Great list! For anyone interested in more information about assistive devices for older adults, this is another great article: https://livefreehomehealthcare.com/top-assistive-devices-for-arthritis/
All those products are great only if the elder accepts them in the house. My Mom refused almost all the items mentioned in the article.... mainly because she was in denial that she was in her late 90's.
My Dad was the opposite, he welcomed anything I would recommend. When I got him the rolling walker he loved it, but Mom refused to let him use it outside, what would the neighbors think..... I know what the neighbors would think "it's about time".... [sigh].
It would be good to add a medical alert system and smoke alarm to the list. Also make sure you check the batteries of these devices to ensure that they are in proper working order. I have Sleepwell Security products installed at my parents home in Ontario.
Lots of good info on this thread so I am glad to see it again. To go along with the medical alert comments (I like the one time cost Freedom Alert ones) please also consider a lockbox accessory for the front door- no need to have the emergency people bust down the front door if they have a key available. My expertise is mobility issues but I see lots of cool products at national tradeshows- would be glad to offer suggestions to anyone.
The emergency response device should have provision for fire detection, given the high risks for seniors, particularly when asleep. An easy to use home security system with burglary, fire and medical emergency protection can extend the independence for a senior. Also, such a system can advise family members via alert messages to their smart-phones of an emergency.
Baby monitor can help let you "hear" your loved one from the other end of the house or even outside depending on range.
Mobility aids (like sofa canes and standing poles plus walkers and grab bars, etc) can be purchased from Amazon and also wayfair.
Battery operated 2 way door bell (attach door bell button to walker or in bathroom) allows loved one to signal if they need help. Most have 50 to 75ft coverage. May want to paint door bell with bright paint or nail polish.
About the tub. The conversion is expensive but well worth it. You can also get a bench seat that has a moving seat. Part of the bench is out of the tub. Your loved one sits on this part and then the seat slides over above the tube area. Not perfect but less expensive than an overhaul. But get hand held shower head with long attachment for ease of showering.
Lots of grab bars are helpful (take off all towel racks and replace with grab bars) We have found a product called WINGITs which are made specifically for installing grab bars....really super. a bit expensive ($10-15 a pair) but well worth it.
Check and see if there is a local community organization that loans any of the mobility equipment. There is one that serves several communities in our area. They have bath seats and bench seats, toilet grab bars, walker and transport chairs. They often have deliveries of depends and wipes and gloves, etc, that they give to clients.
I know many of the postings are older but the needs still go on. We were able to get a good condition hospital bed for free on Craigs list and a community member cleaned and set it up before mom came home from her 3rd hip surgery.
As long as this posting popped up again I may as well jump in. Based upon the needs of my relatives I invented an innovative bed mobility product. Because of that I attend many national tradeshows and have developed a reasonable expertise in all sorts of new products to keep people safe and at home. Most of the items are just as important to reduce risk of injury to a caregiver. If contacted I would be happy to offer suggestions to anyone if I know the specific problems.
Another option is being able to monitor your parents yourself. I believe there is a company in New Jersey called Ease of Care that will install cameras in their homes and you can login via your smartphone, tablet and PC. They're really good if you live miles away or if you have tried calling but can't reach them.
Jeanne, the home can be temporary or permanent, dependent upon your wishes. It does get placed on the property of the caregiver. I suppose if you wanted, you could attach it to the main house, but I do not recommend it. Your concept of an in-law apartment is exact.
Other bonuses are that the unit is waterproof, (you can submerge it in a flood, and if it was closed up properly, it will remain bone dry inside) hurricane and tornado resistant, and perhaps best of all for aging care, almost burn proof. The only items inside that can burn are the cupboards and personal items. All building materials are burn proof or burn resistant, and cork tiling is used on the floors for comfort and to minimize injury due to falls and broken dishes.
The unit ships simply, just put it on a semi or train.
This type of unit is like an addition to a house and is custom designed for the needs of the elderly/disabled. Very good idea and if zoning laws allow it then the cost is easily covered vs. what would have been paid for a ALF, etc.
Going back to Marcosbg98's comment- most people aren't aware of the veteran's programs that could provide in-home help and products. I discovered this in talking to the VA about my product that would be covered.
My company builds microhome units for all purposes, one of which is to allow aging seniors to live independently. The home includes bedroom, bathroom shower (with seating) a kitchen and living room area.
The small confines of the unit encourages the feeling of security for an inactive senior, and eases accessibility. It even includes a wall that, when lowered, reveals a window to the world 20 feet long, enjoyable from inside, or out on the newly created deck through a sliding door!
For the active senior, it encourages outdoor activity on whatever level they are capable, from golf and tennis, to walks of any length, to interaction and play with grandchildren or great grandchildren.
