although we may have always been able to do three or more things at once: keep a spotless house, excel in a vocation, raise perfect children, be the model wife, while wearing pearls and high heels – well, it may be wise to conserve and prevent as we age. To the degree that you can afford, plan to get help to lighten your load, make your life safer, and free you to do fun things, charitable things, educational things, life-enriching activities. For more on this subject, read my previous article – 13 Ways to Remain Independent While You Age. For now, let’s talk about some practical ways to help us live well as we age alone.
Today we will be discussing the following:
- Practical Ways to Help Us Live Well as We Age Alone
- How to Simplify Your Life as You Grow Older
- Can I Continue to Live Alone as I Age?
- Shared living may be too much of a good thing.
- Senior Living and In Home Care Can Help
- Multiple types of care from which to choose are available when you decide to sell your home and/or move into senior housing.
- How Do You Prepare Financially As You Age?
How to Simplify Your Life as You Grow Older
- The Pandemic has taught most of us how easy it is to order and pick up – or have delivered – groceries. No more hauling large cartons of water bottles, plant fertilizer and such to the car in the heat. This has propelled my continuation of ordering most of my basics for the future. It is easy to unload from my trunk to the garage refrigerator, etc.
- Perhaps we will want to order meals delivered when we do not have plans to meet a friend with whom to socialize at that moment.
- Eating out with family and friends is probably one of the highlights of life when we no longer report for duty in the work-a-day world. Pick up a friend who no longer drives and make his/her day! Don’t hesitate to valet park. You have nothing to prove other than that you are able to accept changes gracefully, and to intentionally live a full life. Becoming older and living alone is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a great blessing.
- Hone new interests. Fight boredom. Be involved with helping others – there are so many ways. Call shut-ins and tell them some fun things going on. Be joyous. Be connected. Be inclusive. Be You! Continue reading for some practical ways to help us live well as we age alone.
If you would like to be forgiven by God, we invite you to watch the GREAT NEWS FOR YOU VIDEO on this page.
Can I Continue to Live Alone as I Age?
Independent. Most of us want to be independent. Children grow up and separate from parents and make their own lives. No matter how close we are, we all like to have our separate lives.
Everyone makes their own rules and routines. Only a married couple tries to conform to living together happily 24 hours a day. Continue reading for some practical ways to help us live well as we age alone. You can be in control of aging and living alone in your own home.
Shared living may be too much of a good thing.
This may be necessary. But most of us fear being a burden, fear causing a problem, – would much rather have added care in our home with supervision from our family and frequent drop in visits.
We want company, companionship, and some help, but not to be entirely dependent on kids. Life-styles differ. Time with family is for visiting, laughing, playing, loving. FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE, we might concur.
So thankful that my family is on the ready to do whatever the situation demands. Lord, help me be kind, thankful and loving in the final years of my life, accepting the inevitable and appreciating the undeserved help from my precious family.
Senior Living and In Home Care Can Help
Multigeneration living – even multigeneration housing – isn’t guaranteed to be successful just because it’s family. Children are stuck with us. Lifestyles change. Grandchildren start having babies and demanding time. We may feel pushed aside. It is time to put on our big girl panties and be the adult we really want to be.
Some of us may prefer having part time care in the home. I recommend a cleaning lady from today on! As often as you can afford. And, then as often as needed. Having someone come in to clean and help with bath and meals can add months and years to the time we can stay in our homes.
Continue reading for some practical ways to help us live well as we age alone.
Multiple types of care from which to choose are available when you decide to sell your home and/or move into senior housing.These are available once you decide you feel too aged to live by yourself.
Some are designed for the active and fun-loving seniors just looking for the freedom from home ownership (yards, repairs, insurance, etc.) Others are designed for those needing assistance. There is a plethora of choices. You may want to google some places so you can more easily acclimate to changes should they arise.
How Do You Prepare Financially As You Age?
This is a lifelong goal: to be able to pay our way to the grave. Many are financially comfortable and will make that goal easily. Others, even with the best of plans, find they are falling short of their goal. Here are some more practical ways to help us live well as we age alone.
- Whatever your age: get your finances in order today. Make a written list to leave for your heirs to know exactly what you have and where.
- I am assuming, of course, that you already have a will. Not having a will results in more grief, confusion, fighting and loss of funds than any other thing you may do. It’s your money: see that it goes where you want it to go.
- You may want to consider Long Term Care insurance. I like knowing that buffer is there. With planning and retirement accounts, your long-term care can be covered. However, it is very expensive, and we all fear that our money will be gone before we are. If this is a problem for you, check out Medicare.gov for options.
Get Your Affairs in Order and Enjoy Your Life as You Age and Live Alone
These things may change frequently. I have chosen to care for my own business as long as I can, with financial advice. My attorney has drawn up and we have activated Power of Attorney, Power of Medical Attorney, and of course an updated will and a list of Last Days Care and Giving.
These are not morbid. Life is short. This is the way to see that your financial plans are heeded and that assets go to the people/organizations that you choose.
It’s your life. Take care of these things with which God has blessed you. Don’t be a foolish woman/man. God has given you a sound mind. Pray for wisdom. Act today.
How Can I Face Old Age, Living Alone, Incapacities and Death with Serenity and Grace?
It is only because of God, who in His mercy sent his son, Jesus, to die for our sins and then raised him from the grave after death on the cross, and who makes us perfect by His Grace, through the gift of forgiveness and Everlasting Life. When we confess our sin, trust Jesus as our Savior, and confess Him as Lord, we are made ready to enter Heaven. When a believer takes his/her last breath, the next breath will be in Heaven – in the Glory and Presence of God.
As a believer, I claim that promise. We know that we may go through some times of pain and fear in this lifetime, but our future is perfect with God, the Creator and Redeemer. Reading the Bible, God’s holy Word, and praying daily allows us to draw closer to Him, to trust Him more fully in the days ahead, knowing that His Promise is True. And God cannot lie, for He is Truth.
With my future in God’s hands, my desire is to live each day here praising Him and pointing others to faith in Christ Jesus. I can age well and live alone.
There is so much ministry we can do from our home or from our room when we have a thankful heart, a joyful countenance, and abiding faith, and when we allow the Fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control – to enhance our lives and our influence. To God be all Glory!
