Smart Senior

Senior Living: Is Universal Design Right for You?

What’s not to like about universal design?  A house with universal design features doesn’t have to look any different than any other house, except maybe nicer.  Universal design options can be stylish as well as functional.  You can remodel your home without fearing that it will look like a care facility.

 

What you will notice is that the layout of the house, the furnishings, flooring, bathroom fixtures, kitchen appliances, door handles, lighting and other subtle changes are all meant to make life easier for you. There may come a day when you are not able to climb stairs.  Perhaps you will need a walker, wheelchair or scooter in order to get around.  Your rooms will need to be adapted in order to accommodate your needs.  Some of these changes might include:  no-step entrances, wider doorways, adequate turning radius, and an open floor plan throughout the house.  There isn’t anything about these changes that would detract from the way your home looks today.

 

The goal of universal design, according to the “AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home” by Rosemary Bakker, is to make your life easier.  Everything in a universally designed house is intended to require a minimum amount of physical or mental effort on your part.

 

If you are thinking about remodeling your house it is probably because you want it to look nicer, but you should also be thinking about the “big picture.”  If you remodel with universal design features in mind now, you won’t have to make changes again later. This simply means that you may want to allow for adequate lighting, non-slip flooring, and thinking about the possibility of having to live on one floor at some point.  It is one thing if you plan on changing homes every decade or so, but many people buy the house that they will call home for the rest of their lives.  If you recognize from the outset that your capabilities are likely to change over time you will be able to make your home a safe place to live.

 

Universal Design features aren’t just for old people.  The primary goal is to have a house that is usable for everyone right now.  This might mean young families with baby carriages, boomers recovering from hip replacements, elderly parents, or even teenagers on crutches because of sports accidents.  Universal design will make your house a home that will be there for you no matter what happens.  If a crisis occurs, you will know that you will still be able to stay in your own home, because you had the foresight to plan ahead.

Independent Living: Can You Get Out of Your Chair?

You can not be totally independent if you can’t get into or out of your chair without calling for help.   You spend a lot of quality time curled up in your favorite easy chair, which means that it is a pretty important piece of furniture.  Assess your furniture today.  Don’t wait until you get stuck and end up spending the night in the living room because you can’t get up.  It shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to figure out when it is time to update or replace your living room furniture.

 

Quite often, what was a good fit when you were younger is not such a good fit now.  Remember those days?  There was a time when you could sleep on the floor or plop into a beanbag chair without giving it a second thought.   However, you may find that older sofas and chairs are now too deep, too low, and too hard to get out of.  I am in the market for a new living room set myself, and hard as it is to admit, I am going to have about what I am going to need in a few years.  It is time to take some measurements and think about furniture pieces that will grow old along with us.  We all need to make sure that our furniture is working for us instead of against us.

 

A good rule of thumb:  If your knees are higher than your hips when you are seated, you are going to have a hard time standing up.  Fortunately, Universal Design furniture can be attractive and stylish while providing support for the lower back and will help you sit tall.  Explore some of the new furniture designs that have ergonomic features.

 

What are some ergonomic guidelines for chairs?

 

• The seat should be 18 inches high and the cushion depth should range from 19-23 inches.  If a chair is too deep, it is hard to sit in and even harder to get up from.
• Arms that facilitate easy transfers.  Chairs with side arms at a height of about 25 inches. The arms should extend to the front of the chair for support when trying to stand up.   If they are much higher you can’t use the side arms to push off from.
• A back that has a slight incline for relaxation.  A high back is good if you want support for shoulders, neck and head.
• A tube or roll pillow is handy for good lumbar support.
• An open space beneath the chair to allow you to tuck your feet underneath for leverage when pushing to a standing position.

 

What about revitalizing your current sofa or chairs?  If you find that you can’t bear to part with your living room furniture, you will want to consider giving them a makeover.  Over time cushions tend to lose plumpness and support.  Soft cushions do not give your spine enough support.   Soft cushions do not create a stable transfer surface.  If your cushions need revitalizing or replacing, find local upholstery specialists to do the job for you.

 

What about buying a recliner?  Reclining chairs are very popular.  Nearly everyone has one for those special times when they want to feel truly relaxed.  They are especially good if you have lower back problems or need to elevate your feet.  You can find recliners that come with heat and massage units, or even zero gravity chairs that can elevate your legs above the level of your heart.  You can even find models with push buttons lifts for those who need an extra boost after getting a little too comfortable.  If you are going to splurge on one new piece of furniture a recliner would be a good choice.

