The IDEA Publishing
  • HOME
  • Popular IDEAS
    • IDEAS for Your Better Business Life >
      • The Business Idea
      • The Career IDEA
      • The Money Idea
    • IDEAS for Your Better Diversions >
      • The Tech IDEA
      • The Travel IDEA
      • The Auto IDEA
      • The Outdoors IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Better Table >
      • The Food IDEA
      • IDEAS de Cocina Espanola
    • IDEAS for a Better You >
      • The Health IDEA
      • Living Well IDEAS
      • The Fitness IDEA
      • The Beauty IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Happier Home >
      • The Home Idea
      • The Entertaining Idea
      • The Parenting Idea
      • The Senior Living IDEA
      • The Pet IDEA
  • The Video Domain
    • Video IDEAS for Your Better Business Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • ads.txt
The_Senior_Living_IDEA
The Senior Living IDEA

The Senior Living IDEA

New Ideas and Good Advice to Make Your Golden Years Your Best Years!

Simple Ways to Help Caregivers Focus on Their Own Wellbeing

2/28/2020

Comments

 
Picture
Caregiving without Giving Up on Yourself

The stark reality is that more and more Americans each and every day find themselves taking on the role of caregiver for a family member. This can present immense physical and emotional challenges. The first steps suggested here can help you find some balance as you navigate your caregiver journey.

Learn more by reading the full Medium article here.

Comments

5 Questions to Ask When Planning for Long-Term Care

10/17/2019

Comments

 

Even if you’ve worked hard to save for retirement and create the financial security you want in the future, the need for long-term care could throw a wrench into even the most well-thought-out plans and impact you and your loved ones’ finances. Consider these questions as you begin the long-term care planning process.


5 Questions to Ask When Planning for Long-Term Care

(Family Features) You may not want to consider a time when you might not be able to fully take care of yourself, but the reality is there is almost a 70% chance someone turning 65 today will need some type of long-term care service and support in his or her lifetime, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Even if you’ve worked hard to save for retirement and create the financial security you want in the future, the need for long-term care could throw a wrench into even the most well-thought-out plans and impact you and your loved ones’ finances.

Consider these questions as you begin the long-term care planning process.

What is long-term care?
Different from traditional medical care that treats illnesses and injuries, long-term care includes services designed to help you maintain your quality of life and perform everyday activities even if age, illness, injury or a severe cognitive impairment make it a challenge to take care of yourself for an extended period of time. Long-term care services help with common daily functions including dressing, bathing and eating, and even skilled nursing services such as giving medication.

When should you start thinking about long-term care planning?
Because you never know when a need for care may arise, planning for care when you are younger and healthier can provide additional options as you’re more likely to qualify for coverage. Plus, cost is based on your age when you apply, so waiting can end up costing you more. Some people are beginning to plan as early as in their 40s.

How much does long-term care cost?
Long-term care costs vary depending on where you live, the type of care provided and the setting. Home-care services average $24-$135 per hour, according to the New York Life Cost of Care Survey, while private rooms in nursing homes can cost more than $100,000 a year.

Long-term care is generally not covered by health insurance, and government programs like Medicare or Medicaid have limitations, which often isn’t discovered until care is needed. However, New York Life offers long-term care options to AARP members and provides specially trained agents who can provide guidance. The agents can work with you and your family to create a customized plan based on your financial goals, helping protect your assets should you ever require long-term care.

Where is care provided?
Long-term care can be provided in a variety of settings, including at home, in an assisted-living facility or in a nursing home depending on the amount and type of care needed. In fact, some insurance plans cover care on a part-time basis by a family member or home health worker. Planning ahead can allow for more control over how and where you receive care.

How much coverage do you need?
The amount of coverage you need typically varies based on several considerations including budget, age, the type of care expected and how much of your assets and income you may be willing to use to offset the care costs. You don’t have to cover your entire risk – choosing a modest amount of coverage can still provide benefits and help protect other assets.

While planning for long-term care can seem daunting, you can find more benefits and information to make the process easier at aarp.org/benefits.

 

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
AARP Services, Inc.

KEYWORDS

  • AARP ×
  • adult children ×
  • advice ×
  • age in place ×
  • aging ×
  • aging in place ×
  • aging parents ×
  • assisted living ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • estate planning ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • family finances ×
  • finances ×
  • financial planning ×
  • hacks ×
  • health insurance ×
  • home care ×
  • insurance ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • long-term care ×
  • Medicaid ×
  • Medicare ×
  • money ×
  • nursing home ×
  • personal finances ×
  • plans ×
  • quality ×
  • quality of life ×
  • retirement planning ×
  • sandwich generation ×
  • savings ×
  • tips

RSS Feed

Comments

Ways to Make the World a Better Place for Seniors

8/23/2019

Comments

 
senior-care
Photo by Matthias Zomer from Pexels

Without proper support, seniors may face a wide range of issues including limited mobility, chronic conditions, improper nutrition and feelings of loneliness. For example, older adults can have problems chewing or may take medications which interfere with their appetites. However, research shows lack of companionship may be the biggest challenge. Small gestures, like these simple acts of kindness, can go a long way toward improving a senior’s day.


