Independence is a major factor in quality of life. No one likes to be dependent on other people, and seniors who lose their ability to live on their own often experience serious emotional distress. These six ideas are all effective for helping you encourage your aging loved one to be more independent so he or she wakes up each day with a positive perspective. 

1. Create a Balanced Schedule

A routine makes it easier to keep up with things such as when to take medication or go to an appointment. However, you should also make sure your loved one’s day isn’t overloaded with tedious things. Help your loved one create a schedule that leaves room to enjoy life. For instance, you might not want to schedule medical appointments each day of the week. Leaving one day free allows your loved one to relax and focus on his or her mental health. 

2. Make Healthy Living Fun

The healthiest seniors tend to live independently the longest. You can help your loved one stay healthy by changing his or her perspective about eating and exercising. For instance, your loved one might be able to do more enjoyable forms of exercise, such as dancing, rather than walking on a treadmill. 

Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional home care services. Assisting Hands Home Care is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.

3. Set Goals for Their Progress

Your loved one may need assistance with seeing the benefits of staying independent. Encourage your loved one to create a goal to measure his or her progress. For instance, your loved one may want to go on a short vacation to a preferred destination but needs to work on his or her health to reach this point. A simpler goal would be to recover enough from an injury or illness to prepare a meal with assistance.

Living independently is important for seniors who want to maintain a high quality of life. For some, this simply means receiving help with tasks that have become more challenging to manage over time. Even when families have the best intentions, they may not have the time to provide the care their elderly loved ones need and deserve. If your loved one needs help for a few hours a day or a few days a week, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a trusted provider of at-home care Phoenix seniors can depend on.

4. Increase Safety at Home

Older adults sometimes start to rely on other people when they no longer feel safe in their own homes. For example, your loved one might refuse to cook if he or she fears starting a house fire. Try adding safety features, such as an automatic shutoff device on the stove and handrails in the bathroom, that increase your loved one’s confidence about doing things independently.

5. Find Activities They Love

It’s also important to help your loved one find a reason to be independent. Filling your loved one’s days with enjoyable hobbies and activities provides motivation to maintain his or her abilities. If your loved one has lost interest in things he or she used to enjoy, help him or her find new hobbies, such as gardening or writing. 

6. Draw Closer during Challenging Times

The majority of older adults occasionally face life events that can threaten their independence. For example, an injury may temporarily require your loved one to rely on someone else’s help. However, having the assistance of a caregiver can help your loved one regain abilities faster so he or she can continue to age in place. 

Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities.