As life expectancy increases, the issue of maintaining health and independence has become a priority, especially among the aging baby boomer population. Most seniors wish to remain at home and independent throughout their final years. Medical and technological advances make this more possible now than ever before. The following are some tips for seniors to ensure they remain active and healthy during their golden years.
1. Create a secure environment.
Safety should be at the forefront of every senior’s mind. Falls are the most common reason seniors lose their independence. Almost 500,000 people over age 65 are hospitalized each year due to fall-related injuries. Sadly, these injuries often lead to permanent disability and even death. The good news is falls are entirely preventable. Seniors and their families should conduct a thorough safety review of the home. The review should take into account the senior’s specific health, cognitive, and mobility related issues. Remember to reassess safety whenever there is a change in physical or mental status.
2. Embrace technology.
One of the most valuable pieces of technology for any senior is an emergency alert device. These devices instantly connect a person to emergency services with the touch of a button in the event of a fall or other accident. Assistive devices are available to make it easier for seniors to perform daily activities such as dressing, cooking, and bathing. Easy to operate electronic pill boxes are even available to remind seniors to take medication properly. Your doctor, medical supply company, or home health agency can help you find the right assistive devices for your situation.
3. Set healthcare goals.
The act of setting a goal often has a positive impact on a person’s overall outlook. Setting goals provides a sense of empowerment and control over one’s circumstances. Setting healthcare goals should be a collaborative effort involving the senior, their family, and the doctor. The goals should not try to fix everything at once. The goals should involve one or two specific steps the senior can take to improve their overall quality of life. For example, the doctor may advise the senior to increase exercise. The senior may not care about exercise or losing weight but may desire to remain in the home to be with a beloved dog. You can use the emotional connection to bring the two goals together by encouraging the senior to take more frequent walks with the dog.
When the subject of elderly parents living with their adult children comes up, an idyllic scene of the old TV show "The Walton's" might come to mind where three generations lived in one big farmhouse. However, reality is quite different from a TV show. Today's average home is smaller, and adult children often have spouses, children and pets in homes where a parent or parents might be moving in. Regardless of whether the situation is temporary or permanent, caused by financial constraints or insurance coverage or just because of a debt of love, the change can be made much easier and safer by completing some simple home adaptations.
Common Needs In Senior Home Care
Compromised strength, range of motion and balance are the fundamentals considered when adapting homes for their care. Compromised cognitive abilities may also apply. The degree of severity differs for each person needing care, but typically adaptive needs are similar. The most dangerous room in homes for elders has always been the bathroom. Slips and falls that cause serious injury mostly occur there. Thresholds transitioning from one floor surface to another, from one room to another and from indoors to outdoors are another high hazard area. Burns while preparing food, navigating stairs and tripping over throw rugs, objects left on the floor and furniture edges are also common. Adaptive equipment minimizes injury potential.
Examples of Easy Home Adaptations to Enhance Senior Care
The first changes should be in the bathroom. Adding shower/tub chairs, elevated toilet seats and non-slip surfaces to floors, tubs and showers is a must. Most of these devices are available in practically any department store pharmacy at a low cost with no professional home renovations being required. Thresholds can be made safely navigable by walkers and wheelchairs by installing threshold ramps available at home supply centers. The rubber ones are available in different heights, and installation only involves placing them at the door like a door mat. Telescoping grab handles make it easier for seniors to retrieve light objects that have fallen onto the floor or are stored in overhead cabinets. Having favorite microwaveable foods always available helps to prevent burns and potential fires from stove cooking.
Caregiver Training Is Part of Home Adaptation
All of the best devices that aid with adult children providing care to elderly parents cannot compare to proper training. An example is patient lifts available in most care facilities. They are quite expensive but make it easy to lift the full weight of a person. However, there are proper lifting methods that make it much easier to do routine lifts of seniors who have difficulty standing. Knowledge of proper lifting procedures takes the strain off of caregivers and reduces the risk of injury for both seniors and caregivers. Training on methods such as this are available but may require asking medical professionals involved in senior care for advice on how to obtain it.
It would be nice if every home where seniors are cared for could be adapted using the latest technologies and equipment, but the reality is that families are most often under the strain of compromising on space and costs. Still, a little forethought and asking for help from available professionals can make the adaptation of a home to provide safe senior home care much easier, even on the tightest of budgets.