Ways to Make the World a Better Place for Seniors

(Family Features) By 2050, the senior population (adults age 65 and older) will be more than double that of the world’s youngest citizens, and the number of people living beyond age 80 is expected to triple over the next 30 years.

As the aging population increases, some 11.3 million seniors are living alone, according to the Institute on Aging. In addition, women are twice as likely as older men to live by themselves.

Without proper support, seniors may face a wide range of issues including limited mobility, chronic conditions, improper nutrition and feelings of loneliness. For example, older adults can have problems chewing or may take medications which interfere with their appetites. However, research shows lack of companionship may be the biggest challenge.

In fact, an AARP survey found 1 in 5 adults over the age of 40 were “socially disconnected,” which can impact health. People who reportedly experienced loneliness and isolation had lower mental well-being scores, and those who were dissatisfied with their level of social engagement were more likely to report a decline in cognitive function, as well.

While anyone can benefit from a kind gesture, seniors are some of the most in-need members in many communities. There is likely a wide range of opportunities to enhance the lives of seniors in your area. Numerous programs and agencies exist to help you determine the best way to make a difference.

One example is Ready to Care, an initiative from Home Instead Senior Care that challenges people to complete weekly care missions. Each activity guides members through various ways to give to senior-related causes, learn about the aging crisis and issues impacting seniors, and serve seniors through small actions of kindness.

Most care missions are simple acts, such as opening a door, learning about Alzheimer’s or helping with a chore. Each week, a new mission is delivered to participants’ phones via text message.

Small gestures, like these simple acts of kindness, can go a long way toward improving a senior’s day.

Physical assistance: Most seniors are eager to retain their independence, but everyday tasks can pose fall risks or require exposure to harsh weather conditions that can be dangerous to older adults.

  • Offer to bring in the daily newspaper or mail.
  • Mow their lawn or offer to help with other yardwork.
  • Lend a hand in caring for pets, such as taking a dog for a walk or helping clean up waste from the yard.
  • Offer moral support and a sense of physical safety by volunteering to join them on a walk.

Social support: Loneliness is common among seniors, especially those who live alone. Show seniors in your area they have a meaningful place in the community and options for companionship.

  • Offer a friendly wave and say hello when you see them out.
  • Invite them to dinner, either at your home or at a restaurant.
  • Have your children or kids you know in the area draw pictures or write letters.
  • Make a date for an afternoon or evening of entertainment, such as cards, a movie or board games.

Practical solutions: For various reasons, some seniors may be unable to complete everyday tasks. Offer a helping hand in their daily routines when possible.

  • Lend your time to take them to run errands.
  • Deliver baked goods or a home-cooked meal to improve access to nourishing foods.
  • Help arrange for professional assistance and services, such as an audit to ensure homes are safe.

How You Can Help

Consider these simple ways you can help the aging population by taking action and learning about issues impacting seniors:

  • Lend your voice. Be an advocate for change in public actions and medical research for the aging society. If you’re an expert by experience, share your knowledge about senior-related issues and public policy measures.
  • Give from your heart. Less than 1% of charitable donations go to organizations that help seniors. Find senior-focused non-profits to give your next charitable donations to, such as one dedicated to raising awareness, inspiring change and accelerating progress in Alzheimer’s care and research.
  • Get prepared to care. Educate yourself on issues that impact seniors and complete small acts of kindness for seniors in your life. Sign up for weekly care missions and find additional information to better equip yourself to care for seniors at imreadytocare.com.
  • Give your time. Volunteer with local non-profit organizations that help seniors or offer support related to senior-affiliated issues.

To find more ways you can care for the seniors in your community, visit imreadytocare.com.

SOURCE:
Home Instead Senior Care


KEYWORDS

  • AARP×
  • active seniors×
  • advice×
  • Alzheimers×
  • appetite×
  • appetites×
  • brain×
  • brain health×
  • care×
  • caregivers×
  • caregiving×
  • chewing×
  • cognitive×
  • cognitive functioning×
  • dementia×
  • depression×
  • eating×
  • education×
  • eldercare×
  • elderly×
  • hacks×
  • learning×
  • lifehacks×
  • loneliness×
  • meals×
  • medical research×
  • medication×
  • medications×
  • mental×
  • mental health×
  • quality of life×
  • research×
  • seniors×
  • survey×
  • swallowing×
  • thinking×
  • tips×
  • volunteer×
  • volunteering×
  • volunteer work×
  • widow×
  • widower​


RSS Feed

Comments

Aiding Aging Parents

1/28/2019

Comments

 
elderly_asian_woman_and_daughter

It’s not easy getting old, as the saying goes, and it can be even harder to watch your parents age. Helping parents transition into the later years of their lives can be a delicate matter, but there are ways to help them ease into an elderly stage and cope better with challenges. For example, consider these tips and ways to aid aging parents.


