Independence is one of the most beautiful aspects of the human experience. It allows us to craft the lives we wish to live. It is important to maintain your autonomy for as long as possible. People often associate reaching advanced age and retirement with a loss of independence, but fortunately, it does not have to be this way.
Securing a comfortable retirement is a difficult and heard-earned undertaking. Once you have achieved this ambitious goal, you should be able to enjoy more freedom, not less. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to maintain your autonomy in retirement.
Pursue Physical Fitness
Mobility-related challenges are some of the most common age-related factors that can lead to reduced autonomy. If it is difficult for you to get around without depending on others for support, you lose a considerable amount of independence. Maintaining your physical health and staying active can help you maintain your mobility later in life.
Whether it’s swimming laps in the pool, doing cardio workouts on a treadmill or elliptical, or even taking a jog or walk around the neighborhood, you must commit to regularly getting up and getting moving.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
As we get older, our bodies tend to become more vulnerable. This is due in part to the decline in bone density that begins around the age of 50. This can lead to complications like osteoporosis, which makes bones more fragile and prone to fractures. These factors can put you at risk for an injury that may affect your autonomy and require ongoing medical attention and support.
To help maintain the strength of your bones, be sure your diet includes plenty of calcium, vitamin D, potassium, and protein.
Avoid Social Isolation
It may seem ironic that maintaining your independence requires the presence of others, but maintaining social connections is extremely important to people of all ages. But those of advanced age tend to find maintaining those relationships to be a significant challenge later in life.
The truth is that the likelihood of isolation increases as we age; in addition to loneliness, isolation can also lead to health problems.
According to the National Institute of Aging, “Research has linked social isolation and loneliness to higher risks for a variety of physical and mental conditions: high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, a weakened immune system, anxiety, depression, cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease, and even death.”
Consider Senior Living
There is a common misconception that moving to a senior living community means sacrificing independence. However, in many cases, it has quite the opposite effect.
For example, moving to an independent living community can actually help you achieve more freedom in retirement. Not only does it free you from the day-to-day demands of owning a home, but it can also help you accomplish the previous three goals.
Reputable independent living communities will have on-site fitness centers and opportunities to stay active. They will also provide delicious yet health-conscious meals and provide a social structure of friends and neighbors. As you begin to need more care and feel like your autonomy is at risk, you should consider assisted living. This option is very similar to independent living but allows you to receive the help you need quickly and discreetly so you have more time and energy to do the things you love.
If you would like to learn more about a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) based in Ontario, CA with independent and assisted living, contact Inland Christian Home. Call us today at (909) 983-0084 or reach us online.