As we age, the physical and mental limitations that the aging process brings about can easily lead to a feeling of losing control of the things in life that you love, such as your senior independence. But the good news is that independence doesn’t have an age limit. Older adults can easily take certain steps to allow them to maintain as much of their independence as they can for as long as possible.
Every senior knows well how all the various aches and pains that add up over life can make it hard to do the activities they love, whether it’s their favorite sport, or even just a walk around the park. There’s nothing that feels worse than being stuck on the sidelines due to a bad back, hurting knees, or other chronic ailments. The answer might lie with physical therapy and fitness. Regular activity, exercise, and therapy can help you relieve pain, rehabilitate injuries, and gain control of your body. Many gyms and similar places offer classes specifically geared towards seniors and the needs of an elderly body. Try signing up for a senior yoga class, tai chi, or aqua aerobics. This will allow you to strengthen your body, as well as get out of the house and meet new people while you’re at it.
As well as the muscles in your body that allow you to move around, the brain is itself another kind of muscle. It also requires regular use and exercise to keep it in shape. For older adults, brain deterioration is a very real threat, and can lead to memory loss, difficulty thinking, or even dementia. Fortunately, there are very simple and powerful ways to keep your brain engaged. Challenging yourself with a change to your routine, such as starting a new hobby, participating in a new activity, or engaging in regular mental effort like reading or doing games can help bolster your brain’s resilience. Reigniting your mind is as simple as taking a painting class, joining a book club, visiting a museum or other cultural site, and more.
One of the best ways to stay independent as an older adult is by staying social and connected. While it may seem counterintuitive to increase your independence by increasing your dependence, the fact is that building strong relationships and meaningful social connections can give you a greater feeling of purpose and belonging in life. This, in turn, can boost your overall health and increase your quality of life, allowing you to not only live longer, but better. While making friends is certainly hard as an adult, the internet allows for friendships to persist more deeply and meaningfully over long distances. Connecting with your loved ones for a video chat, sending emails back and forth, catching up about new developments, and more, are all easy enough with today’s technology. Your local senior center or adult learning center can help as well, allowing you to seek out classes and activities with groups of like minded and similarly interested people.