Moving is rarely a stress-free process. That's especially true for seniors who are downsizing, and who are faced not only with the prospect of relocating, but also paring down their belongings to fit into their new space. Whatever their reasons for downsizing, many older adults understandably find downsizing to be emotional and overwhelming. For that reason, it's important to be prepared and approach the downsizing process strategically.
How To Downsize Your Home
Here, we've prepared some downsizing tips to make the move less stressful (if not enjoyable!):
- Start Early. Not giving yourself enough time to downsize and declutter is the surest way to make an already-difficult process even more arduous. Make sure to budget plenty of time for sorting, packing, and moving. If you can, it may be wise to add an extra week or two to account for unexpected hiccups or obstacles.
- Be Systematic. Treat downsizing like you would any other major project or undertaking, and make a plan before getting started. Break the downsizing process down into smaller, more manageable tasks—for example, working through one room at a time and setting time-bound goals for yourself.
- Stay Organized. Minimize the mess and chaos by devising a system for sorting your belongings and sticking with it. For instance, you might keep separate piles of items that you intend to keep, sell, donate, or otherwise.
- Involve Family. Downsizing doesn't have to mean saying goodbye to your possessions forever. Consider inviting family members over to take things you no longer have space for, or pass along heirlooms or sentimental items. In addition to furthering your downsizing efforts, ensuring that special items stay with loved ones may help assuage any sadness you're feeling.
- Focus on the Positive. It's normal to feel a sense of loss when getting rid of your possessions or leaving your home. While it's important to honor these emotions, it's also important to remember what you're gaining: such as a new, cleaner space or more time to focus on the things that are important.
Spectrum Community Services is committed to improving the quality of life for low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Alameda County. Through financial assistance and other services, our goal is to support community members in building healthy, safe, and independent lives. Contact us to learn more about our services, or consider making a donation to support our work. We can't wait to work with you!
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When it comes to senior living arrangements, many people are under the impression that aging in place means staying exactly where you are. In reality, that's not quite the truth. Often, aging independently means making a transition to a more stable living arrangement. Here, we'll explore some of the circumstances and reasons that might prompt seniors to move or downsize to age in place—as well as how to tell when the time is right for you.
Moving and Downsizing
Being able to live comfortably and independently isn't only contingent on individual factors. For older adults, environment and circumstances also play a huge role in their ability to age in place. Below are some of the most common issues that many seniors encounter when weighing their options:
- Home ownership is expensive, particularly for those who live in larger or older homes, and many seniors tend to see a reduction in income after retiring or transitioning to fixed income. On top of that, health conditions or medical bills can make it more difficult for some older adults to continue making ends meet. Moving and downsizing to a smaller house or apartment can help save a lot of money in upkeep, utilities, and property taxes.
- Stairs, hard-to-reach storage spaces, and difficult-to-access toilets and showers can all pose potential hazards for seniors who experience mobility issues. While some homes only need minor modifications to make them safe or accessible for seniors, others present more serious obstacles to activities of daily living. In some cases, moving to a ground-floor apartment or an independent living community with built-in accessibility features is the safer (and smarter) option.
- Availability of Assistance. Many seniors are able to function on a largely independent basis, but require occasional help with more strenuous tasks or chores, or need someone close by in the event of an emergency. For individuals in these situations, it may be necessary to relocate to be nearer to a friend or family member, or to move into a senior living community with on-demand assistance.
When Is the Right Time To Downsize?
Everyone's situation and needs are different, and as such, there's no one-size-fits all rule for when you should consider downsizing or moving. However, the following questions may help give you an idea of whether your current home and/or location are sustainable:
- Are you able to easily perform activities of daily living?
- Does your home pose any potential fall hazards?
- Are you able to access all of the amenities and resources you need (eg, groceries, medical care/prescriptions)?
- Do you have reliable access to transportation?
- If you were to require assistance or have an emergency, would help be readily available?
- Do you feel lonely or socially isolated?
- Is your current living situation financially sustainable for the foreseeable future?
Spectrum Community Services is committed to improving the quality of life for low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Alameda County. Through financial assistance and other services, our goal is to support community members in building healthy, safe, and independent lives. Contact us to learn more about our services, or consider making a donation to support our work. We can't wait to work with you!
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Giving back to the community is an important way of making a positive change in the world and staying connected to the people around you. Not only does giving back make the community stronger, but studies have indicated that people who feel a sense of security and belonging in their communities tend to be healthier.
Regardless of your abilities or situation, there are always ways you can help make a difference—both in your community and the larger world. Here are a few ways of creating positive change and getting involved in the community to consider:
- Giving your time and energy to a cause or organization that needs help is an excellent way of making an impact. Look for opportunities to volunteer for nonprofits, or consider joining a local community event. In addition to helping the people around you, odds are you'll benefit too—studies have shown that people who volunteer have lower mortality rates. On top of that volunteering can have benefits for your mental health and can lead to networking opportunities that could even improve your career.