Aiding Aging Parents

4 tips to help overcome new challenges

(Family Features) It’s not easy getting old, as the saying goes, and it can be even harder to watch your parents age. Helping parents transition into the later years of their lives can be a delicate matter, but there are ways to help them ease into an elderly stage and cope better with challenges.

Carol Lavin Bernick, former executive chairman of Alberto Culver, navigated this type of life transition with her parents. In her book, “Gather As You Go: Lessons Learned Along the Way,”Bernick offers tips to give and get joy while preserving your parents’ dignity in addition to wisdoms on business and leadership, philanthropy, dealing with tough times and being a working mom.

For example, consider these tips and ways to aid aging parents:

Provide Entertainment
Music can be a helpful gift – try loading a music player with a playlist of your parents’ favorite songs. Old movies can also spark conversation. Host a luncheon for some of their best friends and make their favorite treats. They may be housebound, but there are still ways for them to interact.

Adjust to Physical Changes
Reading materials could require larger-than-normal print, and a magnifying clip-on screen for a computer can be helpful as well. Serving foods that are easier to cut can make eating a simpler process. Keep an eye on weight and nutrition and try to find someone who will make a house call for haircuts.

Relive Memories
Encourage older relatives to write (or dictate) their thoughts on financial tips, military service, business success, valued life lessons and, of course, the stories of how they met their spouses. Make a family tree together and try creating a photobook with old and new pictures. Share news about family members’ relationships and accomplishments, which might bring back personal memories.

Consider the Little Things
Surprise your parents with a few new pieces of clothing for a thoughtful gift. Laminate a list of their medications and their doctors to keep with you in case of emergency and provide a copy to your parents and any other caregivers. Create a contact list on your parents’ mobile phone to help them easily reach family and friends without needing to search. If there are young children in the family, try bringing them by for a visit – their energy and smiles may help brighten the room.

Find more tips to assist aging relatives at gatherasyougo.com .

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

SOURCE:
Gather As You Go

KEYWORDS


  • advice ×
  • aging ×
  • aging parents ×
  • care ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • entertainment ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • hacks ×
  • helping ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • memories ×
  • memory ×
  • music ×
  • read ×
  • reading ×
  • relatives ×
  • sandwich generation ×
  • senior citizens ×
  • seniors ×
  • sibling ×
  • siblings ×
  • songs ×
  • tips ×
  • traditions

RSS Feed


Comments

Caring for Caregivers

7/12/2018

Comments

 
caring_for_caregivers
Caring for Caregivers

While caring for an older family member – whether it be a spouse, parent or grandparent – can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a difficult and overwhelming task. This is especially true if your loved one lives with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses. Being aware of some of the warning signs of burnout can help caregivers properly manage stress and protect themselves.


Caring for Caregivers

How to prevent caregiver burnout

(Family Features) While caring for an older family member – whether it be a spouse, parent or grandparent – can be a rewarding experience, it can also be a difficult and overwhelming task. This is especially true if your loved one lives with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementia-related illnesses.

Whether it’s out of love or obligation, caring for a chronically ill or disabled family member (and potentially his or her financial and legal interests) can come at the expense of the caregiver’s quality of life. In addition to maintaining a healthy, active lifestyle outside of caregiving responsibilities, it is important for those caring for a loved one to learn ways to avoid health hazards and stay well-informed of any changes in their loved one’s condition. Add work and children to care for to the equation and it’s a formula that can lead to stress, exhaustion and even potential health issues.

The additional duties often required to provide care for a loved one can lead to physical or emotional fatigue, often referred to as “caregiver burnout.” If you’re caring for an older adult, the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America recommends these tips to help manage stress before caregiving leads to burnout.

Know the signs of burnout. By the time many caregivers suspect signs of burnout, they’re likely already suffering symptoms related to their responsibilities. Being aware of some of the warning signs can help caregivers properly manage stress and protect themselves. Warning signs include:

  • Overwhelming fatigue or lack of energy
  • Experiencing sleep issues
  • Significant changes in eating habits or weight
  • Losing interest in activities you once enjoyed
  • Neglecting personal physical and emotional needs
  • Becoming unusually impatient, irritable or argumentative
  • Having anxiety about the future or a feeling of hopelessness
  • Suffering from headaches, stomachaches or other physical ailments
  • Experiencing depression or mood swings
  • Having difficulty coping with everyday tasks
  • Lower resistance to illnesses

Educate yourself about the disease. It’s likely the loved one you care for has several health problems, takes multiple medications and sees multiple health care providers to manage his or her conditions. As a first step in learning more about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia-related illnesses, visit alzfdn.org or nia.nih.gov/alzheimers for information. Support groups, educational workshops, community resources and professionals can also help increase your understanding of the disease and what to expect so you can be a better-informed and prepared caregiver.

