For most seniors, maintaining independence is a high priority. It may seem counterintuitive but did you know that in order to assure independence, you actually need to accept a little support? Let me share with you how I learned the concept of “counter intuitivism”. I grew up on a ranch. Our water came from a well we had on our property. In order to get the well to produce water we had to “prime the pump”. We would pour a bucket of water in the top of the pump then, as we pumped the handle, water would begin to flow. When I was very young this didn’t make sense. Why would you pour water down the well in order to get water back? I didn’t understand the concept that sometimes you had to sacrifice a little water in order to assure more would come. This is where I learned what the word counterintuitive means. Counterintuitive is an action or process that is contrary to what common sense would suggest.

Accepting assistance in order to assure independence is also counterintuitive. Some believe that in order to maintain their independence they need to do everything themselves. This can be a dangerous belief. Did you know that most injuries and hospital visits are the result of three simple mishaps?

A Simple Fall:

It’s easy to lose your balance doing everyday activities. Because bones become more brittle as you age, a simple fall can result in broken bones and can even be life-threatening.

Malnutrition (not eating right):

Skipping meals or not eating a balanced diet can make you prone to illness and can make you weak or dizzy. Illness, weakness and dizziness can lead to a fall.

Medication mishaps (forgetting to take meds or taking too many at once):

It’s easy to forget to take your meds. It’s also easy to forget what day it is. Inappropriate dosages can also lead to illness,weakness and dizziness which again, can cause a fall or worse. Accepting assistance with some of these basic functions can reduce the threat of an accident and can promote independence.

The question seniors should ask themselves shouldn’t be (can I do this) but rather (should I do this). Even though you can carry a laundry basket downstairs to do laundry, should you, or is that something you can allow someone else to do? The same question applies to most daily activities including preparing meals and filling pill boxes.

So who can you rely on to provide that little bit of assistance? Most family members, friends or neighbors would be honored to help perform basic tasks. There are also senior care agencies that perform these activities at a reasonable cost. Take a personal inventory of the activities you do that perhaps you shouldn’t be doing, then,prime your pump and allow a little assistance, so you can enjoy a lot of independence.