Wonderful, practical comments, from a caring, hard-working professional. Home modifications can allow safe navigation while trying doing all the things suggested. Simply the fear of falling, without ever having even fallen themselves, but knowing another senior who may have (and then never returned home again), will have seniors coming up with all kinds of excuses for remaining sedentary (trust me, one of these excuses won't be actually TELLING anyone they're afraid of falling).
I am a leading home modification construction manager and home safety assessment software innovator that allows home assessment and funding to be provided at scale - to prevent catastrophic fall events for example We even meet several times with VNSNY leadership and, generally, the most they (and mostly all home health companies) do is assess all the problems with a home environment and then give an 80-year-old woman a list of construction projects to contract for and manage herself (and of course, what else would they do as they don't do home mods certainly). Solution is home mods need to be part of care transitions and real senior population health or we'll keep wasting billions on preventable falls and unnecessary caregiver expense.
And with safer home environments, the cost of caregiving can be reduced greatly (which the country simply cannot afford even IF there was enough caregivers going forward - hint, there is not: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-08-2013/the-aging-of-the-baby-boom-and-the-growing-care-gap-AARP-ppi-ltc.html, http://www.aarp.org/ppi/issues/caregiving/).
The housing stock in America is woefully inadequate for what is coming. And Ms. Gelman is 100% correct, getting outside moving is key. Not gonna happen though because if you understand seniors, they're about self-isolating, avoiding physical risks and then soon depressed. Clinically depressed. It's too late for a plant in the window at that point...
Here is a great post and where the country needs to go fast (with links then to other posts worth reading):
I got my dad a rollator for $40 at a garage sale. Best thing that ever happened lately! He has had 4 falls in the last year. The rollator helps his balance abd mobility. I live in a top floor apartment right on the Oregon coast so with the rollator he is able to go out onto the deck everyday and people watch and also he can watch the tides, the birds, the seals and the Whale. He has great color in his face and it really cheered him up to be outside.
I think you have to work through the tough aspects of getting your elderly parent outdoors and figure out how to make it work for both them and for yourself. An annoyance for me was having to drag along a walker, a wheelchair, a cane, etc., so I've accumulated duplicates for different locations. At Goodwill I've found walkers for $3 on Senior Day. At this point we have two walkers in my parents' house, one in my SUV, and two at my house on the farm. We have a wheelchair at my house and one at my parents' house. During my Dad's most recent VNA PT, the PT said he needed a NEW wheelchair so they got him one, Medicare paid, which means we can now take another and leave it in my SUV. (The transport chair is easier to lift than a wheelchair, but I feel safer with Dad sitting in a wheelchair at the doctor's office, at a restaurant, etc.)
After too many days indoors, Dad is so ready to get out. We go out regularly, even if it's just to a restaurant or to the park, where we sit with the windows down and watch people fish and hike (often I can catch up on my sleep by taking a nap in the driver's seat.) Winter is more of a problem though.
Dad's favorite thing is riding around in his John Deere Gator on the farm, so we're there at least once a week in good weather. He is age 90 and got the Gator at age 88. He can pull himself up into the Gator pretty well, but this year he's had more trouble getting back out of it. I tried one idea after another, including building a platform to give him some height. Nothing worked. But last week I finally figured it out. What he needed was to be able to grab for something secure instead of his walker, which he doesn't trust. I just nailed some boards to the side of my garage as a railing and parked the Gator passenger side closeby. Worked like a charm. He holds on to the side of the Gator with one hand and to his new railing with the other, with me standing behind him, holding on to his gait belt.
My mom still walks pretty well but can be unsteady now and then. We have a HurryCane for her in each car as well as in the house. But what she really likes is to be the one driving the grocery cart when we shop. It gives her something to hold on to. Grocery shopping together takes more time, but I see the enjoyment it gives her. We do it often. One of my summer projects is to repaint a few rooms in my own home, and Mom, at age 89, bless her heart, is helping me. I don't want her to get up on a ladder, but she does some of the edging and trim. It's good exercise for her and she's great company (and motivation) for me.