While resellable later at or near the purchase price, the unit is, at $30,000 not for everyone. Other costs may include a concrete pad, preparation of utilities, and the necessary permits that may be required. Additionally, an urban lot may not have the space. The home is 40 feet long and 8 feet wide.
While not for every person, it is an option that helps an aging parent maintain an independent lifestyle while reducing the worry and stress of watching a loved parent age by keeping them close in case of emergency.
if either of your parents served 1 day in the military during wartime the veteran is entitled and their spouse may be to a benefit called aid and attendance. it's around $1058 per veteran and about $1600 per couple. if you go through the va, it goes through washington and the likelihood is they will wait out a sick elderly veteran or deny them, if they get denied the first time its very difficult to get certified later. we went through the veterans financial assistance corp and they helped us file for free. the va doesn't volunteer this info, i come into contact with many vets where i work and i keep little cards printed up in my pocket to give out. our vets are precious to me. this money can h elp with a hoyer lift. the va was great with equipment for my dad, everything that came from the local va was wonderful but washington waited him out for aid and attendance & he died before he could get it. once he died the claim died so mom didn't even get the money he was entitled to from the time of filing, the retroactive money. mom was still enttitled for her tho. there are some income restrictions and the agency i mentioned can help you with any questions you have before you file
Summary of advice- Jefferson- AbleData is a great place to find lots of helpful items. Tigerooma- the tub area can be dangerous and a sturdy seat or transfer bench would help a lot. The walkin tubs are very expensive but please check out the Safeway SafetyStep- they chop out a hole in the front of the tub and leave it open as a shower or add a hinged door- fairly inexpensive. Karla- a Hoyer is less expensive than a ceiling track system if a person must be slinged. Otherwise a transfer board might be used to slide a person from wheelchair to bed but that isn't foolproof or totally safe (but less strain than lifting). However if the person has some ability to help themselves please make use of that (keeps them stronger and reduces caregiver strain). AbleData has SuperPoles, Friendly Beds, and other items to help with bed transfers & repositioning. Please be careful of cheap/flimsy items as they may not be trustworthy. Any time a person can safety help themselves there is less chance of injury to the caregiver.
A real good place to check is as they show many items to help people. Also there are many medical alert products out there but most with a sizable monthly fee. You may want to check out Freedom Alert which is a one time cost medical alert (roughly $300).
These are some really great options. Also to be considered is a medical alert system, which can allow the caregiver to know that even if they're not on top of the senior they care for 24 hours a day, the senior can get help in the event of a fall or other emergency. It's a great tool to allow the senior a little more independence, and the caregiver a little more "me" time. Here's a great resource on who can use a medical alert system:
to Tigerooma, Lowes and other stores and catalogs sell bath benches. These are like tub seats, but much wider, so that it fits half inside and half outside the tub. They usually come with a back, to support the person's back. Your mother would sit down outside the tub, swing one leg at a time over the tub edge as she slides over, and finishes sitting on the bench within the tub area. Then she can wash and rinse off with a sponge or with a hand-held shower head. The shower head should cost between 30 and 70 dollars, and needs only basic plumbing skills to install - or a basic handyman. These tub-benches usually cost less than a hundred dollars. They are made of high-strength plastic and aluminum. So they are easy to lift into and out of the tub and can be washed easily and/or placed outside to dry off (they are resistant to mold, but should still be dried between uses).
If you family member has Medicare part B you can have your mom's physician write a prescrition for a home health evaluation. The home health nurse will come make an assessment and can order a Hoyer lift which will be covered in Medicare. I hope someone has helped with this already since the post was from Aug!
I can't help with getting an aide to come, but is it possible to get a Hoyer-type lift so that one person alone can safely lift. We have one paid for by Medicare and Medicaid.
I take care of my 89 yr. old Mother. I enjoy doing it. The problem is that we have a tub with a shower in it. But she can not use it. And to buy one that she can walk into cost so much money that we can not afford it. And I feel just hand washing her is not really get her clean. Is their away that I can afford those walk in bath/shower tubs that they advertise on television. And my other problem is: We are living on my mother's social security & it goes to pay for her medicine & food and bills. As her care provider can I get paid & how do I go about it. Anne from Oswego, Illinois
There are so many mail order home healthcare product companies you can find on the web. In the senior care area there are places like Senior Living Depot, The Wright Stuff, Homehealthcareproducts.com and the like. Depends on what you are looking for.
On the subject of needing a care aide, you can try your lcoal senior citizen center. They are in tune with the resources available locally. Local support groups are similar. There is also the Eldercare Locator which should be able to help at 800-677-1116. This phone number has helped me find all kinds of help.
it is very hard to get a aide in our area. the health services say there is no one to send to our house. my mom cares for my gram 24/7 and she is a two person lift and we are really in need of help. any suggestions?
