Why is it important for an older person to retain their independence?
According to the latest Office for National Statistics figures, for December 2017 to February 2018, just under 1.2 million people over the age of 65 were still in work. That’s out of a total UK workforce of 32.3 million and represents 10.2% of the entire age group. Compare that to 1992, when data for over-65s were first collected and just 5.5% of the age group was still working.
It’s impossible to know why this is. Perhaps it’s due to the rise in cost of living. Perhaps it’s because less manual careers allow for people to continue as they become older. Or perhaps it’s because seniors are keen to retain independence in their daily lives for as long as possible.
Whatever the reason, there are plenty of benefits to be seen for elderly people who are able to enjoy independent living for as long as possible.
The benefits of independence
Self-worth and maintaining a sense of self
Consider the solicitor who has gone to work every day for the last 50 years, supporting members of his community. He enjoys his job and his sense of who he is is so wrapped up in his role that to untangle them in order to retire is terrifying to him.
Finding a way to continue in some capacity, or finding another outlet for that need, perhaps voluntary work or community work will help him to hold his head high and retain his place in society. Not to mention giving him a purpose in life and a regular sense of accomplishment.
A feeling of being in control
Often we find that one of the hardest things about ageing is the lack of control that surrounds it. No matter the lifestyle choices and healthy decisions we make, there are no guarantees that we’ll retain good physical health in the future.
Remaining independent and in your own home can help you to regain some sense of control. Over your environment, how you spend your time, the foods you eat and even the people you surround yourself with.
For many older people, the idea of having that control taken from them can lead to anxiety and poor mental health.
Maintaining health and fitness
Without moving around and undertaking some form of physical activity in your daily routine, muscle mass is soon lost, and with it strength. And that can lead to chronic pain, injuries and falls.
Have you heard the saying ‘use it or lose it’? Physical activity is a habit. And it needs to be practised regularly. Since the pandemic, we’ve heard many stories about people who stopped going out so much and are now less inclined to do so. That will almost certainly impact their ability to stay active into the future. Even if it’s just around your home, take a few more steps each day.
Keeping your memory sharp
There are plenty of ways an independent lifestyle can boost brainpower. From moving around more so that more blood flows to the brain, to choosing brain healthy, nutrient-rich foods. Keeping up with that daily Wordle or cryptic crossword could make all the difference, too.
Research shows that when a person is keeping their mind and body active, they’re less likely to develop certain illnesses such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, diabetes and heart disease.
Preventing loneliness and isolation
Get out and about, keep up with favourite hobbies and social activities, even if it’s simply meeting your mate in the pub for a pint once a week.
Anything that keeps you interacting with others and enjoying your time will be great for your mental health and will help to combat loneliness and isolation as you head into older age.
Be open to independence aids
A lot of people associate independence with the idea of staying in their own home. But for some, the natural effects of ageing, loss of sight or a reduction in balance, for instance, can make living independently not just worrying, but unsafe.
From stair lifts to grab rails, a wet room bathroom refit or even an emergency alarm system, it can be difficult to come to terms with the fact you need some extra help around the place. But by embracing technology and physical aids on offer you may find you’re able to stay living in your own home, alone, enjoying your quality of life for longer.
Choose the right caregivers
Unfortunately, a time may come when you need to look at the care options that are available to you. Whether that’s residential care, nursing care or domiciliary care.
Employing long-term care in your home could give you exactly the support you need and be one of the best ways to remain independent and live at home for longer. And with a flexible care package that is regularly assessed, the care you receive can adapt and change as you need it to in the future.
At Promedica24, our carers are trained to support you to maintain independence in your daily activities as far as possible. They won’t ‘take over’ and do everything for you. If you feel you want to, and are able, to carry out necessary household and personal care tasks, we will actively support and encourage you, no matter how long it takes. Whether that’s taking you along to the grocery store to select your fruit and veg personally, or handing over the chef duties so you can show off your skills.
We understand that there are great benefits in retaining your independence for as long as possible and we make it our mission to ensure that happens.
More from our blog
Caring for an ageing relative? Here’s how to take care of your own wellbeing
Caring takes its toll. It doesn’t matter whether you’re charged with a child who has special education needs, a friend with a terminal diagnosis or an ageing parent with a degenerative disease. The challenges may be different, but the impact on your health, your daily life and ultimately your freedoms will be very similar. And […]
Read More
Dementia umbrella terms
Did you know there are more than 100 forms of dementia? And almost all of them affect the brain, body and behaviour in different ways. Currently the seventh leading cause of death in the US, dementia is one of the major causes of disability and dependency for adults worldwide. But it is not just those […]
Read More
The Mental Capacity Act 2005
When we’re young, working and busy bringing up a family or travelling the world, it can be impossible to think that one day things will be very different. It’s hard to imagine being unable to communicate with loved ones, make rational decisions or in some cases even hold eye contact. But this is a situation […]
Read More