Pamela Braun, MSW, LCSW, CPF, of Geriatric Assessment, Management & Solutions (www.gamsllc.samsbiz.com), says letting the elderly person remain at home is the “least invasive intervention” and can be successful. “When people move out the home, it’s usually when Plan A – remaining at home – didn’t work. Try the least restrictive approach first.”
If the elderly person is adamant about remaining at home, and if they can physically and financially care for themselves and their home, here is some equipment that can help make the arrangement successful for everyone.
Equipment
- Emergency response system (an electronic device designed to summon help in an emergency)
- Stool riser for the toilet seat
- Grab bars for the toilet and shower
- Hand held shower head
- Bath bench
- Bedroom products (Beds, over-bed tables, pads)
- Medicine droppers and spoons
- Button loopers and zipper pulls, for easier dressing
- Specialized dinnerware, to enable eating with one hand
- Single lever faucets for kitchen and bath
- Touch-tone telephones with large numbers, speaker or hands-free telephones and TDD
- Talking clocks, wristwatches, and calculators, for people with poor vision
- Kitchen implements that make opening cans and bottles, peeling potatoes, and cutting and dicing vegetables easier
- "Reachers” -- pincher-like devices for people who have a weak grasp or limited mobility, to eliminate bending over or having to reach for objects
- “Safety net” – A list of who to call in case of emergency. Keep it by the phone.