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

Posted by Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung, Aug 31, 2023

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.

Aging at home: Advice for staying independent

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Aging Well Support Group.

casey1329 | @casey1329 | Aug 31, 2023

Keep moving, do a lot of walking. Maybe lift some small weights to retain muscle and of course eat right. Now for the house itself, get wall to wall carpet in as many places as you can afford to do it. Don't forget hand grips in the bathroom. Get every thing, rooms & appliances, on ground level if possible and at night have good lighting. That's it for me...

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Aug 31, 2023

-Zero clearance shower, that is, one you can step into, not into a bathtub/shower.
-Arrange for a cleaning service if you feel you do not have the strength/ability to keep things as clean as you want them. And do this before it gets out of hand!
-Make sure you have adequate lighting for all tasks, so you are not straining, or being unsafe in doing tasks.
-Make friends in your neighborhood/community. Isolation is a very real thing, and keeping in communication with others is important for mental wellbeing.
-Try simplifying your life. What you do for entertainment, how you spend your money, how much you want to do. It's okay to not go 100 miles per hour all the time!
Ginger

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3 replies
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Aug 31, 2023
In reply to @gingerw "-Zero clearance shower, that is, one you can step into, not into a bathtub/shower. -Arrange for..." + (show)
@gingerw

-Zero clearance shower, that is, one you can step into, not into a bathtub/shower.
-Arrange for a cleaning service if you feel you do not have the strength/ability to keep things as clean as you want them. And do this before it gets out of hand!
-Make sure you have adequate lighting for all tasks, so you are not straining, or being unsafe in doing tasks.
-Make friends in your neighborhood/community. Isolation is a very real thing, and keeping in communication with others is important for mental wellbeing.
-Try simplifying your life. What you do for entertainment, how you spend your money, how much you want to do. It's okay to not go 100 miles per hour all the time!
Ginger

Jump to this post

@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!

REPLY
2 replies
hiroko | @hiroko | Sep 1, 2023
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@gingerw absolutely! I can see the “handwriting on the wall” unfortunately, I am going to have..." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@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!

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
4 replies
jennifer28 | @jennifer28 | Sep 1, 2023

Walk-in shower with seat
Stay active
Be computer literate to be able to reach out to friends and family
Meet friends/family for coffee or lunch
Use your local library
Keep your phone or some contact device with you in case of accident
Try to eat healthily

REPLY
kaylin7 | @kaylin7 | Sep 1, 2023
In reply to @gingerw "-Zero clearance shower, that is, one you can step into, not into a bathtub/shower. -Arrange for..." + (show)
@gingerw

-Zero clearance shower, that is, one you can step into, not into a bathtub/shower.
-Arrange for a cleaning service if you feel you do not have the strength/ability to keep things as clean as you want them. And do this before it gets out of hand!
-Make sure you have adequate lighting for all tasks, so you are not straining, or being unsafe in doing tasks.
-Make friends in your neighborhood/community. Isolation is a very real thing, and keeping in communication with others is important for mental wellbeing.
-Try simplifying your life. What you do for entertainment, how you spend your money, how much you want to do. It's okay to not go 100 miles per hour all the time!
Ginger

Jump to this post

Call a homecare agency to help you. There are many agency's available. Medicare helps pay for the hourly rates.

Editor's Note:
Medicare Coverage and Home health services https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/home-health-services

Please note: A homecare agency needs to be Medicare certified in order to have some of the services covered. Be sure to check if Medicare covers costs of the home health services you wish to use.

REPLY
kimberlygg | @kimberlygg | Sep 1, 2023

This is such a good discussion. Love hearing the ideas. I will be following with great interest!

REPLY
kbd | @kbd | Sep 1, 2023
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@gingerw absolutely! I can see the “handwriting on the wall” unfortunately, I am going to have..." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@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!

Jump to this post

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.

REPLY
bunnybear | @bunnybear | Sep 1, 2023

I understand the comments regarding having first floor apartment. But recently I visited my 81 y/o sister in another state who has a two story apartment. I really got stronger in that two weeks visit. I wonder now if the ideal is not to have a two story if you can begin this while at least barely able to get up the stairs. Then you will develop the muscles needed to access upstairs and just stay much fitter in general. I am 83 with a spinal cord stimulator and HBP controlled by meds. I had a TKR 2 yr. ago. Walking a mile is difficult and my absolute limit.

REPLY
1 reply
SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Sep 1, 2023
In reply to @hiroko "You are very lucky being alone. I think when you feel alone, I would recommend going..." + (show)
@hiroko

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.

Jump to this post

@hiroko right now I cannot walk very far. My legs are getting weak from severe polyneuropathy. My doctor may send me for balance therapy soon, but until my legs improve I need to stick with short distances around a store or somewhere inside for now.

I like to eat out with family and friends too!

REPLY
2 replies
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