 

Remember that no matter what the cost, ergonomically designed furniture is important if you want to be able to manage on your own.

 

 

Senior Living: How Social Are You?

Sephanie Clifford wrote an article for the International Herald Tribune (Paris: June 4, 2009) about the importance of social connections as we age.  One of the greatest challenges faced by older adults is the loss of their social network.   Spouses die, friends get sick or move away, children live in another part of the country, neighborhoods change, and soon you are finding yourself quite alone.  There may be days at a time when you don’t see another person.  This is what is known as social isolation.

 

The new future of old age is all about staying in society and staying socially connected.  Technology becomes a big part of this movement because it provides a way to stay connected with family and friends.  Snail mail never worked for my family.  It just didn’t seem to be in the genes, if you know what I mean.  Not one member of my immediate family could put a pen to paper in order to keep in touch.  It was gratifying to find that these same people, who couldn’t compose a snail letter to save themselves, can now tap out an electronic message with apparent ease.

 

More and more people are joining social networks and researchers are finding that these networks can provide the same benefits as a group of friends.  Technology has provided a new way to make new connections, make new friends, and feel a sense of purpose.

 

It has long been known that social connections are important and play a huge role in health and life satisfaction.  People with strong social relationships show less mental decline, live more active lives, have fewer physical limitations, and adapt to changes more easily… more so than people who are isolated.

 

Rosemary Bakker in her book “The AARP Guide to Revitalizing Your Home” provides some interesting tips for staying socially connected:

 

• Try something new that involves getting out of the house and interacting with new people.  For example: host a book club or start/join a crafting group.
• Get involved with a volunteer cause.  Not just busywork but get involved with a cause that you feel passionate about.
• Get connected to the Web; set up a computer station and e-mail your children, grandchildren and friends.  Join an on-line interest group.
• Throw a pot-luck dinner.  Go ahead, be the one to organize it….don’t wait for someone else to make the first move.
• Sign up for a free service that allows video chat or video calls from your computer so that you can visit friends and relatives who live far away.
•  This is not the time for you to mumble that you don’t need new fangled gadgets.  Technology plays a big part in the scheme of things now and you are cutting off your own nose, so to speak, if you refuse to become a part of the world today.  It is a pretty exciting place.

 

 

Senior Health: Rocker-Sole Shoes for Seniors Too!

Rocker-sole shoes are all the rage.  Of course the advertisements pitch to teens and young adults by promising them toned thighs and firm buttocks, but that isn’t the only purpose.  As usual marketing has forgotten about us, the older end of the continuum, but you might be surprised at how many seniors are wearing rocker-sole shoes and loving them.

 

You might call rocker-shoes “instability shoes,” as Nadine Hantke (McClatchy-Tribune Business News, Washington: September 2010) refers to them.  Rocker shoes have been around for awhile and claim to mimic the naturally unstable human gait.  Muscles are used more and in different ways.  The end result is less strain on the knees and back. The instability of the rocker shoe comes from the high rounded soles.  To correct for the shoes instability you are forced to change your usual gait.

 

A friend of mind recommended these shoes to me because I have been troubled with recurrent plantar fasciitis for many years.  I was desperate to find a comfortable shoe that would relieve the stress on my heels and toes.  She had a similar problem related to torn tendon, and her podiatrist recommended rocker-sole shoes.  She tried them and loved them so much that she was eager for me to give them a try.

 

I did try, and guess what?  She was right.  My feet feel so good that I am counting this experience as a minor miracle.  Not only do they relieve pressure on the heels and toes, but the rocking motion exercises/stretches the painful tendon that is responsible for the problem in the first place.  I am in love.

 My daughter tells me they are truly ugly though, and this is probably a sign that that I am officially old, because I don’t care.  My friend tells me that she found a pair that is a little dressier than the general oxford style, and she feels okay about wearing them with a dress.  Some people recommend giving yourself an adjustment period by wearing them for only 20 minutes a day at first, but others put them on and can wore them like a regular shoe right away. 

 

You don’t get firmer buttocks and better toned thighs simply by wearing the shoes, but at our age having pain free feet is probably more important anyway.  As a whole rocker-sole shoe get a” thumbs up”, and researchers feel that  adjusting for instability while walking is beneficial and could possibly prevent some orthopedic problems.

 

Some older people, especially if they have trouble walking, may lack the coordination for unstable walking. The shoes are suitable for walking but are not recommended for running.  The feeling is similar to walking on wet sand, grass or soft forest soil.  Doesn’t that make your feet feel good just thinking about it?

