How To Avoid Living In A Nursing Home
Jan 25, 2026
If the thought of spending your last years in a nursing home leaves you feeling terrified, this post is for you. Before I continue, I need to point out that many elderly people thrive in an aged care facility rather than living alone in isolation, and for some, 24-hour care is essential. While we've all heard horror stories of neglect and abuse in aged care, and it's important to be cautious, there are also many incredible nursing homes with dedicated, caring staff and residents who enjoy a range of activities, social interaction, and regular nutritious meals they wouldn't otherwise have access to in their own home. If, however, you know this type of environment is not for you, what can you do now to ensure that you remain as independent as possible as you age and avoid life in a nursing home?
Aged Care Placements Are Tight & Getting Tighter
By the end of 2025, there were approximately 2,500 to 3,000 patients in Australian public hospitals waiting for a residential aged care placement. These patients are medically ready for discharge, but many wait months for a placement. This clogs up the hospital system and costs taxpayers over $1 billion per year. The emotional and physical toll on both patients and their families is immense as hospitals are not designed to accommodate elderly patients long-term in a clinical setting, which increases the risk of delirium, depression, infection, loss of dignity, physical deconditioning, and "relocation stress." This situation will continue to worsen, and by 2043, demand for residential care is expected to reach 400,000 beds, starting from a base of -223,000 in 2024. This requires thousands of new beds to be added annually, and this isn't happening. If you want to avoid being reliant on this inadequate system, maintaining your health and fitness has never been more important to retain your independence as you age
Prioritise Muscle Strength & Balance As You Age
It's vital to keep strengthening as much as possible as you age to prevent sarcopenia or loss of muscle mass. Without adequate muscle strength, you won't be able to carry out daily tasks such as carrying groceries, getting up out of a chair, or stop yourself from falling if you trip. Once you have a greater risk of falls, you are well on your way to losing your independence. Strong muscles stabilise joints and load bones, which helps maintain bone density. Less muscle mass means weaker bones, increasing the risk of fracturing a bone. Muscle loss and osteoporosis, unfortunately, can often go hand in hand. People with more muscle recover faster from illness or surgery, handle stress and inflammation better, and have lower complication rates in hospitals. Preserving muscle isn’t about looking fit—it’s about staying capable, resilient, and independent, keeping you out of a nursing home for as long as possible.
Pilates For Independent Living As You Age
My unique virtual and online Pilates studio is specifically designed to help you overcome pain or injury and future-proof you against further injury as you age. Many of my clients are in their 60s, 70s, and 80s, and they continue to improve their balance, strength, and coordination each year. They enjoy challenging walking holidays and being active grandparents. One couple in their late 60s who have been learning Pilates with me for the past 6 years are on a 2-week skiing holiday in Japan as I write this. We have been focusing on skiing preparation in their twice-weekly virtual Pilates sessions for the past 6 months to ensure they are as strong as possible so they can thoroughly enjoy every aspect of this trip of a lifetime. If you have goals and dreams you want to achieve in retirement, my Pilates program is ideal for helping you to achieve these.
If you are ready to start Pilates and begin futureproofing yourself for your later years, email me at [email protected] . Alternatively, you can book an Initial Assessment with me here or take the free 10 day trial of JS Mind Body Pilates, my online studio, which is a library of on-demand videos, and start straight away. It would be my pleasure to assist you in avoiding a nursing home and to make the most of your retirement years!