Be prepared for important decisions. Take care of financial, legal and long-term care planning issues early on to help reduce stress later. Try to involve the individual in decision-making if he or she is capable, and consider personal wishes regarding future care and end-of-life issues.

Build your care skills. Key skills for any caregiver include communication, understanding safety considerations and behaviors, and managing activities of daily living such as bathing, toileting and dressing. Some organizations and local hospitals may even offer classes specific to your loved one’s disease that can aid you in the process.

Develop empathy. Try to understand what it is like to be a person living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Put yourself in the affected person’s shoes while also recognizing your own losses. Manage your expectations of your loved one and remain patient.

Ask for help when you need it. Reach out to medical and mental health professionals as well as family and friends. They can assist you when things get tough. In addition, there are typically programs, agencies and organizations in your community that can help manage the challenges of caring for older parents, grandparents, spouses and other older adults.

Advocate for and connect with your loved one. Take an active role in the individual’s medical care. Get to know the care team, ask questions, express concerns and discuss treatment options. Also remember to connect on a personal level through kindness, humor and creativity, which are essential parts of caregiving and can help reduce stress.

Think positive. Focus on the capabilities and strengths that are still intact and enjoy your relationship with your loved one while you are still together. Look for ways to include him or her in your daily routines and gatherings to make as many memories as possible.

Find more caregiver resources and tips at alzfdn.org.

Tips for Managing Caregiver Stress

Stress can affect anyone and caregivers may find themselves faced with additional stressors. To help manage stress and avoid caregiver burnout, keep these tips from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America in mind:

  • Maintain a positive attitude
  • Be flexible and accept the circumstances
  • Be honest and open about your feelings
  • Take it one day at a time
  • Get a good night’s sleep
  • Incorporate stress management techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, as well as exercise into your daily routine
  • Drink plenty of water and eat a healthful diet full of fruits and vegetables
  • Set realistic goals and go slow

Getting Help with Caregiving

Everyone needs a break from time to time, even caregivers. Look into respite programs for a chance to care for yourself. Types of respite include:

Home Care

  • Home care is often initiated by a doctor’s order or hospital stay and administered by medical professionals who come into the home and help with personal care and housekeeping functions.
  • Medicare covers some home health services.

 Adult Day Programs

  • Social-model programs offer stimulation, socialization and therapeutic activities in a community-based group setting and often include meals.
  • Medical-model programs (adult day health care programs), offer health-based services as well as social activities in a group setting.
  • Some programs include assistance with activities of daily living and transportation.
  • Adult day services charge per hour and may be covered under some long-term care insurance policies.
  • Medicaid covers some adult day health programs.

 Facility-Based Respite

  • Provide a short stay for your loved one in a nursing home or another facility.
  • Facilities typically charge for each day your loved one is in their care.
  • Medicare or Medicaid may cover some costs of an inpatient facility.

 Family and Friends

  • Identify responsible family members and friends who can lend a hand in providing supervision for your loved one and create a rotating care schedule, if possible.
  • Enlist the help of family members living in different states by assigning them tasks such as legal or financial paperwork.

Photos courtesy of Dreamstime (Couple walking)

SOURCE:
Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

KEYWORDS

  • adult children ×
  • advice ×
  • age ×
  • Alzheimers ×
  • Alzheimer's Association ×
  • Alzheimer's Disease ×
  • anxiety ×
  • assisted living ×
  • care ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • dementia ×
  • education ×
  • eldercare ×
  • family ×
  • Family Features ×
  • hacks ×
  • illness ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • neurology ×
  • nursing home ×
  • psychiatry ×
  • psychology ×
  • routine ×
  • sleep ×
  • sleeping ×
  • stress
  • support ×
  • tips

Comments

Are you a caregiver? Try these 7 resources

7/11/2018

Comments

 

Resources_for_caregivers
Resources for caregivers

Caregivers need and deserve support as they navigate a demanding, emotional and critical responsibility. The good news is there are resources and services like the following that can help make life as a caregiver a bit easier.



(BPT) - When David Bowen’s father fell taking out the trash in 2016, it set in motion a series of health challenges the family is still battling together. Bowen, 62, hired a part-time professional caregiver to assist his father and his mother, who was battling Alzheimer’s, but he found himself serving as a caregiver much of the time, too.

The responsibility of caregiving can mean increased stress and anxiety, which can affect family dynamics, nutrition habits, physical fitness and overall well-being. Many people take unpaid leave from their jobs, reduce work hours, change careers or quit altogether to care for an aging loved one.
The 2018 Northwestern Mutual C.A.R.E. Study revealed that two of three caregivers reduce their living expenses to pay for the medical and practical needs of their loved ones, yet nearly half of future caregivers said they have made no financial plans to prepare.

While this can be challenging, caregivers take immense pride in this vital role, and most wouldn’t trade the opportunity. In fact, a recent Merrill Lynch-Age Wave study found that 91 percent of caregivers feel grateful to care for someone and 77 percent would do it again.

