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Old age is a time for adapting to myriads of changes both within and in your immediate environment. Frail health; limited mobility; impaired use of faculties; dementia and much more compel you to increasingly depend on others for your daily needs.
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Old age is a time for adapting to myriads of changes both within and in your immediate environment. • Frail health; limited mobility; impaired use of faculties; dementia and much more compel you to increasingly depend on others for your daily needs. • And when assisted living is the need of the hour, you must consider moving to a care home instead of risking it out on your own. • The correct decision may make all the different between life and death for you in your hour of need.
Staying At A Home Does Not Mean Compromising On Your Independence • The very term 'assisted living' conjures up images of being dependent on others for your basic necessities. • While this is true to some extent, it does not mean that you have to give up your independence completely. • There are several ways by which you can maintain your independence and sense of dignity despite being dependent on others.
Maintain Contact with the Outside World • Maybe you are at an old age home because you cannot move around on your own. • But this does not mean you should be absolutely cut off from friends and family members. • Opt for a home that is easily accessible with extensive transport links so that visitors can drop in often. • This way, you will not be entirely dependent on caregivers for communicating your needs or for just some plain gossip!
Maintain your Mobility • If you are mentally alert and have some degree of fitness, do not refrain from moving around on your own for some time on a regular basis. • Try and visit entertainment spots nearby or just move about in between the floors or within the premises of the care home. • If you are wheelchair bound, check if the home has a lift and appropriate access routes for you to move around independently.
Socialize with other Residents • Socializing with other residents is one of the best ways of maintaining your independence even while staying here. • When you interact with like-minded people in similar position, you are infused with renewed hope and empathy. • As you make new friends and share common experiences, you will be in a better position to cope with your situation and improve your self-esteem.
Bring in Some of your Own Possessions • Simple day-to-day objects like a photograph or a decorative item or even a favorite bowl can go a long way in personalizing your immediate environment. • And when you manage to create a part of your old life, you feel more independent and stimulated to live on your own as much as possible instead of depending on caregivers.
Be Tech Savvy • Old age does not mean you should not keep pace with technology. • Mobile phones and the internet are some of the best ways of staying connected with your loved ones 24x7x365. • If you don't have a personal access to the internet, check to see if the care home has one and avail of it as often as possible.
