Aging at home: Advice for staying independent

Some aging adults can’t imagine living anywhere but their own home. But living alone can become challenging as people get older. Home maintenance tasks, transportation needs and other challenges can make it difficult to stay at home safely.

But there is hope. Members of the Mayo Clinic Connect Aging Well community — an online community where people discuss health conditions and offer support — share the things they’ve done to live independently longer.

Here are their tips for handling some common challenges of aging at home.

Home maintenance

As a person’s strength, hearing, vision or memory declines, it gets tougher to keep up with regular chores and home maintenance. And if a home isn’t properly cleaned or repaired, it can become dangerous to those living in it.

Here’s the Aging Well community’s advice for making home maintenance easier:

• Hire help. If your budget allows, arrange for grocery delivery, a cleaning service or lawn care.
• Take your time. When possible, do 1 chore each day, rather than having a marathon cleaning day each week. You also can break work into smaller tasks. For example, take your holiday decorations out of the closet one day. Then set them out over the course of the week rather than all at once.
• Declutter. Simplify your life and give away things you no longer need. It gives you less to maintain.
• Make cleaning easier. Use cleaning tools, like dusters, with long handles so you can clean low or high without bending or reaching. Put knickknacks in a cabinet behind glass doors, so they don’t have to be dusted as often.
• Get organized. Make a list of tasks that need to be done seasonally. This not only helps you remember what needs to be done but can save you time and money if hiring help.

Transportation

Sometimes giving up driving is necessary to keep yourself and others safe. But the ability to travel to places that support health and well-being, like medical appointments and social activities, is important for older adults.

In fact, research shows that, without transportation, seniors have a lower sense of well-being and fewer opportunities for physical activity.

Here’s how the Mayo Clinic Connect Aging Well community recommends getting around without a car:

• Look into community transit. Some communities offer free or low-cost transportation to grocery stores and senior centers.
• Get a bus pass. Don’t overlook the city bus as an easy way to get around.
• Use ride shares. Services like Uber and Lyft can take you from door to door.
• Move to a walkable area. You may be able to have the independence of your own home and have a short walk to groceries, pharmacies and restaurants.
• Ask friends or family. Many people will gladly give people they love a ride.

Social isolation

About 1 in 4 adults over age 65 feels lonely, which is cause for concern.

Studies show that loneliness can increase a person’s risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes and dementia in much the same way that smoking and inactivity can.

Here are some tips from Mayo Clinic Connect Aging Well community members who live alone.

• Meet your neighbors. If you’re able, go for a walk and chat with the people you see. Consider exchanging phone numbers. That way you have someone nearby you can call if you need help.
• Find your community online. Look for neighborhood or community groups on Facebook or NextDoor to meet people in your area.
• Take a fitness class. Make two healthy moves at once. Group fitness classes help you build strength while connecting with other people.
• Join a group. You might find clubs or activities you enjoy at your area senior center or faith-based community.
• Volunteer. Planting trees, helping children read, and walking animals are great ways to connect with others and gain a sense of purpose.
• Get a pet. If you’re able to care for one, a pet can provide companionship. Pet owners are more likely to get to know people in the neighborhood than people without pets.
• Use the internet. Computers and tablets allow you to stay connected through email and video calls. You could even reunite with people from your past on social media.If you’re not comfortable around a computer, ask a friend or visit the local library for help.

Fall prevention

One fear among people living alone is falling and not having help. And it’s right to be wary of falls: About 1 in 4 adults over age 65 falls each year, leading to injury and even death.

Mayo Clinic Connect Aging Well community members suggest these tips for staying stable on your feet — or getting help quickly if a fall happens.

• Keep moving. Maintaining your strength and endurance as you age can help prevent falls. So keep walking, working on balance and improving muscle strength. One good exercise is to sit in a chair, then stand up and repeat.
• Keep your phone close. Turn on your phone’s voice commands. This allows you to call for help even if your phone is across the room. Some smartwatches also detect falls and allow you to make calls. You also can buy devices that detect falls and alert your emergency contact or emergency services.
• Organize for convenience. To avoid stepstools, which can lead to potential injuries, put heavy items or items you use frequently in easy-to-reach places. That might mean decluttering your kitchen, closet or garage to avoid having to use the top shelves.
• Install good lighting. Make sure you can see where you’re going at night, which might mean putting nightlights in the hallway or bathroom. Bright overhead lights might help you see what you’re doing in the kitchen or your workshop.
• Remove trip hazards. Bright overhead lights also reduce the need for table lamps and their cords that can be trip hazards. Consider getting rid of loose rugs and clutter and installing grab bars in the bathroom.

Forgetfulness

Getting older often comes with having “senior moments,” like forgetting to close the garage door or put out the trash. This type of forgetfulness is a normal, though sometimes frustrating, part of aging.

Here are some community tips for keeping forgetfulness from affecting your independence.

• Write yourself notes. Whether it’s a list of items to take when you leave the house or a sticky note reminding you to pick up a friend at noon, write it down. A magnetic dry-erase board on the fridge can be a good spot for reminders.
• Set alarms. Don’t assume that you’ll remember to take dinner out of the oven. Use the timer. You also can set reminders on your smartphone.
• Use technology. For example, you can set a smart garage door opener to close your garage door after a certain amount of time. Or use a smart speaker like an Echo device to remind you about your lunch date on Thursday or when it’s time to take your medicine each day.
• Do it immediately. If you think of something that you need to remember to do, just do it. That way you can’t forget.

Mayo Clinic on Healthy Aging

An easy-to-understand yet comprehensive guide to help people live longer and more purposeful lives.

Discover more Healthy Aging content from articles, podcasts, to videos.