you having to be placed in an old-age home. It might be worth your time to look into medical alert systems.
Compromise
When you are older, your loved ones will likely try to take over some part of your life. While this can be frustrating, keep in mind that it comes from a place of love.
They only want what’s best for you, even if you may disagree with them on what exactly that is. Ultimately, you should get the final say in what happens and how you live your life, but it’s a good idea to listen to their concerns.
Try to compromise and find a method that eases their worries but also helps them be independent. Whether you are compromising with your family or your partner, you need to remain respectful.
Plan ahead
If you are on the older side but you have not yet retired, the best possible way to ensure your independence once you age is to plan as much of your senior years as possible. Start by setting up some kind of retirement fund or savings plan, so that you know your finances will be stable.
Next, make a list of everything else you can think of – where you want to live, how you want things done, what you want to be done in certain medical situations, and any other information you think your family or caretaker may find useful.
This way, if anything should happen to you, they will be able to follow your wishes, even if you cannot tell them what you want.
Manage your finances correctly
Unfortunately, if you do not manage your finances correctly, you will likely need to rely on someone else, which means your independence will be compromised. That being said, there is nothing wrong with going to a care facility or moving in with family if you cannot afford to take care of yourself.
Since most seniors don’t work because they are retired, their financial situation can often be a cause of great stress. Proper planning of finances will help to a good quality of life.
Consider moving
Most people who are on the older side come to accept the fact that, eventually, they have to move. Now, this can be hard, especially if you’ve lived in one place for many years, but change is a part of the aging process.
Moving doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to move into an old-age home or go to live with your family. Often, moving simply means that you need to downscale. Living in a smaller home will much likely be more manageable for you as well as safer.
In conclusion
While many people associate growing old with a loss of freedom, that doesn’t always need to be the case. You will likely lose some of your freedom and make a few sacrifices, but ultimately, you can hang onto your independence in various ways.
Keep in mind that, if you are struggling, you should allow people to help you instead of insisting that you stay independent. The aging process can be a glorious time, so if you learn to compromise and adapt, it can be some of the best years of your life.
Being independent as a senior isn’t impossible, and it will look different for everyone. Be sure to talk to your loved ones and find something that works for you.
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