WEBVTT 00:00:00.720 --> 00:00:04.000 Hey everyone, welcome to the daily Senior Safety 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.620 Advice podcast where we share simple and practical 00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:10.539 tips to help you stay safe, independent, and 00:00:10.539 --> 00:00:13.580 confident at home. I'm Esther Cain, a retired 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:16.460 occupational therapist, certified aging in place 00:00:16.460 --> 00:00:19.300 specialist, and a dementia care specialist. And 00:00:19.300 --> 00:00:21.940 I'm so glad that you're here with me today. For 00:00:21.940 --> 00:00:24.339 more helpful resources, be sure to visit our 00:00:24.339 --> 00:00:29.089 website at seniorsafetyadvice .com. As we come 00:00:29.089 --> 00:00:32.310 to the end of March, I want to take a moment 00:00:32.310 --> 00:00:35.369 with you just to pause. This month we've been 00:00:35.369 --> 00:00:39.469 focusing on issues of mobility and independence, 00:00:39.890 --> 00:00:42.950 and honestly that's a pretty big topic. Sometimes 00:00:42.950 --> 00:00:45.929 it's even an emotional one. Because mobility 00:00:45.929 --> 00:00:48.890 isn't just about walking. It's about freedom. 00:00:49.130 --> 00:00:51.670 It's about confidence. It's about being able 00:00:51.670 --> 00:00:55.689 to live your life your way. Now, here's something 00:00:55.689 --> 00:00:58.409 that I think you might find interesting. Many 00:00:58.409 --> 00:01:01.210 people don't stop to recognize the progress that 00:01:01.210 --> 00:01:04.370 they've made. They focus on what's harder now, 00:01:04.489 --> 00:01:07.489 what's changed, what feels frustrating. And I 00:01:07.489 --> 00:01:10.310 get that. I understand it. I've worked with many 00:01:10.310 --> 00:01:13.280 older adults who felt the same way. I feel the 00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:16.260 same way sometimes, but today we're going to 00:01:16.260 --> 00:01:19.099 gently shift that perspective. We're going to 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:22.599 look at what you have done, what you are doing, 00:01:22.620 --> 00:01:26.819 and what that means for your independence. Okay, 00:01:26.819 --> 00:01:30.480 let's start with a simple question. What is one 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:33.700 thing that feels a little easier today than it 00:01:33.700 --> 00:01:36.939 did a few months ago? Maybe you're getting out 00:01:36.939 --> 00:01:39.459 of a chair with a bit more confidence. Maybe 00:01:39.459 --> 00:01:41.500 you're walking a little farther than you used 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:44.930 to. Maybe you remember to use your walker instead 00:01:44.930 --> 00:01:48.629 of trying to push through without it. Safety. 00:01:48.829 --> 00:01:52.629 Remember safety. And that matters. Another thing 00:01:52.629 --> 00:01:54.909 that I've noticed over the years in working with 00:01:54.909 --> 00:01:57.209 so many patients as an occupational therapist 00:01:57.209 --> 00:02:01.689 is that progress is often quiet. It doesn't show 00:02:01.689 --> 00:02:05.090 up as big or dramatic changes. It shows up in 00:02:05.090 --> 00:02:09.550 small, steady steps, like choosing safer shoes, 00:02:10.189 --> 00:02:13.289 turning on more lights at night, holding on to 00:02:13.289 --> 00:02:16.409 a grab bar without feeling embarrassed. These 00:02:16.409 --> 00:02:19.250 are not small things. These are very powerful 00:02:19.250 --> 00:02:22.330 decisions. They are choices that protect your 00:02:22.330 --> 00:02:26.250 independence. And this is important. Independence 00:02:26.250 --> 00:02:29.669 is not about doing everything the way you used 00:02:29.669 --> 00:02:34.050 to. It's about doing what matters to you today 00:02:34.050 --> 00:02:37.650 safely. I've had clients tell me, I don't want 00:02:37.650 --> 00:02:39.909 to use a cane because it means I'm getting worse. 00:02:39.909 --> 00:02:43.039 I'm getting old. The cane didn't take away their 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:47.020 independence. It gives it back to you. It could 00:02:47.020 --> 00:02:50.560 walk further, felt more stable, worried less 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:54.819 about falling, and all of that changes everything. 00:02:55.419 --> 00:02:58.780 So as you reflect on this month, I want you to 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:01.520 think about the choices that you've made. Maybe 00:03:01.520 --> 00:03:05.120 you started using a mobility aid. Maybe you rearranged 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:07.639 furniture in your home to create a clearer walking 00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:12.370 path. Maybe you began began asking for help when 00:03:12.370 --> 00:03:16.250 you needed it. All of that takes strength. All 00:03:16.250 --> 00:03:19.430 of that takes awareness and it takes courage. 00:03:19.789 --> 00:03:22.750 It takes a lot of courage to grow older and it's 00:03:22.750 --> 00:03:25.610 because of all of these things. I want you to 00:03:25.610 --> 00:03:29.090 give yourself credit for all of that. Now let's 00:03:29.090 --> 00:03:32.009 talk about something that really doesn't get 00:03:32.009 --> 00:03:35.949 talked about enough. The emotional side of mobility. 