Brookdale Anaheim

Independent Living - A Beginner's Guide

As seen by its supporters, independent living is a world-view, an ideology, a new way of thinking about disability and society, and an international movement of individuals with disabilities working towards equal opportunities, self-determination, and self-respect. Its critics, however, see it as a lifestyle choice that has some benefits. Yet, both camps have their own sets of problems to contend with.

For those committed to independent living, there is the obvious benefit of being able to take control of your life. The ability to make decisions on a variety of issues, from your health care and finances to your daily routine, gives you more control over your life. You have more control over your freedom to be where you want to be when you want to be there, where you need to go, and what you do. In other words, your freedom.

Those who live independently often do so because they are not well off financially. It's not necessarily the case that independent living means poverty; instead, people who choose to live independently will have limited or no savings, no retirement funds, or even a job. This is not to say that the poor or disabled are automatically incapable of living independently. On the contrary, they may be quite capable of doing so because they have money saved. As an alternative, they can make savings and use investments.

For those who live independently, there is also the benefit of looking forward to more independence and the chance to get more accomplished. Those who do not live independently may have to face the consequences of living without the luxury of freedom. Many disabled people are put in positions of "contributory slavery" in which their lives are controlled by someone else. Often this means their children, parents, spouse, or others. In a more extreme case, some people may have to work for years, receive little income, and be treated poorly. When the person who controls their life gets older, they may not have any choice but to leave their job or leave the family they grew up in. As this situation only worsens, and there are few options available to them.

On the other hand, when you live independently, you have many options. You can decide how much money you want to save, and you can set your schedule and work pace. You can also make choices about which doctors you choose to treat you. You can decide whether you want to work, have insurance, and get treatment from the care providers you choose.