Looking for a rewarding volunteer opportunity? Spectrum is always looking for new volunteers for our senior meal and fall prevention programs! - Often, people assume that making a donation means giving money. While it's true that financial gifts can be incredibly useful for community organizations and nonprofits, they're certainly not the only way you can help. Many nonprofits) also accept in-kind donations of materials, food, clothing, or household goods. Check with nonprofits in your area and see what they need—it might be something you already have lying around.
- Support Local Organizations.
Not everyone has the means to donate their time, money, or goods. However, that doesn't mean that you can't still make a difference. For example, many nonprofits struggle with visibility and publicizing their services and events. For organizations in that situation, even sharing their posts on social media or spreading the word elsewhere can be extremely beneficial. Make a call to community service organizations near you and ask what you can do to support them.
Spectrum Community Services is committed to improving the quality of life for low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Alameda County. Through financial assistance and other services, our goal is to support community members in building healthy, safe, and independent lives. Contact us to learn more about our services, or consider making a donation to support our work. We can't wait to work with you!
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Falls pose a serious health hazard for older adults. Each year, around 3 million individuals end up in the emergency room because of falls. Of those, over 800,000 are hospitalized for conditions like head injuries or hip fractures.
As such, fall prevention is a crucial component of home and personal safety for seniors. We've written previously about how to fall-proof your home; here, we'll go over even more strategies for senior fall prevention to help keep you and your loved ones safe (and upright!).
How To Prevent Falls
Fall prevention is an ongoing process. Even after you've fall-proofed your home, it's important to continue maintaining your home environment for safety and actively working to reduce your risk. There are a few ways you can do this, including:
- Get Regular Checkups. Have your eyes and feet checked at least once a year. Talk to your doctor about any risk factors that might make you more prone to falls, such as chronic conditions, medications that affect your balance or coordination, and previous falls, and ask them for suggestions on how to manage those risks.
- Keep a Clean, Organized Home. Even if your home is properly fall-proofed, clutter on the floors can be a major tripping hazard. Be sure to keep things tidy or hire someone to help. Consider rearranging shelves, closets, and other storage space to ensure that everything you need is easily accessible.
- Have a Plan. Falls happen even despite our best efforts to prevent them. Work with a caregiver, doctor, or other professionals to ensure that if you do fall, you know what to do to get help quickly. Remember that depending on the extent of your injuries, you may not be able to get up or move. Keep your cell phone with you at all times, or invest in a medical alert device. Consider setting up a daily check-in system with a family member or friend, and ask them to alert authorities or check on you if they don't hear from you.
Spectrum Community Services is committed to improving the quality of life for low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Alameda County. Through financial assistance and other services, our goal is to support community members in building healthy, safe, and independent lives. Contact us to learn more about our services, or consider making a donation to support our work. We can't wait to work with you!
The goal of Spectrum’s Fall Prevention Program is to teach our older adult population how to recognize, and reduce, the factors that lead to falls. With a combination of evidence-based fitness and educational programming, we help older adults identify their fall risks. We work to help them make the physical improvements, behavioral changes and environmental modifications that will keep them fall free. Visit our website at www.SpectrumCS.org for more information about the Fall Prevention Program or click HERE to see current program offerings.
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As people age, it's not uncommon for them to feel as though their social circles are shrinking. There are many reasons for this: retirement, living alone, lower energy levels and/or mobility issues, grown children who live elsewhere, and of course, the social distancing measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But whatever the cause, the result is often the same: on average, older adults are at a higher risk for loneliness and social isolation. And, as we'll discuss next, this can be dangerous.
Seniors and Social Isolation
Social isolation does much more than affect your mood. In fact, there's a large volume of research connecting social isolation to a long list of health issues. One study by the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) found that seniors who experience prolonged social isolation are at significantly higher risk for dementia, heart disease, stroke, and death.
In light of these findings, social support and community involvement aren't luxuries for seniors. Rather, they're an integral part of the healthy, independent aging process. Having a social community has been associated with better health outcomes, higher levels of activity, and more positive moods for older adults. On top of that, having a social network can also provide seniors with a sense of purpose and a support network in the event of loss or health issues.
How To Connect Seniors to Community
Many senior living and retirement communities offer opportunities for seniors to socialize with their peers. However, help for isolated seniors who have chosen to age in place can be trickier. Below are a few ideas on how older adults can stay connected:
- Join a hobby or interest group
- Sign up for group fitness classes, or find a walking buddy
- Attend community events, such as religious services, farmers' markets, or public concerts
- Spend time at community centers
- Take advantage of senior meal services (both in-person and delivered)
Spectrum Community Services is committed to improving the quality of life for low-income families, seniors, and individuals in Alameda County. Through financial assistance and other services, our goal is to support community members in building healthy, safe, and independent lives. Your tax-deductible gift helps fund vital programs. Visit our website for more information, or contact us to learn about current volunteer opportunities. We can't wait to work with you!
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