Caregivers need and deserve support as they navigate a demanding, emotional and critical responsibility. The good news is there are resources and services like the following that can help make life as a caregiver a bit easier.

Caregiver resource list


* The National Family Caregiver Support Program offers medical, emotional, financial and legal advice and training to adult family members who provide in-home and community care for people aged 60 or older and to people older than 55 who care for children under 18.

* AARP’s Caregiver Resource Center offers guides for first-time caregivers, families and those who care for a loved one at home. These include financial and legal considerations and advice on how to maintain caregiver-life balance.

* While the Administration for Community Living doesn’t work directly with individuals, it can be a good place for a caregiver to start on the circuitous path to financial support. The organization provides funds to help older adults and people with disabilities live where they choose to for as long as they can, and has provided billions of dollars to programs in every state.

* UnitedHealthcare proactively addresses caregiver needs by sharing relevant information and resources. Its Solutions for Caregivers program, for example, is a website for eligible members to get advice from medical professionals, financial advisers and experienced care managers; take advantage of discounted products and services; and access educational resources. Non-members can find a directory of organizations that focus on issues including Parkinson’s disease, substance abuse, blindness, MS, Alzheimer’s and diabetes.

* The National Alliance for Caregiving focuses on caregiving research, innovation and technology, state and local caregiving coalitions, and international caring. It is working to build a global network of caregiver support organizations.

* The Caregiver Action Network (CAN) serves a broad spectrum of family caregivers, ranging from parents of children with special needs, to families and friends of wounded soldiers, to adult children caring for aging parents. Aiming to promote resourcefulness and respect for the more than 90 million family caregivers across the country, CAN provides free education, peer support and resources.

* The Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, provides a search tool that allows visitors to search by topic and location for services pertaining to older adults and their families.

“Dad and I, we’re trying to put a new life together for him, and it’s tough,” said Bowen. “But support from all over has kept me on my feet and moving forward. Amid all the challenges, I am grateful for that.”


KEYWORDS

  • AARP ×
  • access ×
  • advice ×
  • aging ×
  • aging parents ×
  • Alzheimers ×
  • Alzheimer's Disease ×
  • assisted living ×
  • attitude ×
  • BPT ×
  • Brandpoint Content ×
  • Care ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • dementia ×
  • eldercare ×
  • emotional ×
  • generations ×
  • hacks ×
  • health ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • medical research ×
  • mental health ×
  • mentality ×
  • Multigenerational ×
  • nursing home ×
  • Parkinson's ×
  • Parkinson's Disease ×
  • research ×
  • resources ×
  • responsibility ×
  • stress ×
  • support ×
  • survey ×
  • tips

Comments

Remodeling to age in place? Make changes where it matters most

7/3/2018

Comments

 
Remodeling_to_age_in_place
Remodeling to age in place? Make changes where it matters most

According to the AARP, 87 percent of adults age 65 and older want to stay in their current home and community as they age. Furthermore, among people age 50 to 64, 71 percent of people want to age in place. The desire to age in place typically requires making thoughtful updates to a home to accommodate senior needs.



(BPT) - American household demographics constantly change. With kids grown and moved out, many adults are considering remodeling to meet their future needs. This has inspired the idea of aging in place, meaning the desire to have a high quality of life in your home as you get older. In the United States, it's a desire shared by many.

According to the AARP, 87 percent of adults age 65 and older want to stay in their current home and community as they age. Furthermore, among people age 50 to 64, 71 percent of people want to age in place. The desire to age in place typically requires making thoughtful updates to a home to accommodate senior needs.

Multigenerational households are also changing for older family members. Sometimes it's necessary to have elderly relatives move in to your home for them to thrive. Adult children will opt to make remodeling updates so spaces are safe, comfortable and accessible for all.

Whether you're remodeling for yourself or a family member, there are many things to consider. Making changes where it matters most will help transform the household into a secure space for aging adults.

Single-story living

Having all rooms on a single story is the ideal layout for senior living. That means the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen can be accessed without having to travel to different levels of the home. Keep in mind, open-concept designs can be beneficial for seniors, but if you are updating hallways, make sure they are at least 36 inches wide for easy maneuverability.

Bathroom additions

Adding a bathroom to facilitate single-story living might seem impossible if you don't have existing drainage. However, it is feasible and doesn't require costly demolition. With Saniflo, you can add a complete bathroom where no drainage existed before, thanks to above-floor plumbing features like a macerating toilet and drain pumps. The Saniaccess2 is ideal for powder rooms and the Saniaccess3 is a smart choice for full baths.

Bathroom safety

Bathrooms are one of the most dangerous rooms in a home, particularly for those age 65 and older who are more prone to falls. When remodeling, add wall supports such as grab bars in the bath, shower and by the toilet. For showers, a fold-down seat and handheld showerhead can add comfort. A wall-hung sink adds space below and can make it easier to clean and move around. Avoid using rugs and instead install slip-resistant flooring.

