Very few people talk about how stressful it can be to help senior parents or loved ones to live their lives, not just independently, but safely too. And with the population living longer — 78.4 years as of 2023, as per CDC data, the importance of senior care has never been more prevalent.
But independent living looks different for every person. For some, independent living is aging in place at home surrounded by family and friends. For others, it’s finding a location where they can get support when needed but still retain the ability to live as they wish.
Let’s take a closer look at how to support healthy independent living for seniors.
Discuss Living Arrangements
Again, what works for one won’t work for everyone, but you need to discuss with your loved ones what they would prefer their living arrangements to look like moving forward. Whether they need to change now or down the line, it’s good to have the discussion early on so everyone is on the same page.
Would they like to remain at home? Maybe move closer to family? Or would they prefer to move to an independent living community to help them stay social and have a range of amenities on hand to support their senior years?
Find out what they want, when they expect to make any changes to living arrangements, if at all, so everyone knows what to expect.
Ask The Right Questions
The thing is, sometimes seniors don’t like to be told they’re not managing or have people point out where things aren’t working anymore. It can be quite the problem to point out their failings, and often doing so head-on will lead to conflict and heated discussions.
Try to ask the right questions when bringing up concerns you’re having. Ask if they’re noticing they’re struggling with anything or “I noticed it was a bit tricky to get up that step. Do you need a handrail to help you?” Pay attention to how you frame things and don’t just go in demanding changes because you think they need it.
Encourage Activity and Socialisation
Loneliness in seniors is a real problem, and cognitive decline can seem like it’s happening much quicker in adults who aren’t socially or physically active.
To support independent living, you need to encourage your parents or loved ones to be as socially active as they can. And help them make sure they’re mobile enough to get around without help.
This might be helping them find volunteering roles that they can go to help others, finding groups and activities they spend time doing, joining clubs, or taking up a sport. Even walking counts. Because the more active they are, the longer they’ll be able to live more independently.
And don’t underestimate the power of having someone to talk to. Friends, family, anyone. The more social they are, the better for their cognitive abilities. Strong social connections have been scientifically proven to improve memory, enhance overall brain health, and even protect against Alzheimer’s, too. It’s not social for the sake of being social; it’s actually beneficial in so many ways.
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