Smart Senior

What do you need as you go forward? Yes, you want to be independent, but what exactly does that mean?
Independent living has taken on a whole new meaning during our lifetime, and it means much more than stubbornly refusing to leave your own home.
Stubbornness has never been a good look. It did not work well for you when you were two, and it is not going to work well for you now. You are past the age when a rap on the knuckles was all it took to get your attention. If you are guilty of lapses in judgement now, you need to acknowledge that it is all on you.
You are not alone if you want to stay in your own home. The idea has become so popular that entire industries have cropped up to make this possible. Do your research. If you read about “universal design” or “aging in place,” you will begin to understand what is out there for you. Aging in Place is all about adopting a lifestyle that focuses on being healthy, active, and committed to your own safety.
Consider your basic needs as you move ahead. This is not something new; you have the same needs that have been driving you all along.
• You want to be able to take care of yourself and be independent.
• You want to be free of chronic illnesses or at least be able to manage them if they do occur.
• You want to know that someone, whether family or friend, cares about you.
• You want to be able to make choices about everything that impacts your life.
• You want to feel satisfied with your life.
Pretty lofty goals but look at them from an everyday perspective. Insert words like shopping, meal preparation, financial planning, doctor appointments, medication regimes, mobility, transportation, and home maintenance into the mix.
The basis of independent living is being able to confront problems and solve them. Therefore, your quest for independence will not be threatened if you admit to needing help. Admitting that you need help is the first step.