Kitchen additions

Redesigning your home with a mother-in-law suite for aging relatives can be a nice way to provide them with everything they need. It will also ensure that everyone has their desired privacy in the home. Again, don't let drainage limit your remodel plans. Add a modest kitchen setup using Saniflo Sanivite technology. It will pump wastewater away from a variety of sources, such as a kitchen sink, laundry sink and washing machine. Learn more at go.saniflo.com.

Ramps and stairs

There may be spaces in a home where you can't avoid installing a ramp or stairs. The entryway is one such area. For stairways, install handrails on both sides and add contrast strips to prevent tripping and stumbling hazards. For ramps, the National Association of Home Builders recommends slopes no greater than 1-inch rise for each 12 inches in length, a 2-inch curb for safety and a 5-foot landing at the entrance. All ramps or stairs should have adequate lighting for easy visibility.

Ample lighting

As vision decreases with age, lighting becomes a critical element throughout a home. Consider adding windows and skylights for plenty of natural light. Swap in brighter bulbs and add adjustable features that allow you to customize settings for frequently used spaces. Finally, add motion lights to hallways and bathrooms for easy evening use. Hard-wired lights are preferred to plug-in options, but if you must have cords, make sure they are hidden or secured to the ground.

When aging in place matters to you or your family members, these guidelines can help you remodel wisely. Smart updates will help you enjoy your home today and thrive in the future.


KEYWORDS

  • AARP ×
  • accomodations ×
  • active seniors ×
  • advice ×
  • age in place ×
  • aging ×
  • aging parents ×
  • bath ×
  • bathing ×
  • bathroom ×
  • BPT ×
  • Brandpoint Content ×
  • caregivers ×
  • caregiving ×
  • cooking ×
  • disability ×
  • hacks ×
  • home improvement ×
  • house ×
  • kitchen ×
  • lifehacks ×
  • lighting ×
  • lights ×
  • Multigenerational ×
  • parents ×
  • ramps ×
  • remodeling ×
  • research ×
  • safety ×
  • senior citizens ×
  • seniors ×
  • Single-story living ×
  • stairs ×
  • survey ×
  • tips ×
  • walking

Comments

Create an Accessible Lifestyle

6/20/2018

Comments

 

Mobility is a major factor in a person’s independence, but when illness or injury hinders free movement, even a simple task like running to the store becomes a challenge. Fortunately, there are numerous options like these you can explore to improve mobility and accessibility if you or a loved one becomes reliant on a wheelchair or other assisted mobility.


Create an Accessible Lifestyle

Enhance independence with mobility in mind

(Family Features) If you’re like the majority of the population, mobility is something you take for granted. However, once you or a loved one encounters an illness or disability that results in dependence on a wheelchair, your perspective is likely to change dramatically.

Mobility is a major factor in a person’s independence, but when illness or injury hinders free movement, even a simple task like running to the store becomes a challenge. Fortunately, there are numerous options you can explore to improve mobility and accessibility if you or a loved one becomes reliant on a wheelchair or other assisted mobility.

Ramps in Place of Stairs
Safety is a primary concern for someone whose mobility is limited. Even minor falls can cause significant injuries, particularly for seniors whose bones tend to be more fragile. When a loved one begins experiencing trouble with the steps, a ramp is a good solution. In fact, ramps aren’t just for those who are reliant on a wheelchair or other motorized device like a scooter. They are also a good solution for someone who uses a cane or walker, or someone who experiences pain or difficulty maintaining balance on the stairs.

Accessible Vehicles and Parking
Getting out of the house is an important way to help someone whose mobility is compromised continue to feel connected to the larger world, and practically speaking, even if they’re not physically up to social engagements, chances are that doctor’s appointments will still be a necessity. However, parking limitations cause major challenges for wheelchair users.

Not only is getting in and out of the vehicle a chore, 74 percent of people have personally seen a handicap accessible parking space being improperly used, according to a survey by BraunAbility. As a leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts, its Save My Spot campaign works to educate the public about the meaning and importance of handicap accessible parking. In addition to understanding and educating others about the proper usage of handicap accessible parking, chair users may benefit from wheelchair accessible vehicles that provide maximum maneuverability, such as the BraunAbility Pacifica, which delivers the most interior cabin space and widest doorway and ramp for ease of entry and exit.

Hand Rails and Grab Bars
Hand rails add another measure of safety in the home. They can add stability and support on staircases, ramps and other walkways, but they’re also beneficial in areas like the bathroom. A rail or grab bar near the toilet can help steady someone raising or lowering to use the facilities. Similarly, rails in or adjacent to the shower can assist with safe transitions into and out of the stall. Remember to follow all manufacturer instructions for installing rails to ensure they provide adequate support and can bear the weight of the user.

Bathroom Modifications
Proper hygiene goes a long way toward promoting overall wellness and independence, but a person with limited mobility may struggle using the features of a standard bathroom. In addition to safety rails and grab bars, devices such as shower stools and raised toilet seats can provide needed support. Depending on your circumstances, it may be necessary to consider renovations to include a roll-in tub or seated shower and a vanity with a counter at an accessible height.

