Read how connection and everyday tools help Joy stay active and independent in a life lived on her terms.
Your life changes depending on your health and everything else, but if you look after yourself now, the transition won’t be so daunting.
— Christine, Joy's daughterYour day is full of routines, from making a cup of tea to watering the garden or calling a friend. Routines add structure to your day. They reflect what matters most to you, helping you feel certain about who you are and what you care about.
When you can no longer do the tasks and activities that make up your day, it can feel like losing parts of yourself. Getting older can change what you're able to do. But there are ways to adapt to these changes and continue living your life with meaning and purpose.
We spoke to Joy Ingram, a proud Gimuy Walubara Yidnji woman, who is doing just that.
Finding yourself after a big life change
Known for being a 'go-getter', full of energy and determined to make things happen, Joy felt lost when she left the workforce.
‘For mum, it’s been a big change in her life, because she’s always been independent. She’s always been able to just go, go, go – nonstop,’ said her daughter, Christine. ‘When she left work it was a massive change in terms of her whole, "Who am I?" You know, her whole wellbeing changed.'
Christine is a Team Leader and Outreach Worker at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service. The change in Joy's sense of self was something Christine had seen many times in her work with older clients.
‘I think the challenge for them is that they’re getting older. They’ve got to think about, "Oh jeez, there are things that I can’t do on my own". And it’s actually asking for that support,’ Christine said.
Why it’s important to ask for help
It can be hard to ask for help, especially when you're used to doing everything by yourself. Asking for help doesn't mean you stop being independent. Instead, it can help you be independent in new ways by letting you focus your energy on the things that interest you. Here's an example:
If you don't enjoy cooking, alternate home-cooked meals with microwave ones. This can help you save your energy for activities that matter more to you, like gardening.
As time went on, Joy got used to accepting support. Not just from Christine, but also through the use of everyday tools.
