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

@SusanEllen66

Villages are in almost every place in U.S. Google "Village to Village Network" and then go to "Village Map" to find out if there is a village near you. If no Village exists in your vacinity, the bar to start a Village is very low. Reach out to Village to Village Network and I'm confident that you will receive help. Established villages run the gamut in size -- from 4 to 2800 participants...so please don't hesitate. Let me know how you fare. Welcome to a Village...either now or some time soon!

@oliverbowie Three are my grandsons (only 7 & 10 but learning and getting stronger) who come with their Mom - it is a very symbiotic relationship - we have always helped their family, now they are helping us. For extra work like trimming bushes, spreading mulch and washing windows they get paid, otherwise it is family helping family.

Another is the daughter of a family friend - this is the second family we have had helping - the first kids are now off on their own. Sometimes I call on my grand-nephews - willing workers but very busy. My "heavy duty" workers I met through the Master Gardener program where we volunteer. All are paid the prevailing wage based on their ability - my current young lady was getting $15/hr early this summer, but has progressed with more independence and greater skills, so she now earns $20-25/hr depending on the job.

How do I find them? I put the word out to friends, neighbors, & family with 14-15 year-old kids. Too young for a "regular job" but eager to earn $$. Many need coaching on work/life skills at first (closed shoes, no phone except on breaks, when you finish one task, don't sit down, go on to the next or ask for direction...) All need to be taught - what are weeds, how to transplant, water, prune, deadhead ... I claim an 80% success rate over the past 8 years - one kid just didn't want to learn or to work, I never figured out which it was. But I have some lovely young friends as a result, and they have benefited from "not fast food" job experience and references. In one 14yo nephew we discovered a talent for garden design! My current helper just showed a talent for handy-person skills - knows how to properly use a drill, hammer, screwdriver, & level, and how work safely on a ladder.

I know finding helpers can be hard, but by thinking outside-the-box, I have managed. My brother suggests contacting your local scout troop or home-school coop when looking for kids who are predisposed to learning new skills and being helpful.

We bought a two story home in Florida 13 years ago with the idea thought that the upstairs bedrooms would allow our adult children to visit often. They visit but not often. Recently we did a number of things with the downstairs --- including turning one of the bays in the garage to a computer room --- so we basically lived on one floor. We also made an effort to remove tripping hazards. Our next step is having most of the outdoor maintenance done by contractors. That is easier said than done. We looked at moving into a condo but nothing seemed much of an advantage over our turning our single family home into an effective condo. Still a work in progress, I am 81 my wife is 79 and currently in good health for our age.

@doccharlie Have you considered that with the unused second floor, you may be set up for aging-in-place? When/if the time comes for more help, you could turn it into a mini-apartment for a caregiver team. That would make recruiting help much easier. Years ago, out next-door neighbor, who had no family in the US, did just that - a single woman lived in for a reduced paycheck, since room & board was included. In return she did shopping, cooking, cleaning & some personal cares. Since our neighbor was alone except for us, she had some companionship as well.

I took out rugs and put stair railings around the house. I put chairs to sit in in every room that are comfortable but firm. I have pictures of my full pill box to compare to it when I fill the new one. I go to my church for fellowship. I call two friends everyday. I get boxes of cards to sent notes of encouragement to family and friends. I listen to birds every morning and do devotional. I eat small meals more frequently and avoid sugar caffeine alcohol. I sing loud to the radio. I belong to online support group. I allow myself to nap at least twice a day. I listen to audio books. I do jigsaw puzzles. I keep lists. I use a cane even though I’m pretty mobile. I make sure all my doctors know me well. I pray constantly and keep a list of people I pray for. I have dastardly Dysautonomia and foot neuropathy and braceastis. I rock I am 71

@sueinmn Sue, I have considered that as a midway step to a nursing home/assisted living. We are thinking of getting on a waiting list to a place in NJ closer to our daughter --- the place starts you off in an apartment and can bring in as much help as you need /can pay for. So I'm thinking about a two step process. Thanks for the thought.

@nycmusic
I live in them! The lace up and the slip on.

I don't recall this being mentioned:
We need to develop and maintain our computer competency: We need to know how to operate our digital devices, we need to be aware of dangers of on line criminals and we need to keep our devices reasonably up to date.
We also need to have backup charging batteries in case of power outage.

I keep online money simple:
I pay with Paypal as much as possible.
I have two credit card accounts, one I carry, one stays home in case the other is lost.
And my credit cards are really debit cards, so there is no chance of over charging and collecting penalties. (If I accidentally go over the account balance, my bank pays out from a savings account, no charge.)

@edsutton Agreed. More and more things are online only. One small example. Our state implemented a property tax relief program a few years ago. The only way to enroll was online. No in person, no telephone. Only on-line. The organization I was working for set up a call in system for elders that either had no online access or weren’t confident do the forms. They gave us the info and we did the digital work for them.

I'm 82 and in pretty good shape, but one fall was a reality check (broken kneecap) - fortunately? it happened outside where I could yell for help. Every morning I send an email to my daughter-in-law in another city with subject heading: Alive [with the date]. Although there is always some message exchange as well, that's the important part. My outside routine includes people who would notice that I wasn't there, but not to the extent of following up, nor would they know how to follow up. I've set 8am "Alexa" alarms to remind me. If my DIL doesn't hear from me by 11am, she is to phone, and then phone again later. After that, the plan is to contact a neighbor with a key. If unable to contact, then call authorities.

I have an alarm device I wear around my neck, so for me part of staying independent is being able to call for help RIGHT NOW, and also knowing that if something mighty bad happens, someone will follow up. With luck, my two cats won't miss a meal ... or at least the meal won't be me.