Wider Doors and Hallways
While it’s not always possible to widen doors and hallways, this is an important consideration for someone who is heavily reliant on a wheelchair or other motorized device. If the chair can’t clear hallways and maneuver around corners, a person’s access to the home is severely limited, sometimes to the point of needing to find new housing accommodations. When considering whether the doors and hallways will meet your needs, remember to take into account any accessories or equipment, such as an oxygen tank, that may affect the chair’s turn radius.

Find more ideas to promote independence and mobility at braunability.com/savemyspot.

5 Facts About Handicap-Accessible Parking

Handicap-accessible parking plays a critical role in giving chair users independence and mobility, making it important to understand the rules of the parking lot. To bring awareness to the challenges wheelchair users face, BraunAbility offers these reminders:

  1. The striped lines next to a handicap-accessible parking space indicate it is reserved for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle. These spaces are wider than regular handicap accessible parking spaces, offering room for people to safely lower a ramp and enter and exit their vehicles.
  2. There is a difference between handicap accessible parking for cars and wheelchair-accessible vans. When the parking sign says, “Accessible Vans,” it is reserved for wheelchair-accessible vehicles only. Van accessible spaces are easily identified by a striped access aisle on the passenger side.
  3. Some people have hidden disabilities, and it may not be visibly apparent that they need a handicap-accessible spot. Not all people who require handicap parking access are reliant on wheelchairs. These spots are also intended for use by people with disabilities such as deafness or a recent injury.
  4. Businesses are required to meet a quota for handicap accessible spots. The number of handicap accessible parking spaces required depends on the total number of parking spaces in the lot, but at least one in every six handicap accessible spaces must be designated for a wheelchair accessible vehicle, according to the American Disabilities Act.
  5. Wheelchairs continue to increase in size, requiring more room to maneuver in and out of vehicles, and therefore need extra space in a parking spot for the wheelchair user to safely access a fully deployed ramp.
SOURCE:
BraunAbility

KEYWORDS

  • accessibility×
  • balance×
  • bath×
  • bathing×
  • bathroom×
  • cane×
  • caregivers×
  • caregiving×
  • disability×
  • doors×
  • driving×
  • Family Features×
  • home improvement×
  • idependence×
  • mobility×
  • parking×
  • ramps×
  • remodeling×
  • shoes×
  • stairs×
  • toilet×
  • vehicles×
  • walker×
  • walking×
  • wheelchairs



Comments
<<Previous



    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    November 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016


    Interested in Publishing on The Senior Living Idea?
    Send your query to the Publisher today!

