Staying independent while living in a care home

Independence is part of our identity without us even realising it. It allows us to dictate what we do, how we do it, where we go and when. So, it is no surprise that when your loved one is moving into a care home, a big concern is losing that.

With a care home comes their routines and lifestyle as well as the care being provided, which can feel like losing their independence. But a good care home won’t stop your loved one from being independent. In fact, they will encourage it.

At Allenbrook Care Home, no matter what type of care we provide, we understand the importance of maintaining independence for your loved ones' mental and emotional well-being.

We also know how making sure your loved one feels motivated and encouraged to stay as self-sufficient as possible can ensure a smooth transition into care.

In this blog, we share why staying independent is so important and how your loved one can be urged to maintain it.

Why Independence Matters in a Care Home

Independence is so closely related to our overall health and well-being. This is why it is important that your loved one remains as self-sufficient as possible when in a care home.

Physical benefits of staying independent include:

Encourages movement and mobility, which can prevent muscle stiffness and loss.
Supports better coordination and balance.
Promotes heart health and circulation.
Practice makes perfect, so maintaining daily activities such as getting dressed helps them retain the ability to do it for longer.

Mental and cognitive benefits include:

Mental stimulation to keep the mind sharp and active.
Encourages problem-solving and decision-making skills.
Helps create and maintain a sense of routine, which is essential for brain function and emotional stability.

Emotional and psychological benefits:

Boost self-esteem and confidence.
Reduces feelings of helplessness or dependency, reducing the risk of depression or anxiety.
Fosters a sense of purpose.
Strengthens social interactions.

Feeling like you are able to achieve something is so closely tied to feelings of self-worth and confidence that removing that ability or empowerment to do things can have a toll on every aspect of your loved one’s health.

Practical Ways to Stay Independent in a Care Home

There are several ways that your loved one can stay independent in a care home.

Personalise Their Living Space

Making the room feel like their own private space with their furniture, photos, bedding, and decorations fosters a sense of individuality.

It provides a space where your loved one can have control, dictating what they want and where they want it.

This is also a great way to encourage independence in other aspects. For example, they might feel more empowered to get dressed themselves if they have their wardrobe in their room and can pick out their clothes.

Making Choices in Daily Life

Making choices is something we do every minute of every day, but as you grow older, this can slowly be taken away. This is a big concern for moving into a care home, but it shouldn’t be.

Carers encourage your loved one to make their own choices, from bigger ones, like whether or not they want to join in activities, to smaller ones, like what they want to wear today.

Ensuring they can make their own choices enables them to feel in control of their own life, which is a big form of being independent.

Staying Active and Engaged

Staying active in a care home can be cyclical.

Your loved one will want the independence to be able to move on their own and roam the home as and when they wish. And being able to do this will keep them independent and mobile. A simple stroll around the home or gardens, when they want, will mean they keep their bodies moving, so they are able to do their little walks with little assistance for longer.

When it comes to programmed activities, you should let your loved one choose whether they want to participate or not. This is another form of allowing them to be independent, giving them the feeling of control.

The care home should also organise activities that your loved one enjoys so that they want to join in to stay active both physically and mentally.

Using Assistive Technology and Supportive Care

The final way to encourage independence in a care home and facilitate independent movement is through making accessibility tools available.

These can include:

Mobility aids such as walking frames and sticks.
Grab bars and handrails around the home.
Adjustable beds and recliner chairs.
Voice-activated devices.
Personal alarm systems.
Hearing and vision aids.
Adaptive cutlery and eating aids.

Integrating these tools into the home and introducing your loved one to them when they need them can help them complete tasks autonomously in a safe way.

How Allenbrook Care Home Supports Resident Independence

Allenbrook Care Home provides care that allows your loved one to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.

Whether your loved one is with us for nursing care, residential care or respite care, we implement all of the above strategies to empower your loved one to feel in control of their life, maintaining their confidence, self-worth and mobility.

When your loved one moves in with us, we prompt them to bring small items of furniture, photos and other personal belongings so they can make their room their own.

While we always have a range of activities organised throughout the week, your loved one can choose which ones they take part in and where they spend time relaxing throughout the day.

As a nursing home and residential home, our staff are there to support, not dictate, so your loved one always has the final say on choices.

Finally, our home is equipped with accessibility features, making it easier for everyone to get around independently where possible.

If you want to learn more about how we encourage our residents to stay independent while living in our care home, we recommend visiting us.

On your visit, you will be able to see our rooms and facilities and experience the lifestyle in our care home, matching it all up with how your loved one can maintain their independence with us.

Call us on 01425 656589 or complete our online contact form, and we will get in touch to arrange a visit.