Most healthcare professionals will be aware of the benefits associated with the preservation of independence for their older patients.
Remaining at home can give older adults a sense of independence, freedom and identity, and allows them to retain their privacy and stay in control of their lives.
Maintaining this sense of control can help promote feelings of purpose, achievement, and self-worth. Additionally, living at home, even when alone enables seniors to stay connected with family, friends, and the community, which is essential for social support.
As Dr Ngaire Kerse notes in her article titled “Independence in older age requires a lifetime of independence” (the opening story in Issue 1 of A Guide To Supporting Independence In Older Adults), functional independence for older adults depends on a number of factors, including regular physical activity, pleasant home environments, interacting with supportive and positive people, feeling a sense of purpose, having autonomy in decision-making, keeping the brain stimulated and having optimal management of health conditions.
Despite having all these elements in place, seniors may still face threats to their independence, such as falls, accidents, respiratory disorders, and heart conditions. Those who live alone can be particularly vulnerable. While some of these threats are unavoidable, appropriate measures can be implemented to minimise the impact of such threats on senior independence.
New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa has published a series of articles concerning the issues facing older patients. Now, with the support of Hato Hone St John, we have compiled many of these articles into useful guides. To date, two guides have been published and are available for download or online viewing.
We intend for these publications to serve as a useful resource in supporting the independence of your older patients, particularly those who, by choice or circumstance, live alone.
