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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.

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babbsjoy | @babbsjoy | Apr 13 11:08am
In reply to @ladydoz "I have had a Genie bidet through Amazon for several years. It is cold water and..." + (show)
Profile picture for ladydoz @ladydoz

I have had a Genie bidet through Amazon for several years. It is cold water and is no problem once you try it. I was introduced to this bidet while staying at my son’s home. It is scary the first time as one has no idea of how it will feel. One just has to try it to know that the cold water is not freezing cold as it already is sitting in the pipe. I hope you father will try the cheaper cold water one.

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@ladydoz
Thank you! I’m thinking the same thing….we live in a sub tropical climate and most of the year the cold water is not cold unless you run it for a prolonged period. I think we might try what you suggested and go from there if he is dissatisfied….

And that way maybe I can get the work done on grab bars in a reasonable period of time and he won’t be without his bathroom too long……

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gravity3 | @gravity3 | Apr 13 12:16pm
In reply to @cmdw2600 "Mine was about $250 and my two handy brothers installed it. I would not want a..." + (show)
Profile picture for cmdw2600 @cmdw2600

Mine was about $250 and my two handy brothers installed it. I would not want a cold only option. Funny that my 11 year old grandson reports to his parents that he sits down to pee when he’s at Grandma’s because he loves the warm seat! I do too!

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Many of the bidet attachments have a warm water hookup as well.

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bridgeback2 | @bridgeback2 | Sep 10 4:41am

I just stumbled upon this post. The article is very helpful. Thank you for putting it all together.
The part about using technology really resonated with me, and I want to share my experience to make someone's life easier.

I'm a caregiver for my mom, who has Alzheimer's, and finding ways to keep her safe and connected has been a big challenge. I always try my best to keep her independent, the longer I can. We recently installed a JubileeTV box, and it is designed to make elderly life easier.

My mom gets confused with regular TV remotes, and she always presses the wrong button. This remote has 6 buttons, which is a lot simpler, but even if she makes a mistake, I can fully control the TV through my app. I also set up reminders for her medicine. For my peace of mind, I can check in on her with a built-in camera and do video calls anytime.
She also loves it because her grandkids can send her pictures that show up right on the big TV screen.

She feels more connected that way, and I am always at peace leaving home.

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