For the overwhelming majority of our lives, we have lived autonomously. No one can tell us what to do, we live our own lives how we want to. For better or for worse, we have total control of our sleeping patterns, our eating habits and our financial planning. We often forget how important these things are as we age. They become normal and we can’t imagine living without the ability to control our own way of life. And yet, one day we will become old and that’s when we will need to question how important these things are to us. For the most part, older people want to be left in charge of their own homes, work life and personal responsibilities. You can’t blame them, no one wants to have their lives controlled by someone else. However, you need to contemplate the changes to your health, living standards in your own home and how you get around. If you want to remain independent you have got to start planning ahead when things get physically difficult for you. Your independence in old age is important.

Our home becomes the most precious asset we own when we’re old. It’s the one place in the world where we still remain the master. You might be retired or simply unable to work, so creating a home which you can use to fulfill hobbies and activities you love to do, is paramount to your happiness. Apart from that, you also need to make the home more accessible for your aging body. No one in their senior years wants to walk up and down the stairs. Not only do you have less physical strength but you could pose a danger to yourself trying to go up and down great heights. So, installing a chair lift is something you may want to consider. Maybe, move into a bungalow instead of a two-story? Simply installing a stair aid system whereby the steps are made shorter is also a great cost-effective way to make going upstairs less strenuous. Maintaining your independence in old age is important.

You might also want to make each room more accessible by creating an open floor plan. Rather than opening and shutting doors, you can have one large room downstairs with better air circulation. This also makes going from the kitchen to the living room easier when you have food and drink in your hands. If you move about in a wheelchair, an open floor plan makes life so much easier. Rather than having to reach up to the door handle and moving out of the way of the opening door, you have free access to everything.

If you live in a nursing home, you will know that the little things really do matter to your independence in old age. Someone else cooks your meals for you. Staff at the home also go into your room and clean it. You might be helped in the mornings to get dressed. The little things that make us individuals can be taken from us if we allow them to be. Although the staff at the nursing home have a duty to help you, if you want to do things for yourself it’s within your right. If you find that you’re not allowed to do these things because the staff won’t let you, this is something you should fight against. On rare occasions, some homes forcibly prohibit their residents from doing the little things for themselves. Sometimes it may even become physical as staff persist in trying to control your life.

If this is the case, you should contact a Nursing Home Abuse lawyer that can fight for your rights in a court of law. Some of the common abuses are physical abuse such as pushing and hitting. They may not provide you with or withhold  proper food and liquids. A lack of proper medical care. Sexual abuse, financial abuse, theft and sometimes emotional abuse such as taunting and yelling. It’s important you express yourself and want to do the small things for yourself. You don’t have to put up with this kind of abuse and there are dedicated lawyers that know how to handle such cases if you ever need someone to help you.

When you retire from work you’ll have a lot of time on your hands. Rather than sitting at home and doing the same things over and over, do something creative. Don’t give up on your hobbies and interests. If you love to make artwork, you should clear a part of the home so you have the space needed to paint, draw and craft things. If you love to write stories and or poems, you should make a desk for you to work on. Maybe you want to make music, then convert a room into a place where you keep your instruments, music by other artists for inspiration and recording hardware. Uploading your music to YouTube is a great idea to share your creativity. So, having a small area in which you can record your live performances is also something to consider.

Woodwork and making things with your hands is so important to stay in touch with your skills and hobbies. You may find it in your best interest to have a shed or small workspace in your back yard where you can do these sorts of things. Workbenches, tools, equipment, safety gear and storage space are things that you should never take for granted when you love to create things. Convert your garage into such a spare, or perhaps erect a conservatory where you can do multiple different activities safely. Never lose your creativity and continue to be in touch with the things that you have always loved to do when you’re old.

In our old age, we mustn’t let go of our independence. Start off by making your home more accessible. Installing a lift chair is one of the simplest ways to make the upstairs and downstairs easier to navigate. However an open plan might serve you better, especially if you are in a wheelchair. Create a space in your home where you can continue to do the hobbies you love.

You might not want to admit this just yet but the C-word is right around the corner. Yes, that’s right Christmas is almost upon us once again and it’s time to gear up and get ready for that most wonderful time of the year. Except if it’s not. Not everyone enjoys Christmas and for many good reasons.

You may find the expectation on you to get everything just right too much. You might find the season hard for historical reasons or because you feel lonely and isolated. It’s completely understandable. So we’re taking a look at what you can do to prepare yourself for Christmas. You’ve got time to make plans to get through the season but to do it your way. Let’s take a look at some great ideas for Christmas survival.

When You Feel Alone

 Just because you’re not celebrating with others, there’s absolutely no reason not to treat yourself. Forget cooking for one day, bring home cold cuts, indulgent treats and nibbles and allow yourself a day of your favorite things.

If you choose to completely ignore the day itself, that’s completely up to you. Just enjoy some of the less romanticized Christmas movies and enjoy the chance to put your feet up and do some of your favorite hobbies, a puzzle, a good book, a walk – whatever you feel like doing.

