I can't believe it (and I say that every year around this time): Halloween has come and gone and Thanksgiving is already upon us, spiraling into the holiday season. People do a lot of traveling this time of year to visit family, friends and loved ones, which, in and of itself, can be difficult for very young children, seniors and people with disabilities. It can be further frustrating for all parties involved if the destination is not accessible, or "visit-able." According to
Inside Elder Care, visit-ability is a trend that has been gaining more and more support since the mid-1980s. This "movement" seeks to insure that all homes are at least partially accessible to people with mobility impairments.
There are some modifications in every area of your home, inside and out, that can be made to help visitors move about with greater ease. Many of these changes can be temporary or permanent, and can be low cost as well.
Outside, make sure that any areas that people will be walking on or using assistive mobility devices such as a walker, cane, wheelchair or scooter are clear of ice and snow. It's also recommended to have at least one zero-step entry into your home, so those that have physical limitations and cannot navigate stairs can enter your home easily.
Inside your home, you can make some simple alterations throughout most of the living areas to decrease injuries and frustrations, and also create greater ease of navigating throughout the home. Some free and easy changes include removing area rugs and floor mats, and securing thresholds and dividers between hard-surface and soft-surface floors to lower the risk of tripping and falling, and moving any pieces of furniture out of high-traffic areas such as family rooms/living rooms and hallways to provide easier movement and reduce falling risks for those using assistive mobility devices. Some low cost additions to make to your home include purchasing and installing temporary risers to your tables to allow enough leg room and knee clearance for those in wheelchairs; toilet seat lifts, shower benches and railings for the bathroom; and renting or purchasing ramps for step-entry doorways.
Read more about
visitability for seniors and the disabled.
The job of a caregiver can be rewarding and challenging, all in the same day! Adult children who take on the responsibility of providing elder care for their aging parents come to mind - juggling work and your own family in addition to caring for a parent with declining health can be quite an undertaking. Continued support is a key factor to promoting a healthy, efficient relationship between a caregiver and the person they are caring for. We are huge advocates of leveraging local resources whenever possible and finding time for yourself.
People who are emotionally and physically exhausted or guilt-ridden cannot provide good care. You may be taking care of a loved one 24 hours a day or you may be stopping at a nursing home every day after work to visit a relative. If you have multiple responsibilities you may find yourself feeling resentful toward the person to whom you are devoting so much time. According to the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide, as a caregiver, you should neither expect-nor try-to be on-call 24 hours a day. Every caregiver needs respite and relief. There are a variety of support systems available in most communities, including but not limited to:
- Mail-carrier alert program
- Meal programs
- Home health aides
- Homemakers
- Grocery delivery services
- Occupational, speech and physical therapists
- Social workers
- Respite care caregivers
- Sitters
- Nutritionists
Many caregivers may also find it helpful to share the responsibility with other members of the family. Have a family pow-wow to create a game plan and write out a schedule. Be sure to take into consideration that different people have different capacities (use the "20 Questions Every Family Caregiver Should Ask" ebook to guide your planning - get it here). Dividing responsibilities associated with caring for a loved one can be beneficial in a number of ways-giving the person receiving care an opportunity to spend time with loved ones, allowing family members to contribute in a way that they are comfortable with (i.e. a grandchild who is an accountant can be responsible for her grandpa's finances), but most importantly in giving caregivers a necessary break that all parties involved will appreciate.
Are you a caregiver? What are some things that you do to give yourself a break? Share them here!
Scamming has become so prevalent in society that popular talk show hosts Oprah Winfrey and Dr. Phil have dedicated
entire segments to the topic! Scammers will stop at nothing to get what they want, and seniors and the disabled are common prey for scam artists. Arm yourself with one of the best tools to combat scammer: knowledge. Knowledge is power and one of the best ways to making yourself and your loved ones less vulnerable is learning about what's going on out there, being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to defend yourself. Let's check out the latest in senior scamming:
A popular scam affecting seniors nationwide is one in which the senior receives a call from someone claiming to be with their county's medical office and requesting credit card information to charge a certain amount of money to "ensure the continuation of medical coverage." There is no reason why you should be charged to continue your medical coverage. Furthermore, you should be weary of distributing any financial information to anybody, let alone somebody with whom you are not familiar.
According to Scam Busters, a non-profit dedicated to seeking justice against scammers, upcoming changes in Medicare prescription drug programs may increase the prevalence of senior medical scams, so this is something to be aware of! Have you or has someone you love been the victim of scammers taking advantage of seniors? The best thing we can do is come together and promote awareness to better protect those who are most vulnerable. Share your experiences with us!
"Home sweet home," "Home is where the heart is" - there are many variations of these old sayings, but the meaning never changes. For many, including seniors, home is your sanctuary and, whether you're making dinner for friends or laying down for a nap, you deserve to feel safe and secure. Here are just a few ways to help promote safety in your home.
- If you must have rugs in your home, make sure they have rubber backing on them, or lay out rubber mats on bathroom and kitchen floors will help to prevent falls. You can also purchase comfortable socks and slippers that have rubber grips on the soles to avoid losing your footing on these smooth surfaces.
- Make sure the house is well lighted and equipped with nightlights.
- Lock your doors, both when you are at home and when you go out, to promote peace of mind and security-for you and your home.
- Direct electrical cords toward walls and secure them there; they should not run through walking areas.
- Post emergency phone numbers in large print next to every telephone.
- Install and maintain guard rails near stairs and/or ramps inside and outside of your home to ensure you will be able to grab onto something sturdy as you move in, out and about your home.
- Look for worn areas in carpets that could catch a foot and cause a fall.
- Get a dog! Dogs often make intruders get nervous about a barking dog and may deter them from breaking into your home. Plus, dogs make great companions and a great excuse to get out and take a stroll!
- Remove or rearrange furniture that is difficult to walk around.
- Audit any alarm systems you may have-fire, carbon monoxide, home security, etc.- to ensure that they have new batteries and are working properly.
Have you received great tips and advice about ways to safeguard your home? Share them here!
A
recent article in the New York Times discusses an issue that will become more prevalent as the senior population continues to grow: in-home safety. In recent years, technology has addressed this issue with products like motion censors that can alert 911 of a fall, special jewelry containing a button that, when pushed, can send for emergency personnel and clothing with built-in monitors that can detect accidents even outside of the home. But are these the only ways to ensure safety in the home? While they are helpful, not necessarily. Are these products safe? Probably. Affordable? I'm not so sure.
According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare (NCPSSM), in 2007, 3.6 million Americans aged 65 and older had family incomes below the poverty level. Coupled with about 7,000 elderly people dying in home-related accidents each year, seniors who choose to stay in their homes must have an affordable means of addressing safety issues. Luckily, there is hope in the form of some great resources for seniors, their families and caregivers, including an interactive home safety checklist created with the National Association of Homebuilders on the AARP's Web site. You can also visit the Home Safety Council's site, MySafeHome.net, and take the house tour, which points out possible dangers room by room.
Do you know of other helpful home safety resources? Share them here!