00:03:36.669 --> 00:03:39.849 Losing some physical ability ability can feel 00:03:39.849 --> 00:03:44.409 like losing control. It brings up fear, frustration, 00:03:45.030 --> 00:03:49.129 sadness, and those feelings are all completely 00:03:49.129 --> 00:03:52.069 normal. I've seen it so many times in my work 00:03:52.069 --> 00:03:55.509 as an OT, but I've also seen something else. 00:03:55.889 --> 00:03:59.389 When people focus on what they can do instead 00:03:59.389 --> 00:04:03.150 of what they can't, they begin to feel more confident 00:04:03.150 --> 00:04:05.949 again. They start to trust their bodies. They 00:04:05.949 --> 00:04:08.860 move more. And when they move more, they stay 00:04:08.860 --> 00:04:12.500 stronger. It actually becomes a positive cycle. 00:04:13.379 --> 00:04:18.199 So here's a gentle idea. Instead of asking, what 00:04:18.199 --> 00:04:22.660 can't I do anymore? Try asking yourself, what 00:04:22.660 --> 00:04:27.139 can I do safely today? And how can I do it safely? 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.860 Use the right tools, the techniques. You know, 00:04:32.040 --> 00:04:34.620 speak with an occupational therapist, a physical 00:04:34.620 --> 00:04:38.079 therapist. Get the recommendations. The services 00:04:38.079 --> 00:04:42.399 are all out there. Use them. Those questions 00:04:42.399 --> 00:04:46.439 can change everything. Now, here's a practical 00:04:46.439 --> 00:04:48.959 thing that you can try. Take a few minutes today. 00:04:49.459 --> 00:04:52.319 Look around your home. Notice the spaces where 00:04:52.319 --> 00:04:55.399 you feel most confident. And notice the spaces 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:59.160 where you don't feel so confident. That awareness 00:04:59.160 --> 00:05:02.160 is really very powerful because once you see 00:05:02.160 --> 00:05:05.620 it, you can improve it. Maybe it's things like 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:08.920 adding a nightlight in the hallway. Maybe it's 00:05:08.920 --> 00:05:11.879 placing a chair near the entryway so that you 00:05:11.879 --> 00:05:15.980 can sit and put your shoes on safely. Maybe it's 00:05:15.980 --> 00:05:18.980 installing a grab bar in the bathroom or handrails 00:05:18.980 --> 00:05:21.660 up your two, three steps to your front door. 00:05:22.459 --> 00:05:26.240 These small changes support your mobility. And 00:05:26.240 --> 00:05:29.560 more important than that, They support your independence. 00:05:29.660 --> 00:05:33.319 They help you to stay as independent as possible 00:05:33.319 --> 00:05:37.079 for as long as possible. Being independent does 00:05:37.079 --> 00:05:41.060 not mean that you do not use tools to help you 00:05:41.060 --> 00:05:44.220 stay independent. Another thing that I've noticed 00:05:44.220 --> 00:05:46.839 over the years, even amongst my friends, is that 00:05:46.839 --> 00:05:49.060 the people who maintain their independence the 00:05:49.060 --> 00:05:53.079 longest are not the ones who push through. I 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:55.699 hate that phrase. They are the ones who adapt. 00:05:55.899 --> 00:05:58.339 They listen to their bodies. They make thoughtful 00:05:58.339 --> 00:06:01.139 changes. They accept support when needed. And 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:03.600 that's not giving up, believe me. That's being 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:06.920 smart. That's being proactive. That's protecting 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:10.480 your future. So as we close out the month of 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:12.879 March, I want you to take a moment and acknowledge 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.220 yourself. Even if progress feels slow, even if 00:06:16.220 --> 00:06:19.120 some days are harder than others, you are still 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:22.100 showing up. You are still trying and you're still 00:06:22.100 --> 00:06:24.980 making choices that support your safety and your 00:06:24.980 --> 00:06:27.860 independence. All of that matters more than you 00:06:27.860 --> 00:06:30.939 might even realize. So here's my encouragement 00:06:30.939 --> 00:06:35.220 for you today. Celebrate those small wins. Keep 00:06:35.220 --> 00:06:37.959 making thoughtful choices and keep moving in 00:06:37.959 --> 00:06:41.060 ways that feel safe for you and keep believing 00:06:41.060 --> 00:06:45.000 that your independence is worth protecting because 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:48.870 it is. All right, I want to thank you so much 00:06:48.870 --> 00:06:51.509 for being here with me today. If you found this 00:06:51.509 --> 00:06:54.230 helpful, I invite you to visit seniorsafetyadvice 00:06:54.230 --> 00:06:57.810 .com for more tips and resources to support a 00:06:57.810 --> 00:07:00.750 safe and independent life. Share this podcast 00:07:00.750 --> 00:07:03.670 with friends and family. And if you're looking 00:07:03.670 --> 00:07:05.930 for aging in place professionals, be sure to 00:07:05.930 --> 00:07:09.379 check out aginginplacedirectory .com. Don't forget 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:12.120 to subscribe so you don't miss future episodes. 00:07:12.680 --> 00:07:15.379 And until next time, this is Esther wishing you 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:18.639 safety, confidence, and continued independence.