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Equipment and Products for Aging in Place
My Dad was the opposite, he welcomed anything I would recommend. When I got him the rolling walker he loved it, but Mom refused to let him use it outside, what would the neighbors think..... I know what the neighbors would think "it's about time".... [sigh].
Mobility aids (like sofa canes and standing poles plus walkers and grab bars, etc) can be purchased from Amazon and also wayfair.
Battery operated 2 way door bell (attach door bell button to walker or in bathroom) allows loved one to signal if they need help. Most have 50 to 75ft coverage. May want to paint door bell with bright paint or nail polish.
About the tub. The conversion is expensive but well worth it. You can also get a bench seat that has a moving seat. Part of the bench is out of the tub. Your loved one sits on this part and then the seat slides over above the tube area. Not perfect but less expensive than an overhaul. But get hand held shower head with long attachment for ease of showering.
Lots of grab bars are helpful (take off all towel racks and replace with grab bars) We have found a product called WINGITs which are made specifically for installing grab bars....really super. a bit expensive ($10-15 a pair) but well worth it.
Check and see if there is a local community organization that loans any of the mobility equipment. There is one that serves several communities in our area. They have bath seats and bench seats, toilet grab bars, walker and transport chairs. They often have deliveries of depends and wipes and gloves, etc, that they give to clients.
I know many of the postings are older but the needs still go on. We were able to get a good condition hospital bed for free on Craigs list and a community member cleaned and set it up before mom came home from her 3rd hip surgery.
Your concept of an in-law apartment is exact.
Other bonuses are that the unit is waterproof, (you can submerge it in a flood, and if it was closed up properly, it will remain bone dry inside) hurricane and tornado resistant, and perhaps best of all for aging care, almost burn proof. The only items inside that can burn are the cupboards and personal items.
All building materials are burn proof or burn resistant, and cork tiling is used on the floors for comfort and to minimize injury due to falls and broken dishes.
The unit ships simply, just put it on a semi or train.
Going back to Marcosbg98's comment- most people aren't aware of the veteran's programs that could provide in-home help and products. I discovered this in talking to the VA about my product that would be covered.
The small confines of the unit encourages the feeling of security for an inactive senior, and eases accessibility. It even includes a wall that, when lowered, reveals a window to the world 20 feet long, enjoyable from inside, or out on the newly created deck through a sliding door!
For the active senior, it encourages outdoor activity on whatever level they are capable, from golf and tennis, to walks of any length, to interaction and play with grandchildren or great grandchildren.
While resellable later at or near the purchase price, the unit is, at $30,000 not for everyone. Other costs may include a concrete pad, preparation of utilities, and the necessary permits that may be required. Additionally, an urban lot may not have the space. The home is 40 feet long and 8 feet wide.
While not for every person, it is an option that helps an aging parent maintain an independent lifestyle while reducing the worry and stress of watching a loved parent age by keeping them close in case of emergency.
Jefferson- AbleData is a great place to find lots of helpful items.
Tigerooma- the tub area can be dangerous and a sturdy seat or transfer bench would help a lot. The walkin tubs are very expensive but please check out the Safeway SafetyStep- they chop out a hole in the front of the tub and leave it open as a shower or add a hinged door- fairly inexpensive.
Karla- a Hoyer is less expensive than a ceiling track system if a person must be slinged. Otherwise a transfer board might be used to slide a person from wheelchair to bed but that isn't foolproof or totally safe (but less strain than lifting). However if the person has some ability to help themselves please make use of that (keeps them stronger and reduces caregiver strain). AbleData has SuperPoles, Friendly Beds, and other items to help with bed transfers & repositioning. Please be careful of cheap/flimsy items as they may not be trustworthy. Any time a person can safety help themselves there is less chance of injury to the caregiver.
Lowes and other stores and catalogs sell bath benches.
These are like tub seats, but much wider, so that it fits
half inside and half outside the tub. They usually come
with a back, to support the person's back. Your mother
would sit down outside the tub, swing one leg at a time
over the tub edge as she slides over, and finishes
sitting on the bench within the tub area. Then
she can wash and rinse off with a sponge or
with a hand-held shower head. The shower
head should cost between 30 and 70 dollars,
and needs only basic plumbing skills to
install - or a basic handyman.
These tub-benches usually cost
less than a hundred dollars. They are made of
high-strength plastic and aluminum. So they are
easy to lift into and out of the tub and can be washed
easily and/or placed outside to dry off (they are
resistant to mold, but should still be dried between
uses).
On the subject of needing a care aide, you can try your lcoal senior citizen center. They are in tune with the resources available locally. Local support groups are similar. There is also the Eldercare Locator which should be able to help at 800-677-1116. This phone number has helped me find all kinds of help.