Independence – Important At Any Age

By Mike Cooper

Do you remember when you were 6 years old and you wanted to ride your bike to school by yourself? All you could think about was having that freedom to go somewhere by yourself. When you turned 16, you just wanted the car keys so you had the freedom to pick up your friends and go to the big game without having your parents drive you.

The same is true as you get older. Independence is important at any age! Seniors want the same freedoms that they remember wanting from their youth. They want to be able to live where they want, go where they want and do those things when they want. In some cases, as with physical disabilities, forgetfulness and memory loss, that may not be possible for safety reasons.

By making 3 changes to their environment, you can help an older adult stay independent for longer and help improve their well-being.

1. Safety Needs. Add grab bars in the bathroom, night lights in strategic places, and pick up loose throw rugs. You can help an older adult stay safe by reducing some potential trip/fall hazards.
2. Social Needs. Well-being is linked to social and emotional support. Your loved one may not have as many friends close to call on because of their health issues, a move or possibly death. Getting your senior loved one involved in some social activities will improve their mood and help them feel more independent. Whether they come to Naperville Senior Center, volunteer or get involved in church activities, it is important for them to be around other people. (See our blog, 5 Benefits of Being a Social Senior.)
3. Health Needs. Listen to your loved one when they talk how they feel and be and advocate for at doctors’ appointments. It is easy to dismiss an ache or pain, but if there is a persistent problem, take note. It is better to be proactive than reactive. If an older adult physically doesn’t feel well for a long period of time, that will affect their well-being and start to create a downward spiral affect. If an older adult feels good, they will be more active and able to take care of themselves.

From an early age, we all want to be independent. That doesn’t change as we get older. We should do all we can to help seniors safely stay independent longer.

Cardio Exercise

Our Members are welcome to be as independent as they can safely be while they are with us. In addition to socialization, we encourage exercise, games and puzzles, singing, clapping, dancing and a host of other activities to provide mental and physical stimulation for our Members.

Contact us to get schedule a FREE 3-hour trial at our facility so you can see what we have to offer and understand the Naperville Senior Center experience, “Home Away From Home”.