 

 

Memory Loss: Is It Scaring The Daylights Out Of You?

We are all scared to pieces at the thought of developing dementia, Alzheimer’s or anything that smacks of memory loss.  I read everything that I can find that offers support and encouragement, because I am not ready to have anything shut down.

 

Jean Carper, author of “100 Simple Things You Can Do to Prevent Alzheimer’s and Age Related Memory Loss,” outlined some tips from her book, in an article written for USA Weekend (September 17-19, 2010).  The thing that I found most encouraging is that none of the tips said anything about taking more medications, except for being sure that you were getting enough Vitamin D.  She stressed that Alzheimer’s is not entirely genetic and not entirely unpreventable.  There are certain lifestyle changes that you can make to help ward off unwelcomed memory loss.  Researchers are finding that there are simple things that you can do to improve your odds of delaying or thwarting memory loss.

 

It’s okay to drink coffee.  Isn’t it great!  After years of listening to dire predictions about our coffee consumption, scientists are now telling us that caffeine is not such a bad thing after all.  Drinking 3-5 cups of coffee a day is actually good for you.  They may be talking about reducing dementia causing amyloids in the brain or adding more antioxidants to your system but who cares.  If you like coffee, you like coffee.

 

Floss your teeth.  You are probably already doing this but if you’re not, now would be a good time to start.  The health of your teeth and gums can help predict dementia. 

 

Use your brain.  She says that working on the computer doing online research can stimulate your brain even more than reading a book, so get in there and do some research.  Reading is still good though, and those crossword puzzles, and learning something new.

 

Grow new brain cells.  Thousands of brain cells are born every day.  I was excited about that, I kind of though that at our age we were just trying to hold our own.  The trick, she says, is keeping them alive!  Researchers suggest 30 minutes of aerobic exercise (get out there and walk), mental activity, eating salmon and other fatty fish, avoid obesity, avoid stress, avoid sleep deprivation, avoid heavy drinking and get enough Vitamin B.

 

Drink apple juice.  We grew up hearing about what an apple a day can do, so this one surely isn’t a stretch.  Apparent a couple of apples or drinking 2-3 glasses of apple juice a day can increase the production of the memory chemical acetycholine.

 

Protect your head.  This one makes sense.  Blows to the head, even mild ones in early life, increase the chance of dementia years later.  Wear a seatbelt, wear a helmet, fall-proof your house and be careful.

 

Meditate.  People who meditate regularly have less cognitive decline and brain shrinkage as they age.  Even 12 minutes a day can improve cognitive thinking.  The easy way is to find a meditation tape that you love and try to chill out for a few minutes every day.

 

Take vitamin D:  you are probably already doing this because Calcium and vitamin D are high on the list of things that you need to be doing for your bones, so do it for your brain too.

 

Fill your brain:  Live life to the max.  Fill your brain with life experiences, education, mentally demanding leisure activities and socialize.  All of these things work together and help your brain stand up to the plaques and tangles that might be trying to snarl things up.

 

Avoid infections.  Take care of yourself.  Infections seem to trigger excessive ‘gunk’ that kills brain cells.  Take appropriate vaccines, antibiotics and antiviral agents.

 

You are most likely doing many of these things already so give yourself a hand.  Join me for a cup of coffee, sign up for a yoga class, and learn something new today.

Senior Living: Can A Family Member Be Paid for Assuming Caregiving Responsibilities?

Most people are reluctant to discuss money when inviting a relative to move in with them, but it just makes good sense.  If a parent (or child for that matter) is young and healthy enough, it should be understood that they will make regular financial or service contributions to the household.

 

If, on the other hand, you are overseeing or doing hands-on care for an ailing parent, you should and could be compensated for the services/hardships that are bound to occur.  Caring for a family member is a responsibility that many people bear.  It can also be a source of income.  An article in the Jacksonville Free Press (June 11-17, 2009) outlines a few things to consider before entering into such an arrangement.

 

Caregiver agreements, where relatives are hired to care for elderly family members, have been around for awhile.   Financial transactions entered into are not considered gifts and need to be carefully crafted so that there are no misunderstandings. 

 

Many people will enter into this end-of-life type arrangement anyway, but it can become quite a financial burden. For the adult child who wants to provide this kind of support, a caregiver agreement can provide a modest source of income.

Older people like the idea of being taken care of by trusted family members.  Whether they move in with a family member or stay in their own homes under supervision, they are more comfortable with family than with using outside help.  If it is an either/or situation, hiring a relative can be a money saving strategy. 

