Why is Independence Important for Retirees?

At the heart of it, feeling independent is about having agency and seeing yourself in the decisions that shape your day-to-day experience. That goes from deciding what clothes you wear, what time you go to sleep and when you want to eat to who supplies your life insurance or where to put your savings. Big or small, each choice allows you to live authentically. Your retirement home should empower you to do that too.

With a Churchill Living retirement home, you choose privacy, security and a low-maintenance lifestyle within a welcoming community.

Tips for Staying Independent in Retirement:

Develop a Routine That Feels Like You

Retirement means lots of free time to do the things you enjoy, often more than you’ve ever had before. Structuring that time can help you adjust to the newfound freedom and make each day feel purposeful. Volunteer work, seeing family or taking classes all provide a schedule to work around.

Churchill Living retirement developments also offer events and activities for you to get to know your neighbours, such as community breakfasts, coffee and croissant meetups and bingo in the afternoon.

Live as Actively as You Can

It’s important to maintain strength, coordination and memory as we age, as we use these skills in everything we do, from walking to places to opening jars and fastening buttons. Naturally, with time our bodies slow down and these skills can deteriorate if we don’t look after them. Here are some activities that will help promote your mental and physical health as you get older:

Regular Exercise

That doesn’t always mean an intense workout, things like walking to the shops and gardening count as light activity. However, it’s still important to do moderate to high-intensity activities. Swimming at your local leisure centre, yoga and guided weight-lifting sessions with a trainer will help to keep you strong and mobile.

Arts and Crafts

Making things uses our imagination and helps with dexterity. Whether you try your hand at clay work, painting, or collage you’ll be keeping your mind sharp while making memories. Keep the things you make for your new home or give them as gifts for friends and family.

Brain Training

Studies show five minutes of brain training has a positive impact on mental wellbeing. If you have a smartphone or tablet, apps like Lumosity, Elevate and Memorado have plenty of brainteasers and exercises to keep your mind sharp in a light and fun way.

Language and number puzzles, including word searches, crosswords and sudoku, are helpful too. You can pick up puzzle books from high street book shops like Waterstones and WHSmith or order them online through Amazon.

Plan for the Future

As we age, our capacity to make decisions about our lives might change. Planning ahead will help to ease your loved ones’ minds and ensure that whatever the future holds, you’re in control. It’s worth taking the time to consider the way you’d like to live if your health changes and who you’d like to make important decisions on your behalf.

If you don’t have one already, we recommend looking into a long-term care plan. It’s also important to consider legal formalities like your written will and power of attorney.

Engage with the Community

When you buy a retirement home with Churchill Living you become part of a like-minded community of retirees over 65. The events and activities hosted at your development are an opportunity to make new friends and socialise.

Communicate with Your Loved ones

It can be tempting to keep any worries and concerns you have to yourself, but how you feel is never a burden. Communicate with your loved ones and help them understand your vision of retirement so they can be there for you and help you achieve it. You can also share your new pastimes with them and create new memories along the way.

Keep Track of Your Finances

Managing your finances effectively will give both you and your family peace of mind and allow you to live freely within your means. A financial advisor can inform you about your options and help you to plan your pension and retirement income.

Embrace Technology

Technology can feel hard to keep up with, but it’s helpful. Use it to connect, stay informed and make daily tasks easier. If your family doesn’t live locally, apps like Facetime and Messenger allow you to catch up at the touch of a button. Stay up to date with headlines and current affairs using websites like BBC News too.

Meanwhile, smart home features can make your home safer and give you some time back. Motion sensor lighting could help to prevent falls by brightening dark areas as soon as you walk in, while doorbell cameras can help you see whether it’s a family member or the postman outside. Voice control systems let you take calls hands-free and can even change the temperature of the thermostat.

Do Retirement Your Way with Churchill Living

Churchill Living retirement apartments are designed to promote independence and give you the freedom to choose how you live. Find out more about retirement living or look through our coastal, countryside and city homes across the UK.