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Colleen Young, Connect Director avatar

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

Aging Well | Last Active: Sep 10 4:41am | Replies (313)

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@gingerw absolutely!
I can see the “handwriting on the wall” unfortunately, I am going to have to make some adjustments soon. I love living by myself. The freedom is invaluable to me. So I am going to be extremely upset if I have to change my living arrangements.

I already have a walk-in shower with grab bars.
I just started using a walker sometimes and a few of my doorways are too narrow so I’m banging the molding up.

I live in a one story condo, no stairs, and no outdoor maintenance.
I can keep a cleaning schedule for myself. If I do just one extra thing each day, everything will get done. It’s just me, so the condo stays neat.
I use grocery pickup and delivery services.
I shop mostly online.
I live in a 55+ community that has lots of things to offer but I generally stick to my block of nice neighbors.

I have started 2 hobbies over the last 3 years. I paint, and work 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles. I was diagnosed with Mild Cognitive Impairment a few years ago so those activities really keep my brain busy.

I’m working on a Worldwide Ancestral Tree (Wikitree) There are over 30 million people around the world who contribute to this project. I also have my family tree on Ancestry. I’m usually up until about midnight working on those projects.

So, I keep busy all by myself. Some days I’m a little lonely, but most of the time I’m too busy to notice!

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Replies to "@gingerw absolutely! I can see the “handwriting on the wall” unfortunately, I am going to have..."

You are very lucky being alone.
I think when you feel alone, I would recommend going for a walk.
You need a kind of exercise too.
I am 87 living in a foreign country alone and go to gym 3 times a week, getting to gym I walk for 20min. My hobby is eating out.

You might try a "Winnie Walker" for the door width issues - It's a three-wheeled walker (one in front and two in back) that is narrower to begin with, but you can squeeze in a bit if you need to.

I play scrabble online. I really enjoy the challenge. Pace yourself and enjoy your life😊💐