Hey everyone, welcome to the daily Senior Safety
Advice podcast where we share simple and practical
tips to help you stay safe, independent, and
confident at home. I'm Esther Cain, a retired
occupational therapist, certified aging in place
specialist, and a dementia care specialist. And
I'm so glad that you're here with me today. For
more helpful resources, be sure to visit our
website at seniorsafetyadvice .com. As we come
to the end of March, I want to take a moment
with you just to pause. This month we've been
focusing on issues of mobility and independence,
and honestly that's a pretty big topic. Sometimes
it's even an emotional one. Because mobility
isn't just about walking. It's about freedom.
It's about confidence. It's about being able
to live your life your way. Now, here's something
that I think you might find interesting. Many
people don't stop to recognize the progress that
they've made. They focus on what's harder now,
what's changed, what feels frustrating. And I
get that. I understand it. I've worked with many
older adults who felt the same way. I feel the
same way sometimes, but today we're going to
gently shift that perspective. We're going to
look at what you have done, what you are doing,
and what that means for your independence. Okay,
let's start with a simple question. What is one
thing that feels a little easier today than it
did a few months ago? Maybe you're getting out
of a chair with a bit more confidence. Maybe
you're walking a little farther than you used
to. Maybe you remember to use your walker instead
of trying to push through without it. Safety.
Remember safety. And that matters. Another thing
that I've noticed over the years in working with
so many patients as an occupational therapist
is that progress is often quiet. It doesn't show
up as big or dramatic changes. It shows up in
small, steady steps, like choosing safer shoes,
turning on more lights at night, holding on to
a grab bar without feeling embarrassed. These
are not small things. These are very powerful
decisions. They are choices that protect your
independence. And this is important. Independence
is not about doing everything the way you used
to. It's about doing what matters to you today
safely. I've had clients tell me, I don't want
to use a cane because it means I'm getting worse.
I'm getting old. The cane didn't take away their
independence. It gives it back to you. It could
walk further, felt more stable, worried less
about falling, and all of that changes everything.
So as you reflect on this month, I want you to
think about the choices that you've made. Maybe
you started using a mobility aid. Maybe you rearranged
furniture in your home to create a clearer walking
path. Maybe you began began asking for help when
you needed it. All of that takes strength. All
of that takes awareness and it takes courage.
It takes a lot of courage to grow older and it's
because of all of these things. I want you to
give yourself credit for all of that. Now let's
talk about something that really doesn't get
talked about enough. The emotional side of mobility.
Losing some physical ability ability can feel
like losing control. It brings up fear, frustration,
sadness, and those feelings are all completely
normal. I've seen it so many times in my work
as an OT, but I've also seen something else.
When people focus on what they can do instead
of what they can't, they begin to feel more confident
again. They start to trust their bodies. They
move more. And when they move more, they stay
stronger. It actually becomes a positive cycle.
So here's a gentle idea. Instead of asking, what
can't I do anymore? Try asking yourself, what
can I do safely today? And how can I do it safely?
Use the right tools, the techniques. You know,
speak with an occupational therapist, a physical
therapist. Get the recommendations. The services
are all out there. Use them. Those questions
can change everything. Now, here's a practical
thing that you can try. Take a few minutes today.
Look around your home. Notice the spaces where
you feel most confident. And notice the spaces
where you don't feel so confident. That awareness
is really very powerful because once you see
it, you can improve it. Maybe it's things like
adding a nightlight in the hallway. Maybe it's
placing a chair near the entryway so that you
can sit and put your shoes on safely. Maybe it's
installing a grab bar in the bathroom or handrails
up your two, three steps to your front door.
These small changes support your mobility. And
more important than that, They support your independence.
They help you to stay as independent as possible
for as long as possible. Being independent does
not mean that you do not use tools to help you
stay independent. Another thing that I've noticed
over the years, even amongst my friends, is that
the people who maintain their independence the
longest are not the ones who push through. I
hate that phrase. They are the ones who adapt.
They listen to their bodies. They make thoughtful
changes. They accept support when needed. And
that's not giving up, believe me. That's being
smart. That's being proactive. That's protecting
your future. So as we close out the month of
March, I want you to take a moment and acknowledge
yourself. Even if progress feels slow, even if
some days are harder than others, you are still
showing up. You are still trying and you're still
making choices that support your safety and your
independence. All of that matters more than you
might even realize. So here's my encouragement
for you today. Celebrate those small wins. Keep
making thoughtful choices and keep moving in
ways that feel safe for you and keep believing
that your independence is worth protecting because
it is. All right, I want to thank you so much
for being here with me today. If you found this
helpful, I invite you to visit seniorsafetyadvice
.com for more tips and resources to support a
safe and independent life. Share this podcast
with friends and family. And if you're looking
for aging in place professionals, be sure to
check out aginginplacedirectory .com. Don't forget
to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes.
And until next time, this is Esther wishing you
safety, confidence, and continued independence.