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Tag: Home safety

  • Aging in place: Safety at home

    Aging in place: Safety at home

    Most of us would like to remain in our homes as we age, and there are an increasing number of resources and services to aid those who wish to “age in place.” For improved safety, you will likely want to do home modifications. Some modifications are easy; others take more serious renovations.

    About four out of five older people own their homes. To continue to live safely in them, many need modifications. Here are some tips from the National Institute on Aging, AARP and Aging in Place

    Easy modifications to eliminate tripping hazards and prevent falls:

    • Remove throw rugs
    • Take care to keep electrical and phone cords out of the way
    • Remove low furniture
    • Remove or create a place for the bedspread; many an older person has tripped on a bedspread spilling out onto the floor
    • Move or remove all clutter

    More serious renovations for convenience and easy access:

    • If you have stairs at the entrance to your home, install a sloping walkway for ease of access and make sure pathways are clear and not slippery; the house number should be free and clear for emergency medical personnel to see, should the need arise
    • If you have a multi-story home, explore whether you could exclusively on the first floor to avoid stairs; if you use stairs, consider installing a stairlift
    • Widen doorways to accommodate wheelchairs and walkers; replace doorknobs and bathroom faucets with lever handles for ease of opening
    • Install counter space of variable heights in the kitchen, for those who wish to, or have to sit
    • Adjust shelving so that needed objects are within easy reach, or move those objects so that they can be reached without climbing or stretching
    • Ensure adequate lighting; nightlights that come on automatically should especially be placed near stairs, in hallways, and near bathrooms
    • Raise electrical outlets to 18 inches off the floor, so one doesn’t have to bend quite as low to plug and unplug
    • In the bathroom, grab bars become a must; check to make sure toilet seat is at a convenient height or needs raising; benches in the shower are a big help; they can be built in if a bathroom is being renovated; hand-held showerheads can be used for those using benches, as well as accommodating those standing
    • Some guides recommend smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of the home. Make sure you can hear them

    Some of these home modifications can be expensive, running into the thousands of dollars. But, they can also keep you from falling or otherwise hurting yourself and needing a caregiver or having to move, which is bound to be far costlier.

    You might be able to get help paying for these modifications. If you have Medicaid, it may help cover the cost of home modifications, depending where you live. And the Veterans Administration may also cover the cost of some home modifications.
    Occupational therapists can generally recommend key home modifications. There is also a growing industry of Certified Aging in Place Specialists.  Check with your area agency on aging.
    [N.B. This post was originally published on July 8, 2019.]
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  • Helping people with dementia stay independent

    Helping people with dementia stay independent

    In part three of a four-part series on caregiving and dementia, Julie Potyraj, community manager for the online master of public health at The George Washington University, looks into how caregivers can help preserve the independence and morale of dementia patients.

    Dementia can wreak havoc with people’s ability to do things for themselves. However, there are steps that can be taken to help dementia patients remain happy and independent in their homes during the early stages of the disease.

    Physical activity: Engaging in daily physical activity, such as walking, can help people with dementia maintain strength and flexibility. This allows them to continue performing routine tasks. If walking is not possible, even light stretching exercises can help.

    Socializing: By staying engaged with others and participating in shared activities (such as a hobby), people with dementia are able to stay independent for longer while also enjoying a better quality of life. Regular social interaction promotes a sense of belonging while reducing isolation.

    Home adaptation: There are ways to make the home environment safer and more accessible for people with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Modifications include painting doors a vivid color so that they’re easier to find and use, adding clear signs to help with navigation around the home, or installing reinforced handrails on both sides of stairways. For more, check out this Just Care post on safety at home for people with dementia.

    Assistive technology: This term refers to systems or devices that support people’s ability to maintain autonomy. Assistive technology such as smartphones and tablets can help dementia patients with speech, safe walking, hearing and eyesight, and memory and cognition.

    Lastly, caregivers can foster independence by basing their care on the needs of the individual—not what they think they should be doing as a caregiver. For instance, if someone is still able to prepare simple meals, they should be allowed to do so under supervision. Maintaining a positive and encouraging attitude can go a long way in helping people with dementia remain confident and capable for as long as possible.

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  • Is aging in place right for you?

    Is aging in place right for you?

    With the population in the United States aging at a rapid clip, we are seeing more home and community supports and services. Older adults have an increasing ability to remain in their homes and communities as they age. Not surprisingly, an AARP survey found that almost 90 percent of older adults want to remain in their homes as they grow older, and the aging in place concept is growing in popularity. But, aging in place is not right for everyone.

    Here, we’ll discuss what aging in place is all about—and how to determine if it’s a realistic and right option for you.

    What Is Aging in Place?