 

Caregiver agreements, also known as personal care contracts, can reduce tension among family members and removes the mindset about contesting a will if an agreement can’t be reached.  If properly set up, money under a caregiver agreement is not considered a gift, but rather a compensation for services rendered.

 

Caregiver contracts must be written contracts that are completed in advance, and the compensation should be agreed upon.  You cannot submit a bill, after the fact, which says a certain amount of money is expected for services rendered.

 

Contracts should specify duties the caregiver will be perform (making sure medications are taken, preparing and serving meals, running errands, keeping the house tidy, paying bills, etc).  Compensation is based on the average hourly rate that a local agency would charge for a similar service.  Contracts also need to stipulate how the payments will be made.  It could be an upfront lump-sum or in made in regular installments.  Caregivers are required to pay income taxes on the compensation that they receive, social security and other taxes need to be withheld, so you will undoubtedly need to hire an accountant or use a payroll service.

 

If you are anticipating this type of care giving, this is a good way to be compensated for lost work and miscellaneous expenses.  It will make the experience more satisfying for everyone involved and hopefully this will keep the older family members from feeling that they are a burden.

Senior Travel: Accessible Travel Equipment

I hate it when seniors resign themselves to staying at home because they feel that travel is too much of a hassle for them.  Many hotels, cruises, RV parks and even campgrounds have accessibility services that can make travel a pleasure again.  The key is to make sure that you understand that the word accessibility means different things to different people and in different places.

 

Aside from not being able to fit your wheelchair or walker through a standard doorway, the hardest thing to deal with is not being able to take a bath.  If you want something a little more creative than a bathtub with a seat or grab bars nearby, you need to do your homework.

 

It is often the lack of bathing facilities that makes you not want to bother with traveling at all.  That doesn’t have to be the case any more, so dust off your suitcases and get ready to go.  I read an interesting article in Active Living Magazine called “Shower to Go,” and thought that is had limitless possibilities.  If you use your imagination this could very well solve a lot of your problems.  It boils down to taking your bathing equipment with you!  There are now pieces of equipment that are so compact, light-weight and affordable that you can take them with you anywhere.  The article recommended going to (www.GoesAnywhere.com) to find information on commodes and bath/ shower chairs that are safe, light-weight, compact.  They are as convenient as any other carry-on luggage might be.

 

You can go one step further by examining portable shower stalls.  For example: a fold away wheelchair shower (www.fawssit.com) is perfect either at home or away from home, if your bathroom is not wheelchair accessible.  It folds away to a very small size and is light weight.  It has its own waste removal pump (water flows into a drain pan that can be pumped out and flushed down a sink drain).  The water source for the shower head is simply a water faucet.  If you can set up the stall within a foot or so of your water source, you are good to go.  The portable shower and a portable shower/commode chair can open up a world of travel possibilities.

 

Travel and recreation are a little more challenging if you are dealing with disabilities but not out of the question.  Be creative.  Look for portable equipment options or have items crafted for you and you can explore the world comfortably.

Accessible Travel: Does Your Senior Feel Homebound?

Accessibility issues should not keep you homebound.  Seniors often pass on travel and educational opportunities because they feel that traveling is just too much work.  You shouldn’t let yourself feel that way.  There are so many interesting and rewarding thing that you can do with the rest of your life that you shouldn’t let fatigue or mobility issues keep you from enjoying yourself.  The Acropolis in the moonlight is just as beautiful now as it was when you were twenty-three, and you can probably appreciate the history and the artistry more now than you did then.

 

Whatever your level of need, a tour or excursion designed especially for people with special needs will be easier and more enjoyable for you.  There are travel agents trained to work with special needs travelers.  These agents are professionals and understand the challenges associated with physical limitations, and know how to book accessible transportation and accommodations that will meet your needs.  You can look for an agency that focuses on your specific needs (wheelchair use, slow walking, respiratory problems, visual limitations, hearing impairment and the like).

 

Do you prefer group or individual travel?  Some agencies work with individuals and small groups while others specialize in large groups of travelers.

 

Verify, never assume, that all of the details are in place before you go.  It takes teamwork to make sure that you will have a memorable time rather than a frustrating experience.  Everyone deserves to travel.  Just because you are in a wheelchair, need to walk at a slower pace, or bring your oxygen with you does not mean that you cannot travel the world.

Mother-in-Law Suites: Can Your House Be Transofmed into a Multigeneration Home?

