5 Tips to Live Life Independently For Elderly People

Old age comes with its challenges. Most of these challenges are either physical or medical.

Senior citizens also face a myriad of social and emotional problems. Not to mention the financial issues occasioned by the fact that older people generally don’t engage in active income-generating activities.

With these challenges, it’s often difficult to lead an independent and fulfilling life. Fortunately, there are numerous tips you can implement to achieve true independence and self-reliance as you grow older.

This article highlights five such tips.

1. Invest In Mobility Equipment

Reduced mobility is the main physical challenge faced by seniors.

As we grow older, our muscles become weaker, and our bones degenerate. We can no longer maintain a straight gait or move as fast as we used to. This can be a major problem, especially if you find yourself in an emergency situation where you have to run to escape imminent danger.

Thankfully, there are tons of mobility equipment that seniors can invest in. One such piece of equipment is a wheelchair.

You can either purchase the traditional manual wheelchair, which tends to be cheaper, or opt for a motorized wheelchair. Although they often come with hefty price tags, motorized wheelchairs are recommended over their manual counterparts as they allow for hands-free maneuver.

Once you’ve purchased a decent wheelchair, you might want to give some thought to a wheelchair lift too. Also known as a platform lift or vertical platform lift, a wheelchair lift refers to a fully-powered device designed for raising a wheelchair and its occupant to overcome a step or other barrier.

Other mobility equipment you might consider purchasing including a scooter, motorcycle, bicycle, and car.

2. Save For Your Retirement

This should be a no-brainer.

If you’re craving financial independence in your post-retirement years, then you’ve got to start preparing for it early enough. The good news is that there are numerous ways to prepare yourself financially for your retirement.

You can start by opening an individual retirement account (IRA). Now, there are two types of IRA, including a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.

A Traditional IRA is usually tax-deductible, but the interests might accrue tax-deferred until you make withdrawals in your retirement. On the other hand, a Roth IRA is generally funded with after-tax contributions. So, once you attain the age of 59½ years, your accrued interests automatically become federal-tax-free.

Other tips you can implement to save for your retirement include automating your savings, contributing to your 401(k), undertaking long-term investments, etc.

3. Interact Often

Social interaction is of immense benefit to people of all ages. However, seniors need it the most, and particularly those who live alone.

Having a vibrant social life can lower the risks of mental health conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression.

If you live alone, make a habit of visiting or calling your family and friends often. And if there’s no one nearby to talk to, consider making routine visits to the state park and other social places. Pay more attention to areas most frequented by seniors.

There’s also the option of joining a local senior living community. These communities usually encourage group activities that can be instrumental in helping you develop deep connections with your peers.

4. Watch Out For Signs of Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are the two most common mental conditions affecting seniors. There are numerous causes of stress for seniors, including;

• Changes in financial status
• Lifestyle changes, such as moving to a new retirement home
• Caring for grandchildren
• Death of a close relative or friend
• Reduced physical abilities
• Certain chronic illnesses
• Inability to control emotions like anger, grief, low self-esteem, and guilt

While there are equally numerous antidepressant and anxiolytic drugs you can take to treat stress and anxiety, prevention is always better than cure. And one way to keep stress and anxiety at bay is to understand the tell-tale signs of these conditions.

Examples include;

• Increased feelings of worry even in the absence of a real stressor
• Difficulty in controlling one’s emotions
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Elevated blood pressure and heartbeat
• Drowsiness
• Shortness of breath
• Pain, especially headaches and chest pain
• Digestive problems, such as nausea and constipation
• Unexplained allergic reactions

If any of these signs keep recurring, it’s advisable to consult your doctor immediately.

5. Pursue a Hobby

There can never be a better time to pursue your hobbies than in your senior years.

Not only do hobbies allow you to pass the time in a constructive manner. They can also go a long way in keeping mental issues like stress at bay.

Besides, hobbies can encourage social bonding, especially if explored in groups. Plus, they offer an opportunity to learn valuable skills.

If you don’t already have a hobby, this may be the best time to find one. Some of the common hobbies you might consider including;

• Knitting
• Painting
• Gardening
• Cooking
• Reading and/or writing
• Singing and/or dancing
• Puzzle-solving

Old age is an inevitable phase of the human life cycle. Unless, of course, you die young (which I bet is not your wish anyway).

Once you get old, you’re bound to face numerous challenges that may affect your overall quality of life. Fortunately, there are equally many ways to overcome seniors’ physical, social, financial, and medical issues.

After reading this article, we hope that you can now look forward to your senior years with a renewed sense of hope and optimism.