2014年12月29日 星期一

新聞選輯:Aging At Home: Making It Possible

Aging At Home: Making It Possible
December 27, 2014 by Dan Schneider ·

Caregivers in Cupertino, CA – Use These Helpful Ideas to Ensure Your Loved One’s Home is Safe

Many senior citizens are following a popular trend called aging at home. More and more elderly adults are choosing to stay in their homes instead of moving to a senior facility. Staying in the comfort of their own homes can be beneficial to a senior’s health and well-being. When planning for your senior parent to age at home, it’s a good idea to look at renovations or slight changes in furniture arrangement to make the environment safer and less prone to falls.

Is the home safe for an elderly adult? Some important things to consider in a home include:
Look for slippery floors such as tile that could cause a fall. Or any rugs or loose carpeting could be a trip hazard as well.
Sometimes a senior will live in an older home that some maintenance Hire a handyman to help make the necessary changes.
Falling is a common occurrence for some seniors so a home with stairs may not be the best option.
If the senior needs a wheelchair, check to see if the hallways and doorways are wide enough. A home modification may need to be done to make the home wheelchair accessible.
Adequate lighting is another way to prevent falls.
Check the bathroom to see if the shower or tub might be a problem and cause a slip and fall. Also, the toilet may be too low for a senior with mobility issues so adding an elevated toilet seat and grab bars could be helpful.
Items in the kitchen should be accessible so the senior doesn’t have to do a lot of reaching up high.

How close does the senior live to friends and family?
For many seniors, isolation and depression can become a problem. To combat this issue, having family and friends or a senior community nearby is important.

Are there sufficient resources close by?
A lot of seniors still drive but may need to use public transportation down the road. It’s important that the senior have their doctor’s office nearby as well as shopping, senior transportation, entertainment and a senior center.
Stay informed of crime rates in the community and teach your senior parent to be safe. For example, Gerard never locked the door of his vehicle when he was growing up in the country, but now in the big city it isn’t safe to leave car doors unlocked. The same goes for house doors.

Does your elderly mom need a caregiver to help her with bathing and dressing? Would your mom welcome the idea of getting help making home-cooked meals? Perhaps it’s time to consider hiring a home care provider.

FROM: http://www.guidancehc.com/aging-at-home-making-it-possible/

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