What are your tips for staying independent at your own home?

Stay busy! I am a homebody! Doesn’t mean I’m depressed! I crochet- make rugs for others- embroider and stitch t- towels! Love to cook. Also, live out here in the country! I don’t need to find things to do/ they find me! A trusted dog also helps! Not a puppy- they can trip you up! I also see myself living on one level eventually! I do have a recumbent bike and treadmill in the basement! For now- I am fine. Will make small changes when needed!!! My husband and son keep me busy as I am on- call 24/7! And, nice to see kids/ grandkids! Enjoy each day you are gifted to celebrate life!!!

i am having two smaller grab bars installed after having a 30" bar installed. because i had them. so far i a haing to climb into a clawfoot tub to shower. i can't get out of the tub or off the floor. i never knew these things could happen.
also, i have non slip suction tub length pad.

Boy, do I understand. I never would have thought that my first question when looking for a new place to live would be "does it have a walk-in shower".

How about a shower chair?

i step into a clawfoot tub to shower. don't think that a chair will fit. i have a non slip pad in the tub.

I live independently. I am 90 years old. My so-called "tips" happened years ago. First of all I never had a sweet tooth. So I didn't indulge in them. Secondly I my 40's I discovered race walking. I had a full-time job and a family; nevertheless every day after work I stopped at the track and did several miles around the track. It was amazing how much energy I derived from this. I did not smoke. Coffee was too acidic for me causing problems, so I switched to tea - plain black. I can still drive. I do not have dementia. I am not in pain. I do not have major illnesses for which I have to take a log of drugs. I know the end must not be far but no one can predict if I will live one more day or 10 more years. I have a housekeeper who comes in once every three weeks to do the heavy cleaning. Otherwise I do everything myself. And I will continue until I wear out or die. Unfortunately these are not "tips" for anyone as old as I am. You have to start them long before you think you need them. I just happened to accidentally do that.

I am 87, live in my own house with 9 cats as I ran a cat rescue for 25 years & these 9 are 5 available for adoption & 4 of my own. Divorced my ex way back & my girls are grown & gone to good jobs. I live in a little artsy river town in south central Wisconsin town . I have COPD which seems to be stable & osteoporosis which is fairly recent but am doing ok at both, knock knock. I have tons of books & am reading all the time.
My one problem, I guess, is that I don't eat enough & my doctor gets very upset with me about that. But I don't like cooking for myself (the cats don't count!) so gaining weight is a battle. I usually resort to the wonderful chocolate chip cookies produced daily by a local place where I have become a regular.
Thank god for cats, bools & chocolate!!!

Thank heaven for cats. books & chocolate
Pam

Weird thing about trust huh? Some of us trust anyone, even everyone. Others no-one. I've had surgeries that saved my life and others that have left me with a life of lingering pain. Some can be avoided by asking around for other's experiences.

My mom is both. She has avoided treatment at times and almost died. She has believed there are vitamin supplements to cure everything. Now she's seeing orange spots and thinks she has macular degeneration. I took her to a reputable eye doctor and together we went through all the tests and she came through with flying colors. Most likely she gets dehydrated and doesn't take her BP meds. She refuses to wear her prescription glasses and spends a lot of time looking at screens. She's amazing how she just goes and goes at almost 96 yo.

That is amazing but I would say also rare. For the rest of us my tip is start purging!!! Amazing what you accumulate over the years. Chances are that you no longer have need for that craft supply or size whatever jeans. We have a savers down the street so I donate what is good and toss the rest. I am surprised that anyone over the age of 70 can still take a bath bi could never get out!

Dear KForrest-
Many years ago I made a "wedge in" shower seat to fit the tub, for a friend who was wobbly after a stroke.
It was a 2" x 8" board cut to fit the tub with two end pieces fitted to the angle of the tub.
It could be wedged into the tub very solid and became a seat level with the top of the tub.
She could sit on the tub edge and seat from outside of the tub, then lift her legs into the tub and slide to the center.
If you have a friend with basic woodworking skills, perhaps they can make one for you.
This requires a traditional metal/porcelain tub. It might require different engineering for a plastic tub.