Activities for Independent Living

Independent living is a goal shared by the disabled and the elderly. Activities for independent living are geared toward these populations with the idea that the people who participate in the activities want to be as independent as they possibly can. Activities can teach people how to achieve independence or encourage people to interact independently in the community of their choice.

Learning Daily Living Skills

• Keeping involved in daily living skills such as shopping, personal care and learning to independently care for oneself, home, budgeting and medical needs is critical for people who want to keep living independently. Sometimes the person who wants to be independent needs someone to help them relearn these skills or give a reminder of when the skills should come into effect. Keeping involved in his own personal care keeps a person from forgetting how to independently complete these tasks. Learning how to complete the tasks with a handicap such as sudden immobility or arthritis due to age involves figuring out how to complete the same skill set in a different way. Keeping active in these activities helps the person stay as independent as possible.

Learning Social Skills

• Social skills are often forgotten as people struggle to live out their daily lives and meet just basic daily goals. Learning how to develop communication skills due to facilities such as hearing or sight deterioration, or not having good speaking skills, is critical for someone to move independently in the world. New communication skills can involve re-learning language, using a communication tool such as pictures or a communication board, or learning sign language. Engaging in social activities to keep social skills fresh is a part of staying independent.

Community Intergration

• Learning the skills needed for community integration includes learning personal safety skills while out in the community, shopping skills, how to advocate for yourself in public as well as how to access public transportation and free community events. Keeping engaged with community activities helps individuals who want to be independent feel less isolated and more involved in the daily lives of those around them.

Connecting With Friends and Family

• As the struggle just to live a normal daily life can sometimes take the forefront when attempting to live independently, it is sometimes necessary for people to receive help so they can stay connected with family and friends. This can include locating phone numbers and addresses of relatives or friends, having someone assist them in inviting people over for gatherings, or asking for help to reach out and spend time with loved ones. Actively participating in connecting with family and friends helps people feel self worth as they struggle to continue to live independently.