Life changes significantly year by year, and even if you are not doing the same activities as before it doesn’t mean you can’t make the most of your golden years while aging in place. We understand you can have overwhelming feelings that can cause you to isolate yourself and it’s not easy to find practical information to help you get over this, that’s why in this blog you will find ideas to apply in your day-to-day life.
One of the main reasons why you might have chosen to age in place is because you treasure your independence. You want to keep making choices about your daily life, how your home looks, and what you do each day. Aging in place lets you retain that sense of control.
Of course, staying in your own home means staying in a place filled with cherished memories. From the cozy nook where you enjoy your morning coffee to the garden where you’ve spent countless hours, our homes are repositories of our life stories.
Our homes aren’t just buildings; they’re full of emotions. Leaving behind the place where you’ve raised your family, shared laughter, and made lasting friendships can be incredibly emotional since is a part of your identity.
Topics Covered
- Sense of purpose
- Positivity is contagious
- Pets love unconditionally
- Stay involved in the community
Sense Of Purpose
First things first. Have you been feeling that your days are just passing by? Maybe you are a bit depressed and bored because there is not much happening around you. As we grow older, our bodies may not be as agile as they once were. Simple tasks like going up stairs, bending over, or reaching high shelves can become more difficult. This can be frustrating and may affect our daily routines. That’s completely understandable, the only thing you need is to set a purpose for yourself.
Start with your main purpose for this month, think about what is important for you, things that you like to do, those that you care about, and the ones that put a smile on your face just by thinking about them. Once you have that main idea you can focus your daily routine on it, if you put everything into perspective you will get to concentrate only on what truly matters, and you will see how monotony is going to be replaced with a healthy balance in your life.
Positivity is contagious
Recent research has shown that loneliness and isolation can negatively affect our mental and physical health. It can increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. You need to stay mentally and physically fit as you age, and social connections play a vital role. Having people around who make you feel appreciated and loved will give you endless joy. You are the only one who knows who are those beloved ones that make your heart feel warm, why not give them a call? Catch up with an old friend, or any family member that you miss, nowadays technology offers you many options so you can stay in touch with them even if they are far away.
Reaching out to neighbors is also a good idea. It’s always nice to have someone close to have at least a quick hi in the mornings from time to time. Another thing you can do is to think about friends to share interests with, you will love to spend time doing your favorite activities with someone else. Everyone wants a good quality of life in their senior years. Building and maintaining meaningful relationships, spending time with loved ones, and participating in social activities always contribute to happiness and a sense of purpose.
Pets love unconditionally
Are you a cat or a dog person? Or any other pet you like! You can visit a local shelter just to take a walk and if you want to take one little friend home even better. One of the most significant benefits of having a pet is the companionship they provide. Pets offer unconditional love and are always there to lend an ear (or a paw) when you need someone to talk to. This companionship can help combat feelings of loneliness and isolation, which can be common among older adults.
Having a pet is considered therapy, it can lower blood pressure and anxiety, and instantly boost your mood and well-being overall. It can also stimulate cognitive function. Since you have to remember feeding schedules, grooming routines, and other pet-related tasks your mind will stay active and engaged and you have to exercise daily which keeps your body moving too, isn’t that awesome? If you are concerned about any accident, you can always use our medical alert watch to enjoy your activities without that thought in your mind.
Pets offer unconditional love and acceptance, they don’t judge you, and they provide a source of comfort and affection that can be particularly meaningful in times of adversity or when you’re feeling down.
Stay involved in the community
Aging in place can make you feel lonely sometimes, that’s true but remember you are still part of a welcoming community where you can contribute a lot. In Canada, each province offers around 300 programs to find cultural, social, recreational, volunteer, and learning programs and even planned trips.
We know maybe those activities might sound challenging but all the professionals in charge are highly trained to create the perfect experience for you to enjoy your community and if you want to have peace in your mind we can contribute too, our medical alert devices are created for giving you independence while you have an active lifestyle.
So, take a look at your closest Senior Activity Centre and choose which program is the best one for you. By being involved in those activities you will share amazing moments and experiences with new people.
After reading all this information, did you realize how much you can enjoy your days? Being isolated is dangerous; it leads to health and mental issues without even noticing it, and being worried about accidents and unexpected health issues shouldn’t be something to worry about. You can always contact us, we have it covered.
The Senior Protection Team