As you age, your relationships with other people will change. You may have lasting relationships with partners, family, friends and long-term carers. Many other connections will come and go, for whatever reason.
If you feel you are struggling socially as you get older, and are finding it a bit hard to maintain or form new relationships, talk to your healthcare team about what support is available, and what you can do to be able to connect successfully with others. It may help to see a speech therapist, or psychologist, who can provide you with communication tips and techniques, and talk to you about the latest technology and equipment that might assist you.
Everyone has busy times in their life, and it can sometimes be difficult to reach out to family and friends for support. However, making a simple request to see them or spend some time together can be a welcome reminder for them that they need to stay in touch with you.
If you’ve been working, you’ll decide to retire at some point. People retire at different times and for different reasons. Some choose to retire to pursue plans such as travel, while for others, retirement happens because the body is in pain or too fatigued for daily work.
For some people, retirement can be a time when they start to feel lonely and isolated. It can be difficult to maintain working relationships once you have left a job, and you lose the routine of seeing and interacting with people day to day.
It is a good idea to have a plan for how you will replace the time you spent working. As well as continuing to be monitored by your healthcare team and staying physically active, consider joining in activities that interest you in your community.
Think about what you would like to be involved in or explore, such as art, sport, music and more, and look for groups, classes or teams you can join. This will give you more opportunities to meet new people and develop meaningful friendships or romantic connections.
Dating for older adults with CP is similar to dating for anyone, a process by which you decide what type of person you want to be with, and what feels right for you. If you find your confidence is a bit low, remember all the positive things about yourself, and the talents and abilities you bring to a relationship. It can help to talk to your friends and family about what they admire about you.
Sexuality can be difficult to explore for older adults with CP, especially if you have increased mobility, personal care or complex communication needs. Don’t let embarrassment stop you from asking questions or seeking support about this private issue from your healthcare team. They can help you to find out who to get support from and what strategies could help you.
Some of this information is provided and produced courtesy of The Future Thinking Project, Ability WA.