Last summer we attended some free, local outdoor concerts that were held in the evening. Some were better than others, but one was outstanding (a symphony orchestra concert held at dusk in a town square, with people sitting on lawn chairs--some even brought coffee tables and pizza!). Mom said it was the highlight of her summer.
The hardest thing for me is wintertime, especially on snow and ice. I do not like taking my dad outside in a wheelchair, via a portable ramp, to get to the garage. (The kitchen entrance to the garage unfortunately has two stairs.) This summer I hope to get an indoor ramp installed that will eliminate this problem next winter.
Since winter I've been having trouble getting my husband out of the house. I think that the idea of getting him to the mailbox and then for shorter walks may help. I've missed several doctor's appointments because he wants to just retreat to his bed. He still comes down the steps to eat. I may try to put his meals out on the patio so he'll at least be outside when the weather permits.
I bought this walker for my mother-in-law after a mild stroke. The product shipped quickly and there was no assembly necessary. My mother-in-law has had no problems with the walker and we often sit on it while visiting her at therapy. The seat is comfortable, especially with the strap back. The walker folds easily and the brakes seem to hold well. To date we are very satisfied with this product.
My 86 yr old mother got her rollator through her dr (he has to ok it thru medicare). I believe they can can one 'device' to help them every 5 years. I don't recommend a 3 wheel rollator (they can tip easily), so pick out a good one with a seat. I hope this helps.
My wife with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will be needing a Rollator to get around, your comments please
She is nearing the point where she will require a Rollator to get around. I have read that her Medicare will pay for Rollators. Her PCP will provide the medical need document/order.
I understand some vendors will bill medicare. If I buy from a non-participating vendor how do I bill medicare?
I am considering the following:
Drive Medical Four Wheel Rollator with Fold Up Removable Back Support, $68.17 Drive Medical Aluminum Rollator Walker Fold Up and Removable Back Support, Padded Seat,7.5" Wheels, $75.99 Hugo Elite Rollator Walker Seat, Backrest and Saddle Bag, $99.00
Please share your comments on these Rollators ADW has fallen a couple of times and needs to be able sit down when she feels the need.
Take your aging parent outside! Why worry about whether one has to use a wheelchair or a walker, learn to over come the obstacles.
My mother has a broken leg and Alzheimer's, she uses a wheelchair to get around in. We take mom out to eat, outside to the outdoors, on cruises, traveling in our 5th wheel and much more. We do not let obstacles stand in our way because we choose not to listen to silly nonsense.
My older sister spent 12 years, when my mom was in good health, not taking her out much. My mom didn't drive and was dependent upon my sister, but she wouldn't even let mom walk around the grocery store. It was not uncommon for mom to not leave her home for a week.
My mom loves to shop and go, it is where I get it from. So we do not allow things to get in our way. Use creative thinking skills and look for solutions versus trying to hide them. Perhaps if we treated our aging parents to the outside world they would get more respect.
I have been doing this for 2 years with my mom, we have taken 2 cruises and countless trips to several states. I can't even count the number of times we have been out to eat and shopping.
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Encouraging a Senior with Limited Mobility to Get Outside
I am a leading home modification construction manager and home safety assessment software innovator that allows home assessment and funding to be provided at scale - to prevent catastrophic fall events for example We even meet several times with VNSNY leadership and, generally, the most they (and mostly all home health companies) do is assess all the problems with a home environment and then give an 80-year-old woman a list of construction projects to contract for and manage herself (and of course, what else would they do as they don't do home mods certainly). Solution is home mods need to be part of care transitions and real senior population health or we'll keep wasting billions on preventable falls and unnecessary caregiver expense.
And with safer home environments, the cost of caregiving can be reduced greatly (which the country simply cannot afford even IF there was enough caregivers going forward - hint, there is not: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/info-08-2013/the-aging-of-the-baby-boom-and-the-growing-care-gap-AARP-ppi-ltc.html, http://www.aarp.org/ppi/issues/caregiving/).