If the reason for your isolation is because of distance to relatives or friends try to schedule a call with someone to break up the day and to reassure yourself that you’re not forgotten. You could also let people know you haven’t forgotten about them by sending out electronic Christmas cards. You might even find an open invite for lunch at a church or community group. While it takes courage to go along, it can certainly be rewarding and a great way to make new connections. Consider too letting people know you’re on your own. Don’t avoid the question when asked but rather accept the offer of a home cooked lunch and afternoon in the company of others if asked.

Stress

 Maybe the opposite is true and you find yourself surrounded by people when it comes to Christmas celebrations with barely a moment to breathe.

Planning and delegating are going to be your friends. Finalize those Christmas gift ideas now and if you’re hosting get delegating. You might be supplying the bird and the vegetables but are you doing the first course and dessert? No, you are not. Your guests will be given the jobs of bringing along these parts of the meal. It’s easier for you and a way of thanking you for your hospitality.

Christmas can be tough, there seems to be so much riding on those few days. From loneliness to extreme busyness are often the two ends of the spectrum. For either situation work, be sure to start making plans that will reassure you can make it through. Treat yourself to time alone, your favorite foods and the chance to delegate at least some of the responsibility to others. Planning will help ensure your Christmas survival.

To say that we all lead busy lives is an understatement. The fact is that we spend a lot of time away from home. Whether you’re a working parent or a full-time student, or even a retiree like me, you know the struggle of finding time to make meals. This is where a slow cooker can make meal-prepping a lot less hectic. With a slow cooker, you can cook delicious and healthy meals while you’re away from home! There are all sorts of meals that can be cooked in a slow cooker, including stews, soups, casseroles, and so much more.

Here’s why the slow cooker is the best invention for those with busy lifestyles.

Ingredients You Can Trust

Have you ever looked at the ingredients in pre-made meals? Serving your family food with ingredients you can’t even pronounce isn’t the best way to keep your family healthy. One of the biggest benefits of cooking with a slow cooker is that you know exactly what’s going into your meals. For example, if you want to make spaghetti and meatballs one evening, you’ll know that you need tomatoes, frozen fully cooked meatballs, spaghetti, and Italian seasoning.  Knowing what ingredients go into your meals gives you peace of mind that your family is eating wholesome and nutritious meals.

Save Money by using a slow cooker

Eating out or picking up take-out can be expensive. By not cooking at home, it’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars on food alone. A meal for four people can easily cost well over $60. This means that within a week, you can spend more than $400 on food alone. Another great benefit of crockpot cooking is that you can save tons of money. Delicious slow cooker meals can be made using some of the most inexpensive products such as:

• Rice
• Beans
• Frozen vegetables
• Inexpensive cuts of meat

The amount of money you’ll spend on groceries is far less than the money you’ll spend eating out each night of the week.

A Slow Cooker is Super Convenient

Unlike a traditional meal that requires your undivided attention, a slow cooker is much more convenient. By using a slow cooker, you can cook a meal all day without any intervention needed from you. This means that meals can cook while you’re at work, at the gym, or at a doctor appointment. Crockpot meals are convenient in that you can put all of the ingredients in, turn it on, and then go about your day. Slow cooker meals are perfect for those super busy days when you have very little time to prepare a traditional meal.

More Time to Spend with Your Family

Most crockpot recipes require very little preparation. More often than not, all you have to do is put all of the ingredients in the slow cooker, set the right temperature, and then let it cook for a few hours! Crockpot cooking also means fewer dishes and less clean up. You can make using a crockpot even more convenient by using a liner. This way, you don’t have to scrub the pot each time you use it. With less time spent preparing ingredients or washing dishes, you’ll have more time to spend with your family. Family time is especially important if you have children. By giving your undivided attention to your spouse and kids, everyone will be happier.

Healthy, Diet Friendly-Meals

Do you follow a gluten-free or low-carb diet? Are you allergic to certain foods? If so, you know just how hard it can be to find a healthy meal at a restaurant. With slow cooker cooking, you’ll have peace of mind that all of the food you’re cooking is healthy and meets all of your dietary needs. This way you can have peace of mind each time you eat that you don’t have to worry about blowing your daily calorie limit or eating food that will cause a dangerous allergic reaction.

Cook Food in Large Quantities in a slow cooker

Cooking with a slow cooker allows you to cook food in bulk. This means that you can not only cook dinner throughout the week, but you can also take leftovers for lunch the next day. By not buying lunch, you’re able to save even more money. The less money you’re spending eating out or eating take-out, the further you can stretch your hard-earned money. What’s nice is that you can use a crockpot to cook breakfast, lunch, or dinner! There are thousands of recipes online for delicious and healthy meals.

There are all sorts of products that have benefited the household, but nothing has proven to be more priceless than the slow cooker. Slow cooker meals are nutritious and tasty but don’t require hours of preparation! Keep these benefits in mind the next time you want to eat out or order take-out.