--- title: "5 Ways to Maintain Senior Independence | HomeCare.com" description: "Keep your parents at home with 5 tips for senior home safety. Use technology, consider downsizing, and use caregivers to prevent elder falls and accidents." url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/family-resources/5-ways-maintain-senior-independence/ publisher: HomeCare.com phone: 800-974-3458 start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com --- Family resources # 5 Ways to Maintain Senior Independence Published December 16, 20152 min readBy HomeCare.com ![5 Ways](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/b8595c00004b8d0bdb8e50165b4f3a2c-5-ways.ZvhHs4Kw_Z2fTG3h.webp) On this page 1. 1\. Downsize 2. 2\. “Seniorize” Your Home 3. 3\. Get By with a Little Help from Your Friends 4. 4\. In-Home Service Providers 5. 5\. Technology Is Your Friend Questions about care for your family? [800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458) Maintaining senior independence is a goal shared by seniors, family members, and medical professionals. In a recent article, Forbes writes that “experts on the ground have discovered that it is more often the little things, like being able to use kitchen utensils and navigate steps, that end up limiting \[seniors’\] ability to remain independent.” While little things can be aggravating, they usually have solutions. Let’s look at five ways to ease the burden and keep you living at home independently. ## 1\. Downsize If you’re living alone in your four-bedroom, two-story home on an acre of land, you’ve got your hands full with day-to-day upkeep and maintenance. In the Forbes article, Sarah Szanton, an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, says, “We see housing as a part of healthcare. What one can do is a function of where one lives.” Perhaps now is the time to downsize to a smaller, one-story home with less upkeep. ## 2\. “Seniorize” Your Home Without proper safety precautions, kitchens and bathrooms can be accidents waiting to happen for anyone in the home. Poor lighting can cause mishaps that wouldn’t otherwise occur. Unsecured area rug corners can cause avoidable trips and falls. Seniors might find it easier to “bathe” at the bathroom sink rather than climbing in and out of the tub. All of these problems have easy and relatively inexpensive solutions. Download the Philips guide for more ideas on preventing senior falls. ## 3\. Get By with a Little Help from Your Friends Senior independence shouldn’t depend on a set of car keys. Prudent seniors with poor vision might hang up their keys long before they’re ready to give up their independence. Still, suburban seniors need to get out to buy groceries, fill prescriptions, shop for clothes, etc. Neighbors, friends, and family can pitch in, but you’ll also want to find a driver/errand helper for backup. A good way to find a reliable helper is through word of mouth. ## 4\. In-Home Service Providers An injury can cause sudden, if temporary, disability. Without in-home care, your only option is often rehab. Other seniors and caregivers may prematurely seek expensive assisted-living options, but [finding a caregiver through a referral service](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com) offers an approach that lets you retain your independence, while saving money. ## 5\. Technology Is Your Friend According to Healthline, technology can extend senior independence by ensuring your safety while you live independently: “For example, personal medical alert systems allow seniors to summon help quickly should they fall or need medical attention.” Wireless sensors can detect a fall, and smartphones can deliver appointment and medication reminders. And if you are still active — or want to be — some solutions, like Philips Lifeline GoSafe, work both inside and outside the home.\* You worked hard your whole life, and now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of those labors. The right environment, in-home care as needed, and technology can help you maintain senior independence and live comfortably the way you want while minimizing worry for your loved ones — a win-win for everyone. This article was first published on HomeCare.com on December 16, 2015. 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The VA...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/get-paid-to-care-for-a-family-member/) - [**Going Home From the Hospital: What Care to Line Up Before Discharge**Start planning home care after hospital discharge on day one of the stay. The hospital discharge planner arranges medical follow-up, such as Medicare home...](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/guides/home-care-after-hospital-discharge/) ## Talk to a care advisor today. Free consultation. No minimums, no contracts. [800-974-3458](tel:+18009743458) [Call a care advisor](tel:+18009743458)[Find a caregiver online](https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com) ![A caregiver and an older woman looking at a tablet together](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/_astro/personal-hero.DqUYygP8_1Sv1FH.webp)