I agree, an PT and OT therapist can tell you what you can do and also evaluate your Mom.
Your County Office of Aging can help evaluate your home. I put inva shower stall for my Mom. Made things easier for her and me.
I did have the occupational therapist suggest a sliding door that goes in the wall to make Moms bathroom door wider for her walker. I told him "good idea". I have learned not to be negative around PTs and SW. I smile and agree and then go home and take what I think will work. The door would not have worked. The wall had a cold air return vent in it. To have it removed an re-vented would have cause thousands of dollars to have it revented and fix the wall back the way it had been.
An occupational therapist is the one to hire for a consultation in home. She or he can guide you as to what changes need to be made to keep your mom as safe as possible.
Yes. I have been caring for her for the past 4 years. She is my mom and a blessing to our family. She is happy and loves it here. She has her own area of our home, family room, bedroom and bathroom. With her door that comes into our home. Kitchen is on our side of the house and so I do all the cooking and don’t have to worry about stoves being left on anymore. Alarms on all doors so I know where she is. I just need to know if there is a company that comes in and can point out things I’m missing as far as safety.
Ask a social worker involved in some way in care whether through hospitalizations or rehabs. You might stop at a rehab and ask. You can do a lot online as far as trying to assess all this. Consider a call to your local council on aging and asking. Be very careful of contractors just wanting a whole lot of money to put up a few grab bars. You might also look under "Organizers" in your computer yellow pages and ask if any are up to date on such things.
ALL of that said, do recognize that there WILL be falls and there WILL be accidents and these not due to anything you failed to do for safety, but having to do with the aging brain. Our balance goes. At 81 I can promise you that's a fact. Our brains slow and are slower to react and we get forgetful. So there WILL BE BLOOD as the movie title said.
This is what Occupational Therapists do. Can you get a referral from mom's doc for OT services at home?
If she is being released from the hospital or rehab, the discharge planning office should be sending an OT to your home to assess if it meets the requirements for a safe discharge.
I applaud you for wanting to make sure that your home is a safe place for your mom to live.
It is an adjustment for everyone involved when a parent moves into our homes.
When my mom moved into our home, she was doing fairly well. As she declined she needed to have certain needs met.
Pay close attention to bathing areas. Falls in the shower are common. While we can’t prevent every fall, there are some things that you can do to help keep an elder safe.
If needed, add a shower chair, raised toilet seat, grab bars, etc.
Mom eventually needed a walker and a lift recliner in her bedroom.
When my mom participated in home health, the occupational therapist made suggestions that were helpful.
Does your mother have mobility issues or are you concerned about other factors?
We also installed a ramp for my mom to roll her walker on when entering and exiting our home.
As dementia increases, knobs on the stove can be removed. Sharp objects removed from drawers and countertops, etc.
In Colorado (Denver metro area) where I live, the Volunteers of America have a handyman service that will install grab bars, assess your home for safety, and do minor service work (no electrical) for a donation fee. (Suggest $20.00 per job, but will waive for low income.) We purchased our own bars, but, as I understood it, they will assess your home for appropriate placement and then go and purchase them. We were lucky enough to be covered under a grant and they purchased a transfer shower bench and assembled it for us. They also noted a railing we had installed in our hallway. Since I (spouse caregiver) put it up, it was not very secure. They purchased new hardware, took it down and remounted it.
You will need to get on a waiting list and it may take a week or two for a volunteer in your area...but our experience was so positive.
Other things to consider doing: - bright (yellow) tape on steps, inside AND outside - consider (if/when needed) "STOP" signs on exit doors - make sure there is adequate lighting - have clear pathways in hallways/rooms - possibly install a camera if your mom's quarters are not close to your quarters
Your County Office of Aging can help evaluate your home. I put inva shower stall for my Mom. Made things easier for her and me.
I did have the occupational therapist suggest a sliding door that goes in the wall to make Moms bathroom door wider for her walker. I told him "good idea". I have learned not to be negative around PTs and SW. I smile and agree and then go home and take what I think will work. The door would not have worked. The wall had a cold air return vent in it. To have it removed an re-vented would have cause thousands of dollars to have it revented and fix the wall back the way it had been.
ALL of that said, do recognize that there WILL be falls and there WILL be accidents and these not due to anything you failed to do for safety, but having to do with the aging brain. Our balance goes. At 81 I can promise you that's a fact. Our brains slow and are slower to react and we get forgetful. So there WILL BE BLOOD as the movie title said.
Good luck. Hope things work well for you all.
If she is being released from the hospital or rehab, the discharge planning office should be sending an OT to your home to assess if it meets the requirements for a safe discharge.
Also, please read this:
https://www.agingcare.com/discussions/if-you-are-going-to-become-a-caregiver-480769.htm?orderby=oldest
It is an adjustment for everyone involved when a parent moves into our homes.
When my mom moved into our home, she was doing fairly well. As she declined she needed to have certain needs met.
Pay close attention to bathing areas. Falls in the shower are common. While we can’t prevent every fall, there are some things that you can do to help keep an elder safe.
If needed, add a shower chair, raised toilet seat, grab bars, etc.
Mom eventually needed a walker and a lift recliner in her bedroom.
When my mom participated in home health, the occupational therapist made suggestions that were helpful.
Does your mother have mobility issues or are you concerned about other factors?
We also installed a ramp for my mom to roll her walker on when entering and exiting our home.
As dementia increases, knobs on the stove can be removed. Sharp objects removed from drawers and countertops, etc.
Wishing you and your mother all the best.
You will need to get on a waiting list and it may take a week or two for a volunteer in your area...but our experience was so positive.
- bright (yellow) tape on steps, inside AND outside
- consider (if/when needed) "STOP" signs on exit doors
- make sure there is adequate lighting
- have clear pathways in hallways/rooms
- possibly install a camera if your mom's quarters are not close to your quarters
Good luck!
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