If you have parents or relatives in their 70s or 80s, you may be facing an increasingly common challenge: ensuring they can remain safe and comfortable where they're living right now.
Unfortunately, the physical changes that tend to occur in all of us as we get older - in our vision, hearing, strength, flexibility and mobility - can make an elder's desire to age at home a tough goal to meet.
While hiring a housekeeper or live-in companion may be part of the answer, another critical component - simple modifications to the home environment itself - can make a significant contribution to an individual's safety and functional independence. This is where Accommodating Homes comes in.
Safety FirstReducing the risk of injury is our first priority. Falls, in particular, can be insidious. These are the most frequent cause of injury-related deaths among seniors and the most common cause of nursing home admission. And 10% are responsible for a lasting loss of function. Based on your loved one's specific needs, the modifications we suggest may include:
- The installation of bathroom safety devices, such as grab
bars, hand rails, raised toilet seats, bath benches and shower seats. - Improved lighting
- Non-slip flooring
- Furniture rearrangement
- Measures to improve stair safety
- Easier-to-access shelves and storage
- A personal emergency response system
If long distances or demanding schedules make it hard for you to visit as often as you'd like, Accommodating Homes can also discuss options for home monitoring systems and smart-home technology features that help you stay connected.
Easy Does ItBesides addressing safety issues, Accommodating Homes will suggest ways to make the activities of daily life easier. Depending on the circumstances, these recommendations may involve more extensive home changes and/or the use of low-tech and high-tech support tools. Among these are:
- Entry way modifications: ramps, door-widening, lever handles, package shelves
- Bath and kitchen enhancements and redesign
- Assistive devices for clients with low vision or a hearing impairment
- Automated windows and shades
- Remote locks/keyless entry systems
- Other smart home technologies that automate home functions
- Assistive aids for bathing, dressing, food preparation and dining, among others
Our occupational therapists also make a special effort to learn about the interests and passions that contribute to our clients' quality of life and place a priority on facilitating them.
Caring About CaregiversWhile our major goal is to promote successful aging in place for our clients, we also recognize the integral role a caregiver may play in that process. Thus, the needs of an individual's caregivers relative to the client are also the focus of our assessment and recommendations.