The housing stock in America is woefully inadequate for what is coming. And Ms. Gelman is 100% correct, getting outside moving is key. Not gonna happen though because if you understand seniors, they're about self-isolating, avoiding physical risks and then soon depressed. Clinically depressed. It's too late for a plant in the window at that point...
Here is a great post and where the country needs to go fast (with links then to other posts worth reading):
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/Incorporating-Univeral-Design-into-Every-Room-of-the-House-121363.htm
Craig
After too many days indoors, Dad is so ready to get out. We go out regularly, even if it's just to a restaurant or to the park, where we sit with the windows down and watch people fish and hike (often I can catch up on my sleep by taking a nap in the driver's seat.) Winter is more of a problem though.
Dad's favorite thing is riding around in his John Deere Gator on the farm, so we're there at least once a week in good weather. He is age 90 and got the Gator at age 88. He can pull himself up into the Gator pretty well, but this year he's had more trouble getting back out of it. I tried one idea after another, including building a platform to give him some height. Nothing worked. But last week I finally figured it out. What he needed was to be able to grab for something secure instead of his walker, which he doesn't trust. I just nailed some boards to the side of my garage as a railing and parked the Gator passenger side closeby. Worked like a charm. He holds on to the side of the Gator with one hand and to his new railing with the other, with me standing behind him, holding on to his gait belt.
My mom still walks pretty well but can be unsteady now and then. We have a HurryCane for her in each car as well as in the house. But what she really likes is to be the one driving the grocery cart when we shop. It gives her something to hold on to. Grocery shopping together takes more time, but I see the enjoyment it gives her. We do it often. One of my summer projects is to repaint a few rooms in my own home, and Mom, at age 89, bless her heart, is helping me. I don't want her to get up on a ladder, but she does some of the edging and trim. It's good exercise for her and she's great company (and motivation) for me.
Last summer we attended some free, local outdoor concerts that were held in the evening. Some were better than others, but one was outstanding (a symphony orchestra concert held at dusk in a town square, with people sitting on lawn chairs--some even brought coffee tables and pizza!). Mom said it was the highlight of her summer.
The hardest thing for me is wintertime, especially on snow and ice. I do not like taking my dad outside in a wheelchair, via a portable ramp, to get to the garage. (The kitchen entrance to the garage unfortunately has two stairs.) This summer I hope to get an indoor ramp installed that will eliminate this problem next winter.
My wife with Alzheimer's disease (AD) will be needing a Rollator to get around, your comments please
She is nearing the point where she will require a Rollator to get around.
I have read that her Medicare will pay for Rollators. Her PCP will provide the medical need document/order.
I understand some vendors will bill medicare. If I buy from a non-participating vendor how do I bill medicare?
I am considering the following:
Drive Medical Four Wheel Rollator with Fold Up Removable Back Support, $68.17
Drive Medical Aluminum Rollator Walker Fold Up and Removable Back Support, Padded Seat,7.5" Wheels, $75.99
Hugo Elite Rollator Walker Seat, Backrest and Saddle Bag, $99.00
Please share your comments on these Rollators
ADW has fallen a couple of times and needs to be able sit down when she feels the need.
My mother has a broken leg and Alzheimer's, she uses a wheelchair to get around in. We take mom out to eat, outside to the outdoors, on cruises, traveling in our 5th wheel and much more. We do not let obstacles stand in our way because we choose not to listen to silly nonsense.
My older sister spent 12 years, when my mom was in good health, not taking her out much. My mom didn't drive and was dependent upon my sister, but she wouldn't even let mom walk around the grocery store. It was not uncommon for mom to not leave her home for a week.
My mom loves to shop and go, it is where I get it from. So we do not allow things to get in our way. Use creative thinking skills and look for solutions versus trying to hide them. Perhaps if we treated our aging parents to the outside world they would get more respect.
I have been doing this for 2 years with my mom, we have taken 2 cruises and countless trips to several states. I can't even count the number of times we have been out to eat and shopping.