If you’re planning to live independently (whether in your family home or at a retirement village) for as long as you possibly can, there are several strategies worth implementing to help you realise your goal. Here are five of the most important.

1. Stay strong
Regular exercise is key to enabling you to look after yourself for longer. Mayo Clinic explains: “As you age, your body starts to slow down and tasks that used to be easy now require a bit more effort to accomplish… You lose muscle mass, your cardiovascular fitness declines, and your reflexes aren’t as sharp as they once were.” The solution? “Activities such as strength training and high-intensity interval training, as well as regularly changing up your exercise routine can help maintain muscle mass, prevent cardiovascular decline and improve balance. All three of these components are essential to living a long, healthy and independent life.”

If you don’t have a regular exercise regime in place, consider taking up one of the following options – just remember to always get your doctor’s approval before starting something new:

• Pilates
• Tai chi
• Water aerobics
• Yoga

2. Stay healthy
It’s also important to keep on top of your health by eating well, seeing your GP for regular check-ups and ensuring that you take your medication on schedule. If your memory isn’t quite what it used to be, set up an alarm on your phone or download an app like Medisafe, which sends you an alert when it’s time to take your meds, lets you know when you need to refill your prescription and will notify an emergency contact if you accidentally miss a dose. Speaking of apps…

3. Embrace technology
There have been some incredible advances in technology in recent years and many of the apps out there can help you live independently for longer. Uber, for example, makes it incredibly easy for seniors who are no longer able to drive to shop for groceries, meet up with friends and get to appointments. Skype allows you to stay in touch with friends and family if you don’t get out as often as you’d like – feeling strong emotionally is another important aspect of staying independent. On the safety front, there are even smart watches that automatically call a nominated friend or loved one if you’ve fallen and are injured or unconscious. If you’re a resident at an Evergreen Lifestyle village, your safety is ensured by the nurse call alarm in your unit, which is monitored 24/7.

4. Make changes
Being able to remain independent sometimes means making certain changes to your living space. These can include:

• Making sure that potentially dangerous areas on your property e.g. near stairs and outdoors are always well lit.
• Putting up rails in your bathroom.
• Placing non-slip mats under rugs and carpets.

5. Have purpose
Purpose is vital when you’ve retired from working life and find yourself with more time on your hands. It motivates you, keeps you positive and helps you to embrace the newest chapter of your life and find fulfilment in it – all of which contribute to living independently for longer.

If you’re still trying to find your purpose, start by asking yourself these three questions:

1. What energises you?
2. Is there a cause you feel passionately about?
3. What skills do you have to offer?

If you’re a resident at Evergreen, there are plenty of ways to add purpose to your life, whether it’s making new friends by joining one of the regular card games in your village’s Lifestyle Centre, or by participating in one of the many societies, clubs, hobby groups or special interest groups that meet regularly.