    Categories

    All
    65
    AARP
    Abuse
    Access
    Accessibility
    Accidents
    Accomodations
    Active Lifestyle
    Active Seniors
    Activities
    Activity
    Activity Level
    Adult Children
    Adult Diapers
    Advice
    Age
    Age In Place
    Aging
    Aging In Place
    Aging Parents
    Alzheimers
    Alzheimer's Association
    Alzheimer's Disease
    American Geriatrics Society
    Ancestor
    Ancestory
    Ankle
    Anxiety
    Appetite
    Appetites
    Art
    Arthritis
    Assets
    Assisted Living
    Attitude
    Balance
    Bath
    Bathing
    Bathroom
    Bills
    Bladder
    Bladder Control
    Blood Pressure
    Book
    Bowel
    Bowels
    BPT
    Brain
    Brain Games
    Brain Health
    Brandpoint Content
    Budget
    Calories
    Cancer
    Cane
    Cardio
    Care
    Caregiver
    Caregivers
    Caregiving
    Cat
    Cats
    Centers For Disease Control And Prevention
    Chemotherapy
    Chewing
    Cholesterol
    Christmas
    Chronic
    Chronic Illness
    Clutter
    Cognition
    Cognitive
    Cognitive Functioning
    Companionship
    Compansionship
    Computer
    Consumer Product Safety Commission
    Continence
    Conversation
    Cooking
    Copay
    Copays
    Coping
    Costs
    Crafts
    Creativity
    Crime
    Criminal
    Cybercrime
    Deaths
    Dementia
    Depression
    Diabetes
    Diagnosis
    Diet
    Digestive Issues
    Disability
    Disease
    DNA
    DNA Testing
    Doctor
    Doctors
    Dog
    Dogs
    Doors
    Dopamine
    Dress
    Drivers
    Driving
    Drugs
    Eating
    Economic Impact
    Economics
    ED
    Education
    Eldercare
    Elderly
    Elimination
    Emergency Room
    Emotional
    Emotions
    Energy
    Enrollment
    Entertainment
    Erectile Dysfunction
    Estate
    Estate Planning
    Exercise
    Exercising
    Expectations
    Expenses
    Experts
    Eye Health
    Eyes
    Eyesight
    Fall
    Fall Prevention
    Fall Risk
    Falls
    Family
    Family Features
    Family Finances
    Family History
    Family Tree
    Fashion
    Federal
    Federal Government
    Finances
    Financial Planning
    Fitness
    Foot
    Formulary
    Fraud
    Friends
    Friendships
    Furniture
    Generations
    Genetic
    Genetic Testing
    Geriatricians
    Geriatrics
    Government
    Grandchild
    Grandchildren
    Grandparent
    Grandparenting
    Grandparents
    Guests
    Guide
    Hacks
    Handrails
    Happiness
    Head
    Head Trauma
    Health
    Healthcare
    Health Care
    Health Insurance
    Healthy Living
    Hearing
    Hearing Loss
    Heart Health
    Helping
    High Blood Pressure
    Hip
    History
    Holidays
    Home
    Home Care
    Home Improvement
    Hormones
    Hospice
    Hospital
    House
    Hypertension
    Identity Theft
    Idependence
    Illness
    Income
    Incontienence
    Incontinence
    Independence
    Infographic
    Injury
    Insurance
    Interval Training
    Intestinal
    Investing
    Investments
    Kidney
    Kitchen
    Law
    Learning
    Leg
    Legal
    Life
    Lifehacks
    Life Insurance
    Lifestyle
    Light
    Lighting
    Lights
    Lineage
    Listening
    Living Well
    Loneliness
    Longevity
    Long-term Care
    Macular Degeneration
    Mayo Clinic
    Meals
    Medicaid
    Medical
    Medical Research
    Medicare
    Medication
    Medications
    Medicine
    Medium
    Memories
    Memory
    Mental
    Mental Health
    Mentality
    Mentoring
    Mobility
    Money
    Morbidity
    Multigenerational
    Music
    National Council On Aging
    Nausea
    Neurology
    Nursing Home
    Nutrition
    Obesity
    Open Enrollment
    Oral Health
    Osteoarthritis
    Outdoors
    Outlook
    Pain
    Pain Management
    Parents
    Parking
    Parkinson's
    Parkinson's Disease
    Part D
    Patient
    Patients
    Personal
    Personal Finances
    Personal Sceurity
    Pet
    Pets
    Pharmaceuticals
    Pharmacies
    Pharmacy
    Physical Activity
    Physician
    Physicians
    Plans
    Portfolio
    Premiums
    Prescription Drugs
    Prescriptions
    Prevention
    Primary Care
    Promotions
    Protein
    Psychiatry
    Psychology
    Quality
    Quality Of Life
    Questions
    Radiation
    Ramps
    Read
    Reading
    Recovery
    Relatives
    Remodel
    Remodeling
    Renovation
    Research
    Resources
    Responsibility
    Rest
    Retirement
    Retirement Income
    Retirement Planning
    Risk
    Risk Factors
    Routine
    Running
    Safety
    Salt
    Sandwich Generation
    Savings
    Scam
    Scammers
    Schedule
    Security
    Senior Centers
    Senior Citizen
    Senior Citizens
    Seniors
    Serotonin
    Service
    Sex
    Sexual Health
    Shoes
    Sibling
    Siblings
    Side Effects
    Sight
    Single-story Living
    Sleep
    Sleeping
    Social
    Social Security
    Songs
    Specialist
    Specialists
    Specialty Care
    Speech
    Stairs
    Steps
    Strength
    Strength Training
    Stress
    Style
    Supplements
    Support
    Survey
    Swallowing
    Symtoms
    Testing
    Testosterone
    Theft
    Thinking
    Time
    Tip
    Tips
    Toilet
    Traditions
    Transportation
    Travel
    Treatment Options
    Tumor
    Urinary Tract
    Urination
    Urine
    Vehicles
    Victim
    Victims
    Vision
    Visirors
    Visit
    Visits
    Visting
    Vitamins
    Volunteer
    Volunteering
    Volunteer Work
    Vomiting
    Walk
    Walker
    Walking
    Wandering
    Washington
    Washington DC
    Weight Training
    Well-being
    Wellness
    Wheelchairs
    Widow
    Widower
    Women
    Workout
    Writing






    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • HOME
  • Popular IDEAS
    • IDEAS for Your Better Business Life >
      • The Business Idea
      • The Career IDEA
      • The Money Idea
    • IDEAS for Your Better Diversions >
      • The Tech IDEA
      • The Travel IDEA
      • The Auto IDEA
      • The Outdoors IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Better Table >
      • The Food IDEA
      • IDEAS de Cocina Espanola
    • IDEAS for a Better You >
      • The Health IDEA
      • Living Well IDEAS
      • The Fitness IDEA
      • The Beauty IDEA
    • IDEAS for a Happier Home >
      • The Home Idea
      • The Entertaining Idea
      • The Parenting Idea
      • The Senior Living IDEA
      • The Pet IDEA
  • The Video Domain
    • Video IDEAS for Your Better Business Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • ads.txt