The cost of social care in developed economies such as the US and the UK is astronomical, with this increasing by 2.2% to £23.2 billion in actual terms during 2019/20 in Britain.
Because of this, it’s far from ideal when individuals have to seek out care, with many having to sell their homes and most valuable assets to fund their existence in a social care setting.
A far preferable alternative is for individuals or elderly loved ones to maintain their independence at home. But what steps can be taken to help achieve this objective?
#1. Remodel Your Home to Help with Assisted Living
As you grow older, you may encounter a number of challenges in the quest to live independently.
Many of these will be physical in their nature, so it’s important to be proactive when identifying your unique challenges and taking steps to mitigate these.
For example, let’s say that you’re struggling to stand up or spend extended periods of time on your feet. In this case, you could invest in stand aids for your home, which are highly accessible and provide stable support for the user’s body weight as they attempt to rise to their feet.
Stand aids are ideal for people with limited or restricted mobility, while they can also be used by both caregivers and patients themselves.
#2. Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle as Early as You Can
It doesn’t matter what age you are, if you’re concerned about having to reside in a care home, it’s important to address your fundamental lifestyle.
Two key elements to consider are diet and exercise, with these two concepts intrinsically linked and the former particularly important if you’re to avoid the grip of social care.
Make no mistake; eating a balanced and nutritious diet can have a highly positive impact on your quality of life at any age, with the consumption of a diverse range of vegetables, fresh fruit and fish providing the foundation for any healthy lifestyle.
In terms of exercise, it’s important to remain active and identify viable ways of keeping fit depending on your age, physical capacity and stamina.
#3. Maintain Your Mental Wellbeing and a Clear Sense of Purpose
Throughout life, you may experience periods of poor mental health when you’re depressed, stressed, anxious or simply lacking in motivation to succeed.
If possible, the ideal way to respond is to create a viable purpose in life, whether this is focused on pursuing a particular passion or a flexible way of earning money and putting your physical or mental skills to good use.
The same principle applies when you’re older, as identifying a clearly-defined purpose and pursuing this with enthusiasm can prevent you from becoming listless and apathetic as you grow older and help to optimise your mental wellbeing.
This, in turn, will translate into a superior state of mind and better physical health, making it far easier for you to live independently for an extended period of time.