Assisted Living v. Aging in Place
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Volunteers to host symposium on ‘Aging in Place’
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Aging in Place symposium helps seniors with decisions
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New name for Aging in Place
Louis Tenenbaum has done it again. With his experience and insight, Louis Tenenbaum has come up with a better name for aging in place. Many of us in the industry have thought we needed a new term for some time. No one likes the term Aging. People recoil from the term and don’t like to think of themselves as old. Old is always five years older than whatever age I happen to be. Additionally, in spite of a lot of media attention, most people still don’t have any idea what Aging in Place is. Louis has suggested that instead of Aging in Place we call it Long Term Care at Home. Most people understand what long term care is. What we are saying is that you can choose to receive long term care at home instead of in a facility. Not only CAN you choose it, but it is the BEST choice. Brilliant! Read the full article here: http://www.louistenenbaum.com/aging-in-place-is-the-best-long-term-care-strategy/
First Aging in Place National Planning Day
The first aging in place national planning day has been set for October 15. As part of aging in place week, the planning day is a day set aside for people to make a plan to remain safely and comfortably in their homes for the rest of their lives. Up until now, aging in place (or Long Term Care at Home, a better term coined by Louis Tenenbaum) has been the concept that by accessing resources including financial, healthcare, personal care, transportation, home modifications, etc. at home rather than in a facility. What has been missing in many if not most scenarios has been a plan to make that happen. That is the goal of the aging in place planning day. resources will be available from the National Aging in Place Council to help in the process. Look for local events all over the country to help people put together an aging in place plan. Stay tuned here for information on a local event here in the Roanoke Valley.
Home Modifications Questions and Answers
This month I will begin an occasional series in Housing Matters listing some of the questions that get asked about various subjects concerning home modifications and their answers. If you have questions you would like to see answered here, please send them to cmoore@solidrockenterprises.com or call 540-384-2064. I hope this information is helpful to you. How do I know if home modifications are necessary? Many times, particularly if an aging parent lives alone, the other family members may not be aware of the struggles their loved one is having. Make a point when visiting to observe how they get around the house. Input from their doctor and other health care professionals may give you insight on their abilities and areas of difficulty. If you have concerns, it is probably time to consider an assessment. Find a contractor who specializes in home modification and who will coordinate with their health care team. What are the most important home modifications to have done? I break home modifications down into three categories, safety, accessibility, and convenience. While there is certainly some overlap and most projects will have elements of each, we need to consider the priority of projects in this order. Anything that presents a fall or other safety hazard should be taken care of immediately. Those modifications which enhance accessibility should be done as soon as possible, and those which are primarily for convenience can be delayed if budgetary concerns warrant. My loved one is very unsteady and I am worried about falls. What can I do to help prevent falls? You are correct to be concerned about falls. About one third of adults over the age of 65 fall each year, and of those who fall, two thirds will fall again within six months. The first thing you should do is make sure that there are no trailing extension cords, loose throw rugs, or clutter that could present a tripping hazard. Then make sure you have railings or grab bars installed wherever practical as something to hold onto. Having hand holds in place before they are needed will get you in the habit of reaching for them, so that when you need them the habit is already ingrained. Please don’t wait until after a fall to take action! Consider replacing slippery flooring with a non slip alternative. Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What are the most important home modifications to have done? I break home modifications down into three categories, safety, accessibility, and convenience. While there is certainly some overlap and most projects will have elements of each, we need to consider the priority of projects in this order. Anything that presents a fall or other safety hazard should be taken care of immediately. Those modifications which enhance accessibility should be done as soon as possible, and those which are primarily for convenience can be delayed if budgetary concerns warrant. It is hard for me to get in and out of the bathtub and I am afraid of falling. What should I do? I would strongly recommend that you have some grab bars installed. Having a strong handhold is especially important in the bathroom where surfaces are slippery and falls are common. In addition, you might want to consider a tub cut that converts your existing bathtub into a step in shower or removing the tub and installing a curbless shower. Also, if the floor of the bathroom or the shower is slippery, consider applying a non slip coating or stick on treads for a better grip.
Medical Resources and Solutions
Housing Matters is excited to announce a collaborative effort with Medical Resources and Solutions. Our new showroom is now open at 2067 Electric Rd. (OakGrovePlaza next door to McDonalds). Medical Resources and Solutions is a specialty DME dealer owned by Mark Seidel. They specialize in wound care and offer specialty durable medical equipment that is not available from other DME dealers in the area. Through the combined resources and experience of Medical Resources and Solutions and Senior Remodeling Experts (a division of Solid Rock Enterprises, Inc.) we will be able to provide solutions for people with nearly any medical or aging related need in their homes. Mark and I share a belief that providing solutions to people’s problems is our primary vocation. In a world where customer service is an increasingly rare commodity, we are pleased to bring you a showroom where you will find solutions to a myriad of conditions that many of us are struggling with. Here are some of the products and services you will find represented at the new showroom: Lifts Stair lifts, Chair lifts, platform lifts, portable seat lifts, and ceiling lifts for temporary or permanent use can help those with limited mobility and their caregivers get through their days a little easier. Ramps Aluminum, steel and wooden temporary wheelchair ramps as well as permanent ramps to blend in with the style of any home or business. Elevators Commercial and residential elevators for any use Specialized Medical Equipment If there is any type of specialized medical equipment you need, come see us, we can probably help. Renovation If any area inside or outside of your home isn’t meeting your needs, we have the experience and expertise to renovate it to meet your needs for a lifetime. Remote monitoring We offer the Simply Home system which monitors the activities of anyone who needs it and can send an alert in the event of any trouble or concern. Also available are automated medication dispensers, telehealth wellness tools, and a GPS medical alert that works whether you are home or away. Safeway Steps A tub cut with or without a tub door allows your existing bathtub to be converted into a step in shower quickly and inexpensively. Often combined with gab bars, tub seats, and handheld showers to make showering easier for those with mobility issues. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling The kitchen and bathroom are two of the areas that can be most difficult to negotiate for someone with mobility issues. We have years of experience creating accessible solutions. Solutions for Wound Care Including supplies and the ability to bill the insurance carriers for the service. Adaptive devices for ADL- Activities of daily living Handy items to help with the daily activities associated with care. Special Air Flow Mattresses to combat Bed sores ( decubitus) Special equipment that adapts to the home like they use at the hospital or the nursing home. For more information give us a call at 540-384-2064 or 540-989-0823 or come by and see us at 2067 Electric Rd next to McDonalds. Thank you for reading Housing Matters!
Article on Aging in Place
We were recently featured in an article about aging in place Here is a link if you would like to check it out: http://www.nowu.com/article/nurture/aging-in-place/12214191/
Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council
As the Director of Education for the Western and Central Virginia Aging in Place Council I am pleased to announce that we are officially in business. The purpose of the Council is to raise awareness of the benefits of aging in place also known as long term care at home. We will be holding events throughout the area to help educate people on the value of staying home as they age and how to access the resources needed to do so safely and comfortably. If you own a business or are involved with an organization that services seniors in their homes in western or central Virginia, we would love to have you join us. For more information, visit http://www.ageinplace.org/Local-Chapters/Western-and-Central-Virginia Our next meeting will be Tuesday, July 29 at 4:30 at ProSource in Roanoke
