Taking Care of Yourself Holistically While Aging in Place

Taking Care of Yourself Holistically While Aging in Place

It can be easy to oversimplify aging as a time in your life in which you can no longer function on your own. This, of course, is extremely incorrect. In today’s modern world, aging in place is more viable than ever as long as you take a holistic approach to self-care.

Tips on Aging in Place Holistically

When one decides to live at home instead of an assisted living community, the first consideration is always whether they are physically able and safe to do so. That makes sense because of how crucial that factor is to maintaining one’s health. However, there are other facets of your life that you need to pay equal attention to as well.

It can be hard to balance different components of your wellbeing when you’re aging in place. Unlike if you were to live in an assisted living community, your routines, activities, and overall living conditions are up to you.

So, here’s a guide to holistic aging when you’re living at home to make it less overwhelming.

Protect Your Body

Exercise can lower your risk of disease and chronic conditions, improve your balance and mobility, and enhance your mental health. If you have always been active, joining the 60 and above crowd does not mean you have to give up weight lifting, running, or other workouts. Just make sure you consult a professional about adjustments you can make to keep you safe.

However, if you’re more new to exercising, there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. You can stay active via fun activities you may already be interested in such as dance classes, swimming, or yoga. Even taking brisk walks daily is a great start.

7 Tips for Comfortably Aging In Place - Vince Baiera

Eating clean is a non-negotiable for those who want to stay as healthy as they can as they age. When you establish healthy eating habits, you’re protecting yourself from disease, more like to stay energized throughout the day, and strengthening your body and mind.

Everyone’s nutritional needs are different. So, ask your doctor about the most important elements that should be found in your diet and stick to it.

Make Your Home Comfortable and Aging-Friendly

Home improvements that can prevent accidents and ensure that you can navigate your house comfortably are crucial to your overall well-being. There are tons of modifications you can do to make your lovely abode safe for you. Here are a few examples.

Add these to areas where falls and slips are most likely to occur, such as the bathroom and the stairs. Having these on your walls will make it easier for you to maintain your balance as you go about your day. They can also help you steady yourself if you feel like falling.

Having slippery floor surfaces can lead to falls for people of all ages. To make sure you can navigate your home comfortably and confidently without the fear of slipping, get rid of all slipping hazards. This involves adding non-slip adhesives to slippery surfaces, such as the bathroom floor, and adding non-slip underlays for rugs and mats.

Another cause of falls is having one’s vision obstructed by bad lighting. This is why it’s important to have adequate lighting for all areas of the home. To be extra safe, opt for motion-activated lights or timer night lights so that you won’t find yourself fumbling around for the switch when it’s dark.

Having a step stool to help you get in and out of bed safely will help you start and end your day without any trouble. The step2bed is a great example of this. This product has steel grab bars that can help you keep your balance and a motion-activated light to make sure that you can see where you’re stepping. The step2bed’s extra-wide landing base, which has a weight capacity of 400 lbs, and height-adjustable steps ensure that seniors of almost any size can use it.

Keep Your Mind Sharp

Many elderly people experience a decline in their cognitive health. To avoid that, it’s important to always keep your mind active. Some ways to improve brain health, such as exercising and eating healthy, have already been mentioned. However, there are other activities you can do to keep your mind sharp.

Engage in hobbies and interests that challenge your brain. Take up hobbies that require problem-solving or critical thinking such as doing puzzles and reading books. Stay creative by making crafts, writing, or creating visual art. Try learning a new skill or language. You can even keep structured learning in your life by taking a class offered online or a local community center.

Mental Health is Key

With all the changes and new challenges seniors face, mental health problems are completely normal. Remember to take time for yourself to assess your feelings so that you have an idea of how to best address it.

One way to help alleviate mental health issues is to continue doing hobbies that make you happy, whether it’s something that keeps you active or something more creative. Another way is to stay connected to friends, family, and whoever else you consider a support system.

On the more practical side, establishing a daily routine is important too. It will give you more structure to your life, which is vital to feeling emotionally stable. Even the simple thing of having a consistent sleeping schedule or looking forward to leisure time you’ve set aside for yourself can help a lot.

With that being said, getting professional help when you’re feeling lost when it comes to your emotions is important. Whether it’s therapy or a support group, this can improve your perspective on how to keep yourself mentally healthy.

Strengthen Your Social Ties

Staying connected can be difficult when you age in place, especially if you live alone. As mentioned, having an active social life can improve your mental health and feelings of isolation.

Make it a point to schedule ahead bonding sessions with your friends and family to make less room for cancellations and changes in plans. It doesn’t have to be an elaborate event; something as simple as inviting your family for dinner or starting a creative project with your friends can be a great way to connect.

Another great tip is to embrace technology. If you’re not tech-savvy, the internet can be confusing. However, with social media giving you the power to stay connected with your loved ones on a daily basis, it’s worth learning the basics! Having a video call with a family member that lives far away from you or chatting with an old friend you haven’t talked to in years can make your life so much more colorful.

Strive for a Balanced Life

With the difficulties and changes that come with aging, it’s hard to keep track of what it means to look out for yourself, especially when you’re aging in place. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible, though. Keep these tips in mind and always pay attention to the various facets of your life to ensure that you can live out your senior years the best as you can.