Before thinking about whether you can continue to live on your own, you need to take a good look at yourself.
There are several things that need to be assessed. The first, and of course the most obvious, is how well you are managing right now. This means simple tasks that you likely take for granted. Can you get out of bed, toilet yourself, and get dressed without a lot of moaning and groaning? Seriously, if you are recovering from surgery, a stroke, or have just stiffened up a bit, everyday tasks like buttoning a shirt or pulling on socks can be challenging. Beyond that, can you walk without fear of falling? Can you go from sitting to standing without tipping over a table?
The other criterion includes pretty much everything else. It involves intricacies like shopping, meal preparation, paying bills, using the telephone, cleaning your house and doing yard work. Think about that for a few minutes.
If someone asks how you are doing, what do you say? If you just say “fine” and dismiss their concerns, you may be doing yourself a disservice. If you feel insulted or defensive when someone asks if you need help, or dares to offer a suggestion, you are in serious denial.
Stop interpreting suggestions as criticisms and be grateful that others care about you. Nobody is trying to put you on the spot. Stop bristling and just say thank you. Give their “new-fangled” ideas some careful consideration.
Are you still saying, “how hard can it be?” To be honest, it can be very hard indeed. Your aging body will soon, if it hasn’t already, be telling you that “aging really isn’t for sissies.” Physically, aging sucks, but it happens to everybody.
Once you get over being stubborn and open yourself to accepting help, you can take the “bull by the horns”. With a little bit of help, a lot of determination, and some good common sense, you can implement changes that can help you remain independent for a very long time.
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