If there’s one constant in life, it’s change. For many of us, particularly as we enter later stages of life, change can be both exhilarating and rewarding. Many cherished milestones—such as finding a loving partner, moving into an ideal retirement living arrangement, or welcoming a grandchild—are built upon the foundation of change. However, as we age, we may also face significant changes that bring stress and uncertainty.
Experiencing the loss of loved ones, receiving challenging medical diagnoses, or managing a spouse’s sudden need for memory care are profound changes that require resilience, strength, and a strong support network to navigate successfully. The good news is that you don’t have to face these challenges alone. In the following sections, you will discover valuable strategies and tips for confronting change, adapting to new circumstances, and skillfully navigating the more turbulent waters of life.
If there’s one thing in life that’s constant, it’s change. Often, change can be exhilarating and positive. Many of life’s most beloved milestones are built upon a foundation of change — finding a romantic partner, moving into your ideal living space, becoming a grandparent. However, significant change can also bring about stress and uncertainty.
Losing loved ones, receiving a medical diagnosis, coping with a spouse’s sudden need for memory care: these are changes that require perseverance, fortitude, and support to navigate successfully. Thankfully, you don’t have to do it alone. Read on to learn strategies and tips for confronting change, adjusting in the face of adversity, and navigating through the rockier waters of life.
Confronting Change and Seeking Support
Though it may be tempting, sticking your head in the sand when significant change occurs is only going to delay and possibly compound the inevitable impact. Instead, confront the change and approach it knowing that you don’t have to face the change alone and you’ll get through it. Approaching change with this attitude may not lessen the impact, but it will make moving forward and through the change into your new normal easier.
Understanding the Emotional Impact of Change
Change can be incredibly difficult. Not only because change often requires shifts in behavior and reenvisioning the future, but because a major life change can disrupt your sense of self. Humans build identities around the lives we create and the people we share them with. If you or your spouse experiences a significant change in health, or you find yourself facing divorce later in life, your core self-beliefs may be shaken.
These types of upheavals can lead to isolation for seniors and may bring up persistent feelings of depression or anxiety as well. It is important to understand that major life transitions at any time can bring up difficult emotions and that these emotions are normal. Addressing the emotional impact of change is an important part of finding your way through to the other side.
How to Seek Support When It’s Hard
When you encounter a difficult transition in life following an unexpected change, seeking support is one of the most beneficial things you can do. However, it can feel especially difficult to ask for help when you’re dealing with the emotional impact and logistical fallout of changes like illness, significant adjustment in care needs, or divorce. When finding support feels especially challenging:
- Think of a time when you were able to offer support to a loved one when they were going through a difficult time. Often, when we are in the position to need help, we avoid doing so in fear of being a burden. Yet, when others ask us for help, we feel proud, happy to lend a hand. Remember that others will feel that way when given the chance to help you, too.
- Try not to make assumptions about the capacity of others to offer assistance. Convincing ourselves that people are too busy or have too much going on in their own lives to have the space for support is easy to do, but it robs you of the chance to make a needed and meaningful connection in a difficult time.
- Opt for a support group. Sometimes the hardest part of seeking support is the idea of seeming vulnerable to those who have viewed us as strong pillars for so long. When breaking down those walls feels insurmountable, a support group, grief counseling, or other professional help can be an easier way to accept the help you deserve.
Assessing Your New Landscape
Part of adjusting to any transition in life is gaining a more thorough understanding of what your new life’s landscape looks like. If you’re adjusting to a spouse’s sudden need for memory care, for example, your new daily routine may include spending time with them in their memory care center. If you’re recovering from a serious injury that has altered your physical ability, the future after rehabilitation may require a move to a senior living community — either in assisted or independent living per your new needs. A divorce later in life may mean that you’re looking to downsize your home and build a new social circle.
With each major life transition comes a new vision for the future. Evaluating this new vision practically will help you craft a plan that feels right for you. Here are a few areas to consider.
Reassess Your Financial Plan
Some life changes require greater financial planning than others. A major shift in living style (from a home you own to a senior living community with specialized care, for example) will require some retooling of your financial future to account for new expenses and adjust for expenses you may no longer have after a move (home insurance, lawn care, home cleaning services, etc). Losing a spouse or going through a divorce may require going back to the financial drawing board entirely.
Whatever you’re facing, take the time to assess your financial situation before, during, and after the transition. Make a plan that incorporates wiggle room for any further unexpected adjustments, and consider working with professionals (accountants, wealth managers) to ensure you are set. Additionally, if you and your spouse are seeking to build a more stable and secure future, consider a Life Care community.
Health and Wellness Considerations
Caring for your mind, body, and emotional well-being is important at all junctures in life, but continues to be a critical component of navigating difficult change successfully. Though grief and loss for seniors can be a complex and heartbreaking journey, taking the time to prioritize and plan for what health and wellness can look like for you may make even some of the darkest days a little bit brighter.
Additionally, part of assessing your new life’s landscape means being realistic about the healthcare you and/or your partner may need during and after this shift. Plan for the future with a Life Care community that will offer priority access to advanced levels of care if the need ever arises.
Be Honest About What You Need — And What You Want
Being honest about changing needs isn’t always easy or fun, but it can also open doors to newfound freedom. Incorporating what you want life to look like on the other side of change can help the beginning of a new life chapter feel better, too.
Building a New Plan for the Future
Adapting to life changes in retirement requires tenacity, planning, and support. You should give yourself time to move through difficult emotions and grieve properly, whether you are grieving the loss of a spouse, a change in lifestyle after an illness or injury, or simply reflecting on the way life was before these changes, acknowledging your feelings is a vital part of the healing process.
As you move through the change and navigate toward a “new normal,” it helps to rebuild the plan for your future. Take the time to envision what would make your new life the fullest, most enriching one possible.
Discover Your Future at Oak Trace
Navigating change can be difficult, but at Oak Trace, we believe in focusing on the opportunities that lie ahead. Our unique, resort-style living community offers comprehensive support on practical, logistical, and personal levels. Whether you are seeking guidance on memory care options for your spouse or exploring the vibrant lifestyle that awaits you as a resident, our dedicated team is here to assist you every step of the way.
We’ve created an environment where you can not only envision but actively build a fulfilling and secure future. With our Life Care plan, you’ll have the peace of mind to pursue your passions and embrace new experiences. Schedule a visit today to discover how Oak Trace can help you transform life’s changes into exciting new beginnings.
