Home Sweet Home
The road to independent living has many facets. The number one focus of course, is where you are going to live. That’s what this is all about, isn’t it? The desire to age in place is universal but coming to terms with how, what, when, where, and why will determine your success.
Your house can either be your best friend or your worst enemy. Unfortunately, it is often the latter, and it can easily become the reason why you end up somewhere that you don’t want to be.
I know you like your home just the way it is, but is it right for you? If you have been rejecting suggestions to renovate or move, you may need to ask yourself why. Do you think you are old to change or is something else going on, like old-fashioned stubbornness?
You are not alone if you have these feelings, but the decisions you make will indicate how determined you are to succeed. Every time you refuse to do something like wearing a hearing aid, wearing glasses, using a cane, or ordering a recliner that you can get out of, you are giving up a part of yourself.
A common reason why people are reluctant to change is that they are hiding something. Perhaps you are a hoarder, stuck in the past, or the idea of learning something new is just too much for you to deal with. The other misconception is the feeling that people are trying to take advantage of you, or that everyone wants to steal your “stuff.” I hate to tell you, but heirlooms or not, nobody wants your stuff. You will be lucky if you can give them away.
Self-confidence takes a beating when bad things start to happen to you, but deciding to take control is the first step toward getting it back. Senior proofing your life and your home (not unlike the measures you took to child-proof your home when your children were small) can make a difference.
Look at the “big picture,” and do everything you can to make independent living possible.
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