3 Tips For Helping A Beloved Elderly Relative Live With Independence

As we get older and into our golden years, we have all the wisdom of a live lived, and have no qualms about being who we really are. Yet it’s also true that due to the progression of time, it’s common for us to slow down a little, and for our living needs to require a bit of support.

We all want to give our loved ones the support and comfort we would all appreciate in later life, but how we achieve that on a practical level can differ. An overarching goal of helping them feel more independent and comfortable in their home or living areas (depending on if they live in a retirement community or not) is usually wise.

Of course, the best daily scheduling like planning their bill payments, going for walks, and family visits are worthwhile. But there are also measures to help them feel more autonomy and independence as time goes on. In this post, we aim to help you achieve that:

Consider More Artificial Decorations & Flowers

Fresh flowers are lovely, but they can become a bit of a chore when you’re getting older. Having to change water, trim stems, and clean up fallen petals might feel like more work than joy on some days. Artificial flowers take away all that fuss while still bringing color and brightness into living spaces, and they’re great to decorate areas your relative can’t clean so often.

Good quality artificial flowers these days look quite realistic, and they’ll last for years without any attention at all. Your loved one can enjoy having something beautiful to look at without worrying about keeping plants alive or dealing with the maintenance side of things.

Add In Accessibility Features

Small changes around the house can make daily life so much easier, but you don’t have to remove all decoration for function, everything look clinical or institutional. If you install grab bars in the shower, better lighting in hallways, or lever handles on doors, it helps people move around their own homes with confidence.

You might start with just a few modifications and see what makes the biggest advantageous change. A shower seat or some non-slip mats could be all it takes to help someone feel secure in their bathroom again, so be sure to engage in that dialogue with your loved one to see the benefits at hand.

Keep A Solid Routine & Show Up Reliably

Older adults often appreciate knowing what to expect and when, so keep the usual visits or phone calls steady, as it’ll give them something to look forward to and help structure their weeks. You could set up a standing coffee date or grocery shopping trip that becomes part of both your routines.

Being reliable matters more than being available all the time, though. If you say you’ll call on Sunday afternoons or stop by every other Wednesday, following through on that creates trust and security. Your loved one can plan around your visits and count on having that connection, which we all need as we get older.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily help a beloved elderly relative deal with new independence.