    Aging in place refers to the decision that people make to remain in their homes or communities as they age, for as long as they can. In order to age in place, older adults need access to whatever services and supports will ensure them a good quality of life over time.

    Of course, as we age, we must address an evolving array of issues related to our health, mobility, nutrition, self-care, and home safety. In addition, many older adults also face challenges related to memory and cognition. The possibility of multiple challenges means that in order to age in place, we should plan ahead—before the need for additional services and supports arises.

    What Services and Supports May be Needed?

    Each person’s individual situation will vary, but needed resources often include those related to mobility and activities of daily living, shopping and errands, meal preparation, social activities, finances, and health care. It also can be important to have a relative or close friend nearby and available to help you and provide support on a consistent basis.

    Some of the most common barriers that individuals face when it comes to aging in place relate to the structure and layout of their homes. It’s really important to adapt your home to meet future needs and to avoid major challenges later on. You want to be able to get in and out of your home without climbing stairs if at all possible. Ideally, your bedroom should be on the first floor. Doorways and passageways should accommodate wheelchairs and walkers. And, door and faucet handles should be levers, rather than knobs. A small amount of home modification work early on can go a long way to allowing you to remain in your home.

    According to the Bipartisan Policy Center that published the report, America’s Growing Senior Population, five universal design features can help ensure homes safety for older adults:

    • No-step entries
    • Single-floor living
    • Switches and outlets accessible at any height
    • Extra-wide hallways and doors to accommodate walkers and wheelchairs
    • Lever-style door and faucet handles

    The U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development’s consumer guide for home improvements provides a concise list of both simple and more involved improvements that you can start making to your home now and integrate into home updates in the years ahead.

    Before deciding to age in place, consider these five things:

    1. What modifications to your home do you need?
    2. Can you cover the cost of these home modifications?
    3. Who will care for you if you remain in your home? Is a local relative or close friend able to provide consistent help and support?
    4. Can you afford to hire additional help, if needed?
    5. Will you be able to socialize and get together with friends?

    As University of Florida professor and gerontologist Stephen M. Golant, the author of Aging in the Right Place notes, remaining at home as you age may not always be the best option: “Aging in place is not for everyone and may not be the right place, but there are alternatives that they should consider as ways to improve quality of life.” Some older adults might also want to consider aging in place villages.

    Golant says that the key to knowing if aging in place is right for you is to know yourself and what your needs are for maintaining your quality of life as you grow older.

    Here’s more from Just Care:

  • Five ways to ease your fear of falling

    Five ways to ease your fear of falling

    Editor’s note: According to the National Institutes of Health, more than one in three older adults falls each year and the likelihood of falling increases with age. More than 1.6 million of them end up in the emergency room, with bone fractures and other serious injuries. Dianne Lange of Senior Planet offers this advice to help prevent falls:
    Having a fear of falling is a slippery slope. It turns out that being afraid you’re going to fall increases the risk that you will take a tumble, even when you’ve never fallen before. Whether your fear of falling is due to physical or medical issues, or you’re just anxious, there are things you can do to help yourself stay upright:

    1. Do exercises for balance and strength. You want to make your legs stronger, improve your balance and raise your confidence level.

    • Tai Chi is a good example of a practice that does all three.
    • Yoga is strengthening and has many poses that improve balance, some of which you can do seated.
    • There are also balance exercises that you can do almost any where — including while you’re standing in line at the grocery store.

    2. If you’re taking medications, have your health care provider or pharmacist review them so you’ll know if any cause dizziness, make you sleepy or might cause you fall for any other reason.

    3. Have your vision checked.

    4. At home, put away anything you could trip over on stairs and paths that you often walk, so you won’t have to worry. You can find tips on making your home safe on the CDC website.

    5. Check out your shoes. The American Podiatric Association has a 1-2-3 test that can help you evaluate whether your shoes are optimal for balance.

    This post is excerpted from “5 Ways to Ease Your Fear of Falling” on Senior Planet. To read the entire article, click here.

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  • In many communities, U.S. postal service checks in on homebound older adults

    In many communities, U.S. postal service checks in on homebound older adults

    If you live too far away from a homebound older adult to check in regularly in person, the U.S. postal service may be able to keep a watch on your loved one for you. In many communities, letter carriers volunteer to be on the lookout for changes in the older adult’s routine that may indicate a problem.

    For registered individuals, the letter carriers will notice whether the mail is piling up, animals are in distress, lights are burning in the middle of the day and other signs of possible trouble. And, if there is a problem, they will alert the local social service agency that registered the individual.

    To learn more about the program, click here. You can also contact the local branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers or the post office to find out whether there is a Carrier Alert program in the community where your loved ones live.

    Here is more information from Just Care: