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Tech Support

Smart Home Tech for Seniors: Five Gadgets that will Improve Independent Living

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Smart home technology can make independent living comfortable and help with the everyday tasks of home management. From smart thermostats and smart lighting that respond to the sound of your voice to garages controlled from remote locations, stock up on these smart home technology devices so your family can stay in their home longer using a simple internet connection.

Here are some of the gadgets you should consider.

Door Locks and Security Systems

Smart security systems and smart lock technology are at the forefront of the independent living initiative. These tools protect your home and give your family peace of mind.

A smart security system allows your family to monitor entrance activity to your home, assuring you and your family are safe. Smart locks let you lock your door no matter where you are. Give multiple security codes to caregivers and family members, so you never have to worry about leaving spare keys for visitors.

Smart Thermostat

Enhance the quality of living in your home with a thermostat that gives you remote access. Program your smart thermostat for when temperatures reach a certain degree and save money by tracking your energy consumption. Smart Thermostats have easy-to-read LCD touch screens for easy use. Access your Smart Thermostat by using your smartphone or connect to your smart home remote control.

Smart Light Switch

Control the lights in your home using a voice command or timers by using your smart home remote or by an app on your smartphone. These devices can also help cut energy costs and promote home security while you’re away.

Smart Garage Door Opener

Control your garage from your smartphone. Traditional garages are in standby mode, waiting for the owner to push the button to open the door. With a smart garage technology, you can turn the whole system off when you are away from home. This device allows you to lower electricity usage and reduce your home’s carbon footprint. A useful feature is the ability to know when your garage door was opened or closed. This device is helpful when you can’t remember if you closed the garage door or not.

Smart Home Hub

Living on your own is convenient with a smart home hub to command all of your smart devices. Sync your smart light switches, entertainment system, and thermostat to your smart home hub to access all your smart devices with an all-in-one unit. You will be able to control all of your technology from the comfort of any room in the house. When family members visit, give them quick access to all your smart devices to enjoy.

Jason Fishbeck is the owner of Automated Environments a smart home tech installtion company in Phoenix, Arizona.

 

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What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care
Caregiving

What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

Moving away from home and into a care facility can be a jarring experience for seniors. While moving to an assisted living facility or a nursing home is sometimes the only option, studies* have found that these moves can have a damaging effect on the emotional, mental, and physical well-being of seniors. What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care
It’s little surprise then that nearly 90% of seniors reported to the AARP* that they wished to age-in-place for as long as possible. That’s true even in situations where seniors require professional in-home care to live at home safely and comfortable. In-home care providers like Visiting Angels now offer specialized senior care programs that give seniors the options they need to age in place.
If you spend time talking with seniors, you’ll find common concerns about things they’ll miss if they need to make the move to institutional care. Below, we’ve compiled 16 things about home that seniors miss most when they relocate to a care facility. What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

Home Itself

  1. Favorite Possessions. Moving to a care facility requires serious downsizing. While seniors’ most cherished items usually make the trip, there simply isn’t room for all of the souvenirs, memories, and personal items that many seniors wish to bring with them.
  2. Comfortable Furniture. Some care facilities allow residents to bring furniture with them. Some don’t. And even among those that do, space is limited.
  3. Space and Privacy. Some care facilities offer less than 100 square feet of living space per person. Even those with relatively spacious living areas can feel claustrophobic after decades in larger living quarters.
  4. Personalized Décor. Your mom or dad has made home feel like home with décor that fits their tastes and personality. Care facilities usually give off a sterile, impersonal feel because they need a design that works for everyone.
  5. Gardens and Yard Space. It can be difficult to no longer have a patch of outdoor space to call their own. This can be particularly troubling for seniors with green thumbs.
  6. Climate Control. In nursing homes and assisted living facilities, climate control is often in the hands of staff — not seniors — leaving many residents feeling overly warm or chilly.
  7. The “Feel” of Home. After living in the same home for many years, nowhere else “feels” like home. This feeling can be especially acute in care facilities, where occupants have few spaces that they can truly call their own.

Neighborhood & Community

  1. Favorite Shops and Restaurants. Seniors don’t just lose the familiarity of home when they move to facility care. They also lose the neighborhood stores, restaurants, and coffee shops they’ve grown to love over the years.
  2. Parks and Public Spaces. Moving to a care facility often means losing access to favorite outdoor spaces, making it hard for seniors to enjoy the fresh area.
  3. Friends and Neighbors. One of the hardest parts about moving is saying goodbye to the friends and neighbors that made their neighborhood feel like a community.
  4. Local Community. Relocating to a care facility in a different town or state dislocates seniors from the local community. Seniors find themselves miles away from clubs, groups, and religious communities they’ve participated in for years.
  5. A Familiar Space. When you’ve lived in the same neighborhood for long enough, the trees, streets, and sidewalks feel as much a part of “home” as your living room or bedroom.

Personal Routines

  1. Sleeping Patterns. In a care facility, it can be tough for older adults to maintain the sleep schedule they prefer. Lights-out rules may be in place, nurses and other residents can disrupt sleep, and the unfamiliar space can make it hard to get shut-eye at night.
  2. Eating Habits. Moving to a care facility can make it difficult for seniors to eat the foods they enjoy, or eat meals at the times when they want to eat them.
  3. Favorite Activities. It can be hard for seniors to enjoy favorite hobbies and activities within a care facility environment, particularly those that require space or specialized equipment.

Independence & Control

  1. One of the most unsettling aspects of moving to a nursing home or assisted living facility can be the lack of independence. Even if seniors need help from family or professional caregivers to age in place, the fact that they still live at home allows them to retain a sense of independence and self-sufficiency. Often, it’s this sense of independent is the thing that seniors miss most after moving out of their home and into a care facility.

Looking to help your mom or dad age in place? Visiting Angels offers free, in-home assessments to help seniors and their families decide if in-home senior care is right for them. Schedule your assessment today by calling 800-365-4189 or by getting in touch with your local Visiting Angels office.
*Sources: https://press.aarp.org/2014-04-25-New-AARP-Report-Outlines-What-Older-Americans-Want-In-Their-Communities-How-Many-Are-Thinking-of-Moving
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7148624
http://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2757&context=utk_graddiss
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12558718

What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care What Seniors Miss Most about Home in Facility Care

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Age-In-Place

8 aging-in-place home modifications for seniors

by Kylie Johnson
written by Kylie Johnson

8 DIY projects to make your home safer as you age

Around 90 percent of seniors plan on living in their own home for at least five to 10 years after turning 65, according to the AARP. In turn, the number of remodeling companies doing aging in place upgrades has increased. Eighty percent of remodeling companies are making aging in place home improvements, up from 68 percent in 2013, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Aging in place is cheaper and more comfortable than going the assisted living route for many people. A typical assisted living home is pricey, costing around $50,000 a year. In contrast, the national average of remodeling a home for aging in place is only $10,000. If you or your parents are planning on doing some fairly major aging in place remodeling projects, check out our guide on aging in place home remodeling. This article will look at some of the most popular DIY home improvements you can do to make your loved one’s home aging-in-place ready.

1. Install grab bars

Installing grab bars or railing in high-risk areas like bathrooms and bedrooms gives anyone with mobility issues additional support and prevents slip and fall injuries. Install grab bars near the toilet, and in the shower/bathtub since these surfaces get slippery. Depending upon your loved one’s needs, you may want to install bars near their bed so they can get in and out of bed safely. Make sure your grab bar holds up to 250 pounds, and install it by screwing it into wall studs, not just sheetrock. You can get three grab bars (one for the toilet and two for the tub/shower) for around $140.

2. Add outdoor ramps

Adding ramps to a home’s entry and exits aren’t just for wheelchair access. Even if your parents don’t use a wheelchair, a ramp eliminates the need to navigate steps, which can make maintaining balance difficult, even with a banister. A 16-foot long ramp costs around $1,600. You can also get indoor threshold ramps that you put in doorways to form a seamless surface to transition from one room to another.

3. Install a bathroom heat lamp

It can take some people longer to get in and out of the tub and take care of everything they need to do in the bathroom. Replacing the overhead light fixture above the toilet and tub with one that has an infrared bulb as well as a regular bulb will help keep their bathroom warm and comfortable in the winter months. You can find a combination heat lamp and light fixture for around $50 to $150.

4. Upgrade your smart home technology

Technology has become one of the most important developments in helping people stay in their own home as they age. Home technology like medical alert, home security and remote monitoring or communication systems are particularly beneficial.

Wearable technology like watches, necklaces and even shoe insoles monitor your loved ones’ movement throughout their home, as well as their vitals. You can outfit doorways with sensors that alert a family or emergency care service if someone enters a door but doesn’t exit within a specified period of time, indicating they may need help.

If you’re looking for a home monitoring system specific to aging in place, a certified aging in place specialist can outfit your loved one’s home with different sensors that you can monitor from your smartphone. You can know when your dad gets out of bed thanks to a pressure-sensitive mat placed next to his side of the bed. You can have a sensor put on the medicine cabinet door so you’ll know if your mom takes her medicine. Likewise, you can have heat sensors installed on the stove and front and rear door sensors put in. Aging in place home monitoring systems like HomeExcept cost around $230 for the system and have a monthly monitoring fee around $20-$30.

Home automation security and monitoring systems do more than provide caregiving functions. You can automate your parents’ home so they can control things like lights, entertainment systems, blinds and more, all from their smartphone or remote control.

5. Replace your faucets

Touchless faucets on kitchen and bathroom sinks are great for people with arthritis or grip issues. You can also replace twist faucet handles with levers. Another popular faucet upgrade is installing anti-scald faucets in your parent’s tub or shower. Anti-scald faucets prevent sudden bursts of hot water if the cold water is temporarily redirected due to the toilet being flushed or the washing machine filling up. Another way to prevent scalding is to lower the maximum water temperature on your parents’ water heater to 120 degrees or less.

6. Update your flooring

Flooring can be the culprit for many trips and falls as you age. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines for flooring is a helpful resource for figuring out the best type of flooring for your parents’ home. Carpet should be securely attached and no more than a half an inch thick. ADA compliant, anti-slip bathroom flooring means the flooring material has gone through friction testing and its coefficient of friction (resistance to slipping) is a 0.6 or higher. When shopping for ceramic bathroom flooring, make sure it’s ADA certified to be slip resistant. If you already have bathroom tile that’s in good shape, you can buy ADA approved anti-slip coating and roll it on with a paint roller. Anti-slip coating typically lasts around 3-5 years and costs around $85 per gallon. One gallon covers about 400 square feet.

7. Improve your lighting

Improving the lighting in your parents’ home can mean putting bright nightlights in hallways and bathrooms, using table or floor lamps for sitting areas for reading and putting adhesive tap-lights under cabinets to provide extra light on counter tops. You can find a 10-pack of LED tap-lights for around $20.

8. Replace your doorknobs

Replacing the round doorknobs in your parents’ home with lever-style handles helps people with arthritis or grip issues easily open doors. Likewise, swapping out round kitchen cabinet door knobs with bar- or lever-style handles makes accessing kitchen items a little easier.

A huge selection of fall prevention and other helpful products can be found at Senior.com where they specialize in helping you age in your own home.

by Jonathan Trout
ConsumerAffairs Research Team

As a member of the ConsumerAffairs Research Team, Jonathan Trout believes having access to free, comprehensive information on products and businesses is vital to making smart purchasing decisions. He focuses his efforts on researching and reviewing multiple brands across a variety of industries, with the goal of writing unbiased buyers guides to help inform consumers on impending purchases.

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Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible
Age-In-Place

Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible

by Richard Bitner
written by Richard Bitner

It’s no secret that growing older comes with certain challenges. For many seniors, old age can make taken-for-granted tasks much more difficult than they used to be. This makes it hard or impossible for seniors to age in place without a helping hand (or two, or three). Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible
In surveys, more than 80% of seniors state they wish to live at home as long as they are able to. Senior services, such as home care, senior transportation, meal services, and others, can make this possible. If you have an elderly loved one who is starting to struggle with aging in place, here are a few of the senior services you might want to consider to help make life at home more livable for your mom or dad.

Senior Home Care

Home care is perhaps the most popular senior service for aging in place. Designed for seniors who need physical assistance, specialized care, or companionship during the week, senior home care offers a wide range of advantages to seniors. Senior home care providers can help seniors with daily activities like dressing and grooming, assist with everyday errands, provide light housekeeping and homemaking assistance, and monitor seniors to keep them safe.

Senior Transportation

As we grow older, getting from point A to point B becomes increasingly difficult. Many seniors lose their licenses due to declining physical and/or cognitive performance. Others struggle with walking and general mobility, making it difficult to get out of the house. Senior transportation services — whether provided by local public transportation, taxi services, non-profits, or senior home care companies — can help seniors get around town despite mobility difficulties.

Meal Delivery

If a senior doesn’t have a home care worker or family member to prepare their meals, then a meal delivery service can be a great help. There are a number of non-profit meal delivery services that ensure seniors receive healthy and nutritious lunches and dinners throughout the week. These services make a big difference for seniors who find it difficult to shop for groceries or prepare meals on their own.

Maid Services

Physical impairments can make it difficult for seniors to maintain a clean and healthy home. While senior home care providers will often provide light housekeeping assistance, a maid service can provide a deeper clean. This not only makes seniors’ homes more attractive and comfortable, but also improves their health and hygiene, helping limit dangerous bacteria, airborne irritants, and mold growth.

Handyman Services

When things need to be fixed or installed around the home, it can be dangerous for seniors to perform the work on their own. Even changing a lightbulb or fixing a leak can be difficult or dangerous. When seniors have a handyman service they can call on, simple fixes are much easier, much less stressful, and much less dangerous for seniors.

Senior Technology Services

Studies have shown that social media and other technologies can help seniors avoid feelings of social isolation. But many seniors struggle to use these technologies without outside help. To help seniors manage these technologies, many companies offer in-home support to seniors who wish to use the internet, social media, and video chat technologies.

Lawn & Landscaping Services

Just as it can be difficult for seniors to maintain the inside of their home on their own, it can also be difficult to keep their lawn and garden in good shape. Hiring a lawn or landscaping service allows seniors to keep their property’s plant life healthy and attractive, without all of the outdoor labor these activities usually require.

Senior Exercise

There are a number of exercise classes and even personal trainers whose services are specifically dedicated to elderly exercise. These services are designed to reduce the risk of strain or injury for seniors, while giving seniors the activity they need to maintain muscle mass, prevent bone loss, and improve cardiovascular health.
If you have an elderly loved one who is in need of senior services, we invite you to contact your local Visiting Angels. Our senior home care services offer a wide range of benefits to seniors, and can include personal care and companionship care, along with specialized services such as Alzheimer’s care, errand assistance, and help with social media technologies.
Contact your local Visiting Angels office today to learn more about senior services offered in your area.

Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible

Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible Senior Services that Make Aging in Place Possible

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Aging: Help Planning for Your Future
Aging

Aging: Help Planning for Your Future

by Carol Marak
written by Carol Marak

Aging happens naturally, but aging well takes careful planning. Take steps to ensure that your financial, living, and medical needs are met in old age.

When thinking about the elderly years and how they will play out usually starts after caregiving. It’s when people understand the difficulties of growing older. Some see their parents deal with heart problems while others confront dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Observing decline is heart-wrenching. Caregivers feel parents are invincible but soon find out the contrary.

What families learn about growing older is that getting organized and prepared for the golden years will help them the most when navigating aging services. And to better understand the services covered, I’ve outlined below:

  • Medicare does not pay for long-term custodial care services – it only pays for acute medical care, doctor visits, drugs, and hospital stays.
  • Medicaid is a combined program offered by the federal and state governments. It helps individuals living with low-income and assets.
  • Paying out-of-pocket is a common option.
  • Health insurance covers the restricted and particular types of long-term care.
  • Long-term care insurance pays for long-term supports and services.

 

Professionals believe that people need to learn the issues they’ll face in the later years.

If you are in the early stages of preparation, consider:

  • Your home may be easy for you to navigate and comfortable for you now, but think about how that may change when you get older. A big house with lots of stairs to climb may present a serious challenge if you have health or physical problems.
  • Draw up legal documents: a will, a living will, a healthcare proxy and a power of attorney.
  • Find a trustworthy person or family you can depend on for support and care. Work out a payment strategy and put it in writing. Get legal advice before implementing a plan. An elder law attorney can steer you in the right direction. Perform comprehensive due diligence on the strategy and the person(s) before signing anything.
  • Hire a chronic care advocate if you live with a prolonged medical condition, preferably an attorney specializing in elder law.
  • Eat fresh, healthy foods.
  • Keep your brain sharp by getting involved.
  • Volunteer and help those in need.

 

Older adults face many decisions in the last decades of their lives. Taking time to look at the issues ahead and plan accordingly can make the future easier and more enjoyable for both you and the family.

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How to Maximize Home Visits with Aging Parents
AgingHome & Family

How to Maximize Home Visits with Aging Parents

by Kathy Macaraeg
written by Kathy Macaraeg

If you are a long distance caregiver, or just don’t live close enough to visit your parents on a regular basis, you may not have enough time to evaluate how they are doing. Here are some ways to maximize your visits so that you get quality time but also check in on their ability to safely live independently. How to Maximize Home Visits with Aging Parents

Leave the House

This may sound like an odd suggestion, but I worked with many families who were very close and the adult children visited regularly, however, they had no idea that their parent had a hard time getting out of the house. Whether the parent had front steps that didn’t have a railing or were using a walker that couldn’t be maneuvered down the steps, there are many hazards that make it difficult for a person with mobility challenges to safely exit their home.

Even if your parent is homebound, being able to exit the home is critical to their safety. What if there is a fire? What if they forget about their limitation and try to go out for a walk. Are they able to exit and enter the house from all exits? You never know what situation could arise, so planning ahead can keep your parent safe.

This is also a great opportunity to evaluate your parent’s driving. Perhaps you ask them to drive you to the grocery store or bakery for a treat. Riding in the car with them will give you a better perspective of their driving ability.

Cook Together

You won’t just get to learn your mother’s special pasta sauce recipe, you’ll also be able to see if she is safely able to maneuver her kitchen. Does she have the heavy pots on a high shelf? Help her find a new, easier location to store them. Are the knobs on the stove difficult to turn on/off due to arthritis? Look into new knobs or a hack to help make it easier to use.

While you’re in the kitchen, check the refrigerator for old or expired food and the food supply, in general. Is the refrigerator bare? Why? Does your parent have a hard time getting out to shop or is he/she becoming forgetful about stocking necessities. I once worked with a woman who had dementia who bought soda every time we went to the store, but she never actually drank soda. She had six packs stacked in her pantry. Do you see any oddities that were never an issue before?

Do a little digging to find out why. It may be that your parent struggles with carrying groceries into the house, so isn’t able to buy much. You may want to consider setting up online grocery delivery, or at minimum, delivery of heavier pantry items.

Allow Them to Host You

Sometimes, when we see our parents looking more frail, our instinct is to jump in and do everything. It is a wonderful gesture, but the problem is, you can’t be sure of their capabilities if you don’t watch them operate independently in their own home. Let your parent set the table, turn off the stove, clear the table (with your help of course!).

Watch to see if they are struggling with any tasks. You may be able to come up with solutions together on how to simplify tasks or you may need to consider bringing help into their home.

Get One Step Ahead

While you’re there, look for safety risks or fall risks and work with your parent to address them. You can also take a look at the following household tasks that they may need help with:

  • Are there any burned out light bulbs? Change them while you are visiting so that your parent won’t attempt to do it on his/her own.
  • Is the season changing? If so, ask your parent if they have blankets or clothing that is stored up high that they may need help bringing down.
  • Are tall bookshelves strapped to the wall? You may want to consider using earthquake safety straps so that they are secure. If your parent trips and grabs a bookshelf to stop their fall, you want to be sure they are nicely secured to the wall and don’t come down on top of them.
  • If they are reaching for books or items on high shelves, make sure they have a sturdy step ladder with a handrail – and that they actually use it!
  • Have they suddenly be-friended someone new who seems to be over-involved in their lives? Do you notice money or valuables missing? Don’t just look for physical safety risks, evaluate their fraud risk as well.

What other things can you think of to make a pre-emptive “strike” to ensure your parent is making dangerous decisions?

 

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5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care
Caregiving

5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At-Home-Care

by Kendall VanBlarcom
written by Kendall VanBlarcom

Anytime a child must care for their elderly parents it can be stressful for both parties.

Many people are turning to home healthcare to combat this reality. An estimated 12 million people use these services as an alternative to nursing homes. If you are using at home care or are interested in learning more, here are five things you can do to maximize your parent’s experience.

1.) Know Your Limitations

If you are going to provide at-home care for a parent, being honest with yourself about what you can and cannot do is important. Providing for another person in your home is an investment of both time and money. Your utility and grocery bills will increase. Adding things to a house to make it more comfortable for your parent can also get expensive.If your parents need help bathing and getting dressed, determine if you are comfortable helping them. Don’t forget to plan ahead, understanding that needs will change over time.

2.) At Home Care Requires Safety Precautions

Six out of every ten falls happen in the home. Falling can be a serious health concern for seniors, but there are steps which will lessen this risk. Tape down rugs and other floor coverings that pose trip hazards. For an elderly parent with mobility issues, make sure they have a cane or walker handy. Using walls to stay stable when walking is never safe. Install grab bars and rubber mats in showers and by the toilet, and make sure a panic button is accessible. Rooms should be well lit, with switches placed close to the entrance and within reach.

3.) Secure The Home

Seniors are at a higher risk for crime and financial scams than other age groups. Security has to be a top priority for the elderly.
To protect against potential scams, put your parent’s phone on the federal do not call registry. This list blocks their number from telemarketers. Sliding glass doors are a frequent target for burglars. Make sure they are secure by adding a bar that prevents them from sliding open when they are not in use. Use a hidden safe to protect important documents and cash.

4.) Know Who Comes Into the Home

If you are hiring someone to help your elderly parent, make sure you do some homework.
Get information about the company that is sending someone out. If you are hiring an individual, do a full background check and make sure they are first aid certified. Many states have agencies that regulate home care providers. Anyone you hire should be willing to show you their certifications and licenses.

5.) Maintain Their Quality of Life

Find local support groups that cater to the elderly. These groups are a great place to make friends and discuss issues that are important to elders. Many groups encourage physical activity and will go on mini-trips to local places. Mental stimulation becomes essential as the mind ages. Crossword puzzles and other hobbies will help combat boredom and keep the brain focused, especially in the cold winter months.

Get The Support You Need

For over 25 years, I have worked with thousands of clients around the world, consulting with them on ways to improve their quality of life.

Deciding in favor of at-home care can be a life-changing decision. As a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, I have helped families from various backgrounds confront life’s challenges.
Right now, I am offering a special 30-minute introductory session for only $49, with a $10 discount for seniors. This session will help us learn about each other and discuss ways that my services can help you.

5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care

5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care 5 Tips to Maximize Your Elderly Parent’s At Home Care

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Fall Prevention Tips

Living Room Fall Prevention Guide

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Making your living room safe is critical to both the aging loved one and the caregiver. Trying to stand from a soft couch often causes shoulder and wrist injuries or a significant fall. Often seniors will wait for someone in the home to help them stand up, which limits their freedom and can cause anxiety when you need to use the restroom. For caregivers, repeatedly helping someone to stand from a seated position will cause painful back injuries!

For a small investment, you can outfit your home for fall prevention. These recommended products ensure both the aging senior and caregiver have the maximum safety, comfort, and freedom to live as independently as possible. One fall can lead to a hospital stay, center for rehabilitation, an increased need for home care and even prompt a transition into assisted living.

For less than the cost of 1 month in assisted living, you can equip your ENTIRE home to prevent falls so you can live independently longer!

RECLINING LIFT CHAIRS

The number one addition to any living room to prevent falls and shoulder injuries is adding a reclining lift chair. We cannot emphasize this enough. A reclining lift chair eliminates the need for a caregiver to assist you in the standing position. It also saves the back of the caregiver!

With the press of a button on a remote control the seat along with the arms will slowly rise to enable the person to stand. Similarly, when it comes to sitting down when the chair is in the raised position, once the person gets into position, the button can be pressed so that the chair slowly lowers. This simple feature eliminates the need to rely on weak arms that injure shoulders.

Reclining lift chairs come in a variety of economic options to luxurious models of comfort for those who want to sleep or spend more than 8 hours in the chair. You can select a fabric choice to fit your room. Often chairs are custom made to your size and style.

ECONOMY: Golden Tech Capri Vinyl $619

MID-RANGE: Golden Tech Maxicomfort Starting at $1,297

LUXURY: Golden Tech MaxiComfort Cloud Twilight Assisted Lift Recliners $2,286

 

Reclining lift chairs also come in petite and bariatric sizes. If you need help selecting one, feel free to talk to one of our specialists at 949-713-1400.

OTHER ADDITIONS TO YOUR LIVING ROOM FOR FALL PREVENTION:

OMNI SWIVELING TABLE TRAY $149

 

The Omni-Tray is a couch-side handle and TV tray that makes it easy to stand from your favorite couch or chair. It comes with a convenient multi-use swivel tray so you can eat, surf the web, or simply keep handy items close by. And like all of our products, it blends in with your living-room (like another piece of furniture) so you can maintain the comforting feeling of your home.

 

 

STANDER COUCH CANE $119

The CouchCane by Stander offers a simple yet effective way to boost yourself out of your favorite chair or soft couch. The CouchCane is made of steel and comes with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee so you can buy in confidence.

 

 

BEST INDOOR ROLLATOR: NOVA TRAVELER 3-WHEEL $99.95

The Traveler 3 Wheel Walker is perfect for maneuvering indoors around furniture and in tight places like a bathroom. It features NOVA’s easy to use locking hand brakes, a tray, basket, pouch and 8” rugged wheels, and is foldable for easy transport and storage. We like how the traveler 3 wheel rollator has a tray for food or drinks and a basket for other belongings. This frees both hands to steady your balance to move freely in your home.

 

Great tools to adapt existing Recliner Chairs:

CHAIR RISERS $35

For existing recliners, you might consider adding risers. When a person stands from the typical recliner, it tilts forward, dropping the arms and seat of an already low chair by 3-4 inches. Simply raising the chair by 5 or 6 inches makes it dangerously unstable. Stander has developed a safe and easy solution. When Recliner Risers are installed, they raise a chair nearly 2 inches and limit the forward tilt allowing an additional 3-4 inches of lift. The extra support gives a weakened person a biomechanical advantage and enables them to stand on their own. Recliner Risers attach quickly and easily to the wooden base of your favorite recliner. The Recliner Risers are designed to be installed on recliners with wooden bases as seen in the picture. Recliners with metal or round-based will not be compatible with the Recliner Risers.

RECLINING CHAIR LEVER EXTENDER $19

For those with mobility challenges, reaching a recliner handle can be a tough task. Stander has created a simple and unique solution that makes using your recliner easy again. The Lever Extender puts the handle within easy reach while adding leverage to raise and lower the leg rest. It is made with heavy-duty steel so you can buy in confidence knowing it will last a lifetime. It’s time to put your recliner handle back in reach.

 

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What is Aging in Place?
Age-In-Place

What is Aging in Place?

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Have you seen this term in the news lately? What is “Aging in Place?” As our baby boomer population ages, this new term has become popular as boomers are choosing to stay in their private homes rather than moving to assisted living. Perhaps it should be called “living in place.” Regardless, Aging in Place is birthing new businesses as our population ages.

Defining Aging in Place What is Aging in Place?

The Center for Disease Control defines aging in place as “the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.” The concept of aging in place represents the desire of many older adults to remain in their own home for as long as possible.

There are a variety of resources and services available, such as in-home aide service, adult day care, and transportation assistance, which can support a person’s decision to age in place. However, it may be difficult to find and arrange the necessary services for an older adult seeking to remain at home. Reasons for this may include unfamiliarity with community resources and/or the financial inability to pay for services.

An older adult may be covered by programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, long-term care insurance or the Veteran’s Administration. It is important for the individual (or primary caregiver) to know their specific coverage and have a deep understanding of the financial and insurance benefits available to them.

Support for Aging in Place What is Aging in Place?

A second important consideration is the specific support a person needs to make staying at home a viable option. Many services are available, such as:

    • Home health care agencies
    • Home care agencies
    • Home-delivered meals or congregate meal programs
    • Emergency medical response systems
    • Telephone reassurance (volunteer based)
    • Transportation (volunteer, private pay or county)
    • Adult day care

It is always a good idea to include the older adult in the decision-making process when possible. For more information on how to ready a house for aging in place click here.
What is Aging in Place?

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