Mother-in-law suites have become trendy again.  According to an article by Rosa Salter Rodriquez (Journal-Gazette, Ft. Wayne Indiana: August 22, 2010) polls indicate that multigenerational living situations are on the rise.  A recessionary economy combined with high housing costs is making it difficult for young adults to set up housekeeping on their own, and for senior family members to afford retirement living.  Multigenerational living is starting to make economic sense again. 

 

Homebuilders and remodelers are taking note and the idea of families moving in together is taking hold.  A growing number of home owners are now looking for features suitable for multigenerational living. What people really want is flex space, which means a space that can accommodate different uses during a person’s lifetime.  Today, the space might be a family room or a home theater, but tomorrow it can easily be converted into a bedroom or studio apartment.  People are starting to think ahead and asking for features that will allow them to age in place or take in an older relative.

 

The options include either reconfiguring your home existing space or building a new addition that can become a mother-in-law suite.  An article in Sunday paper (USA Weekend: September 17-19) by Scott McGillivray highlights why your home might need a mother-in-law suite.  It is common knowledge that households with more than two generations living together has shot up 24% in the last couple of years.

 

The article has compiles some features that you might want to consider if you are buying for the first time or planning on remodeling for multi-family occupancy.

 

·        Extra bedrooms

·        A separate entrance will make it easier for everyone to come and go at will, without disturbing the whole family.

·        Separate living rooms.  An extra bedroom or office can be converted into additional living space to give more breathing room between families.  If you don’t have an extra room to spare, a couch of daybed to make accommodations into something more than just a sleeping space would be nice.

·        Separate bathrooms.  You can never have too many bathrooms and we all know that waiting in line outside the bathroom door is a disaster waiting to happen.

·        Separate kitchen.  Not always necessary but nice to have a little space all of ones own to do some food preparation.

·        Soundproofing.  Good quality insulation is a must if people of different generations are going to live together.  We can’t all spend our lives wearing ear phones or sound mufflers.

 

Remodeling for multigenerational living may require a qualified contractor and advice about necessary permits.  The above suggestions may seem minimalistic but they are a start.  If you have the time and combined resources to plan ahead you can consider separate wings, remodeling basements, reworking household plans to include a first floor master suite and taking some universal design features into consideration.

Aging in Place: What Can You Do Today To Prepare For Tomorrow?

You like your house just the way it is and it suits you just fine.  You do not want to move to Florida and you don’t want to even think about a condo or a retirement community.  You are who you are…thank you very much.

 

This attitude can either be your best friend or your worst enemy.  Many people are reluctant to acknowledge that they are getting older.  They imagine themselves continuing along as always, without feeling that they need to adapt their homes for the years ahead.  Even adult children who are helping with their own declining parents do not think about making the changes that can indeed make aging in place possible.

 

Making structural changes, with the possibility of future disabilities in mind, is not a priority in most peoples lives.  Still, the house that is perfect for you today when you are 55 may not be so perfect when you find yourself struggling with mobility or health issues. 

 

The biggest fear is that your house will look like a nursing home.  One thing that you can do is to consider some renovations today that will be easy to upgrade tomorrow.  The lines between luxuries and necessities are blurring. You can adapt your house to accommodate changing needs without making it look institutional.  Designers are working hard to put universal appeal into universal design changes.

 

There are many steps that you can take, short of making your house wheelchair accessible, right now.  These steps will minimize costs when you do need to make more dramatic changes.  Elizabeth Razzi (Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Retirement Planning Guide. Fall 2006) suggests things that you can do today that will serve as a foundation for further remodeling later.  For example: When doing a bathroom remodeling job you can have reinforcements built into the walls that will accommodate the addition of grab bars later.  She also suggests that space be allocated in the design that could later serve as place for a dumb waiter or elevator shaft.

 

Think ahead.  Small touches such as replacing doorknobs with lever style handles, under cabinet lights and dimmer switches to augment additional lighting, buying appliances that reflect changing needs will not deter from your present décor.

 

You don’t have to wait for a crisis situation to enjoy the convenience of grab bars, a cut out tub or a no threshold shower for step in access.  Low pile carpeting, cushioned vinyl linoleum, avoiding patterned designs and taping down area rugs are things that are all easy to do as you go along.  Add task lighting, outdoor motion sensors, and illuminate your house numbers.  Rocker switches and raising the height of frequently used electrical wall outlets are all things that you can do that that will not change the looks of your home.

 

People often think that it is too expensive to add universal design features, but this isn’t necessarily true.  If you start today to make judicious modifications you will be less apt to find yourself in a crisis situation later.  You do want to stay in your own home don’t you?