Living Well in Older Age

Tom Holden from Signature Care Homes on giving you confidence to begin a new chapter

Growing older should not be viewed as a period of simply managing decline. For me, living well in older age is about continuing to make choices, maintaining independence, staying connected to the people and places that matter, and having the confidence to begin a new chapter.

Living well starts with many of the things we already know are good for us: eating well, keeping hydrated, staying physically active and remaining socially connected. The challenge is that these things are all linked and letting one slip can impact the rest. Poor hydration, for example, can contribute towards an infection. This in turn can make us weaker, weakness increases the risk of falls, and a fall can lead to hospitalisation, reduced appetite and further loss of strength. Something seemingly small can quickly snowball.

Maintaining muscle strength is particularly important as we get older. Regular physical activity, including appropriate resistance or weight-bearing exercise, alongside sufficient protein, can help preserve strength, balance and confidence. It does not have to mean joining a gym or lifting heavy weights. The important thing is finding activity that is safe, enjoyable and appropriate for you.

After more than 20 years working in health and social care, I have seen how differently people approach later life. Increasingly, people are choosing to move into care settings before they absolutely need to. That may sound counterintuitive, but there is real logic to it. Rather than waiting for a crisis, a fall or a hospital admission to force a decision, some people are choosing a new home while they are still independent, active and able to shape exactly how they want to live. The right environment should support independence, not take it away.

At Signature at Surbiton, this is why our approach will include a physiotherapy assessment and an individual wellbeing plan when someone moves in. It is not about prescribing how somebody should live; it is about understanding what is important to them and giving them the support to continue doing it, but physical health is only part of the picture.

One of the greatest risks in later life can be losing connection with other people. Social isolation and loneliness are associated with poorer physical and mental health outcomes, and I have seen first-hand how quickly someone’s world can become smaller following retirement, bereavement, illness or reduced mobility.

A good quality of life therefore means remaining part of a community. It means conversation over dinner, seeing friends, meeting new people, enjoying the garden, joining an activity because you want to rather than because you have to, and still feeling that your day has purpose. My philosophy to living well is “thriving, not surviving.”

Older age will inevitably bring change, but change does not have to mean giving things up. Sometimes it means making different choices that allow us to preserve the things we value most. Moving home in later life should never feel like the end of a story. Done at the right time, for the right reasons and in the right environment, it can simply be the beginning of a new chapter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Holden is a Registered Nurse with more than 20 years’ experience across health and social care. As Commissioning General Manager at Signature at Surbiton, he is passionate about helping people maintain independence, wellbeing, meaningful relationships and quality of life throughout later life. If you would like more information please contact: enquiries.surbiton@signaturesl.co.uk or call Tom on 020 8036 2401