What are your tips for staying independent at your own home?
Many people say they’d prefer to grow old in their own homes. What are your tips for remaining independent as long as possible. What do you do to:
- Keep up with home maintenance and housekeeping?
- Avoid injuries around the house?
- Combat loneliness or stay connected?
Any other tips?
October 25, 2023: Update from the Community Director
The knowledge exchange shared in this discussion helped to create this article written for the Mayo Clinic app and website. Knowledge for patients by patients and beyond Mayo Clinic Connect. Thank you for all your tips.
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@SusanEllen66
I forgot to add, I live in a Condo so all the outdoor stuff is taken care of.
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2 Reactionsonly thing i might add would be if you are a woman who is used to wearing high or higher heels, i'd recommend lowering them or converting to flats if you are in fear of falling,
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1 Reaction@sueinmn yes to the sewing room. I just bought a new sewing machine that has features that will likely help me keep sewing. Start stop button in place of foot pedal, automatic needle threader, and so on.
I’m glad I got it now so I can learn how to use it.
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2 ReactionsNational and state emergency agency web sites have "disaster preparation checklists."
Many of the recommendations can help you organize your home management systems.
Our pantry is now organized with easy to prepare food supplies which have made our daily cooking and shopping easier. We also organized with neighbors to purchase basic foods in bulk. It's more economical and it makes our shopping list simpler.
Organized medicines and supplements made it easier to keep things in order when one of us was ill. If you take multiple medicines, make a daily checklist.
Make a printed page of your medical history, necessary medications, doctors and insurance, ready in case you must make a trip to the emergency room.
Have flashlights and other emergency lights in place in case of midnight power outages. (Those night lights in the wall outlets will not work in a power outage.)
You'll find these things come in handy in non-emergency moments.
If you're buying a car, learn about the many newer safety features some cars offer: lane drift warning, parking guidance, speed warning and following too close warning and braking. Focus your attention when driving!
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5 ReactionsMy new home is one level with all hardwood floors. I am 80 with severe stenosis and scoliosis making it difficult for me to stand or walk for more than a few minutes. I can walk for a long time with a cart in a store so I purchased a rollator to use in my home which helps to remind me to stand up straight. I also use it to walk a mile each day in my home. Recently, I used the rollator to attend a craft fair. It has a seat so if I need to sit down, I can. The rollator has given me so much more freedom, I cannot believe it!
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8 ReactionsJoin a village in your community! There are 350 such organizations in the U.S., whose mission is to help older adults age in their own homes. Villages provide support in three areas: 1) practical (rides, home maintenance, tech help and lots more), 2) cultural/educational (my village offers ~15 - 20 programs annually...topics of local or current interest and age-related topis) and 3) social (monthly Happy Hours and 2 large annual parties). Villages range in size from 4 to 2,800 participants...so lots of options! A Village to Village Network provides models and communication among villages. Enjoy!
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2 Reactions@marbe6161 absolutely! I wear shoes by the company “Hey Dude”. They are a slip in “boat shoe”. like a sneaker, but different. I get mine on Amazon.
@susiewordsmith I have never heard about anything like that in “neighborhoods”.
Where are these Villages, and who pays for the activities?