In my introductory reflection, I shared that one of my biggest concerns about aging is losing my independence. When I imagine myself at 75 or 80, I picture myself still being active, traveling, and enjoying the life I worked to build. I also hope to look back on my career and feel that the work I did made a difference.Independence is an important part of the future I imagine for myself, having to depend on others for transportation or help with my everyday needs would be a difficult adjustment.
If I were to be in that situation, I think the loss of independence would affect almost every part of my life. Physically, a health or mobility condition that prevented me from driving or caring for myself could limit what I am able to do without assistance. Even simple activities that I currently do without much thought could become more difficult. I think the emotional impact would be even harder for me. I would probably experience frustration, sadness, and possibly even embarrassment from having to ask other people for help with things I had previously been able to do for myself.Thinking about actually experiencing this situation makes the fear of losing independence feel much more real. My initial reaction would probably be resistance because independence is something I value. At the same time, I think this experience would challenge me to reconsider what independence actually means. Aging may require me to accept assistance in some areas without believing that I have lost control over my entire life.
Two Generalized Resistance Resources (GRRs) that would be important to me are self-advocacy and personal coping skills. Self-advocacy would help me continue to have a voice in decisions about my living arrangements and daily care. Even if I could no longer do everything independently, I would still want to be included in decisions that affect my life. Being able to communicate my needs and preferences would help me maintain a sense of control. Personal coping skills would also be important because losing some of my independence would be an emotional adjustment. I would have to learn how to accept changes without allowing frustration or sadness to prevent me from enjoying my life. Coping could include focusing on what I am still able to do, accepting help when necessary, and finding different ways to remain active and connected to others. For me, resilience would mean adapting to changes while continuing to make my own choices and maintaining as much independence as possible.
Research on older adults also helped me understand that losing independence does not necessarily mean losing the ability to have control over my life. Gitlin et al. (2006) examined an intervention for older adults experiencing difficulty with activities of daily living. The intervention included occupational and physical therapy, home modifications, problem-solving strategies, fall prevention, and exercises designed to improve strength and balance. This stood out to me because these types of interventions could help me adapt to physical limitations while maintaining as much independence as possible.
Clark et al. (1997) also examined the use of preventive occupational therapy with older adults living independently. Their findings showed benefits in several areas, including physical and social functioning, life satisfaction, and mental health. These studies connect with my GRRs of self-advocacy and personal coping skills because they show that adapting to changes can include seeking professional support, learning new ways to complete daily activities, and making changes to my environment. If I experienced a decline in my mobility later in life, occupational therapy and other supportive services could help me continue participating in activities that are important to me rather than simply giving up my independence.
Overall, thinking about the possibility of losing my independence has made me look at aging differently. I realize that aging may come with changes that I cannot control, but I can control how I respond to those changes. Using self-advocacy and personal coping skills would help me adjust while still maintaining my dignity and having a voice in my life.
Clark, F., Azen, S. P., Zemke, R., Jackson, J., Carlson, M., Mandel, D., Hay, J., Josephson, K., Cherry, B., Hessel, C., Palmer, J., & Lipson, L. (1997). Occupational therapy for independent-living older adults: A randomized controlled trial. JAMA, 278(16), 1321–1326.
Gitlin, L. N., Winter, L., Dennis, M. P., Corcoran, M., Schinfeld, S., & Hauck, W. W. (2006). A randomized trial of a multicomponent home intervention to reduce functional difficulties in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 54(5), 809–816.
Hi Jamaya!
My fear of growing older is losing my motor skills, and I think that connects closely with your fear of losing independence. I feel like so much of my younger years has been spent working hard, getting an education, and trying to become successful so that I can finally feel independent. The thought of eventually losing some of that independence as I age scares me tremendously.
However, reading your post gave me a sense of peace, especially when you talked about self-advocacy. I really loved your interpretation of it because it helped me look at independence differently. If I still have a voice in my living situation and the choices being made about my life, then I am not necessarily losing my independence—it may just look different than it did when I was younger.
Hi Ja’Maya,
I could relate to your post because losing my independence was also the concern I chose for this assignment. Like you, I picture myself remaining active, traveling, enjoying my family, and having the freedom to make my own decisions as I get older. After working with older adults and helping care for members of my own family, I have seen how emotionally difficult it can be for someone to suddenly need help with things they once did without even thinking about them. I believe I would also initially respond with frustration and resistance because accepting help would be such a major adjustment for me.
I really liked your point that receiving assistance in certain areas does not mean we have lost control over our entire lives. That is something I had to remind myself of while completing this assignment. Independence does not always have to mean doing everything alone. It can also mean continuing to have a voice, being included in decisions, and receiving the right support to live as safely and freely as possible. I agree that self-advocacy would be an extremely important GRR because older adults are sometimes spoken for instead of being asked what they actually want.
Your discussion of occupational and physical therapy also gave me a more hopeful perspective. Home modifications, assistive devices, exercises, and supportive services could allow us to adapt instead of simply giving up the activities we enjoy. To me, resilience would not mean refusing help or pretending the changes were easy. It would mean accepting the support I need while continuing to protect my dignity, make my own choices, and focus on everything I am still capable of doing. Your post was very relatable and reminded me that needing assistance and being powerless are not the same thing.
Hi Ja’Maya,
I really related to what you said about being afraid of losing your independence as you get older. I think it would be hard to have to rely on other people for things that you have always been able to do on your own. I also liked how you pointed out that needing help does not necessarily mean losing control of your life. I agree that self-advocacy would be really important because even if we need assistance, we should still be able to make decisions about our own lives and care. I also think having good coping skills would make it easier to adjust to the changes that come with aging. Your post made me think about how aging does not have to mean giving up the things that are important to us. With the right support, we can still stay active, make our own choices, and maintain a sense of independence.