Smart Senior

Senior Living: Ergonomics Can Make A Difference

Getting older isn’t easy.  The degenerative changes that occur with aging can make life difficult, and a little fine tuning may be necessary to help you remain independent.   We are very fortunate that experts in the field of ergonomics have been working hard to make sure that this will happen.    We don’t like to associate old age with disability but research clearly indicates that hand grip strength, muscle mass,  range of motion and flexibility decrease after the age of 45.  If you have trouble walking, bending, gardening, carrying groceries, grooming, dressing, driving or doing your housework, you do indeed have a disability.  Thankfully there are products on the market that are designed to improve your comfort level, hone in on safety issues and make you the same efficient and proficient person that you have always been.

There is no cure for old age, arthritis, or many other chronic conditions associated with age, but managing the disease and controlling your environment can do much to make your situation tolerable.  Ergonomics may be the answer.  Design specialists are working on ways to fine tune products that will make life easier for you.  Ergonomics means more than a comfortable office chair; it is about improving the tools that you use to perform a variety of tasks.  Ergonomics is for everyone, whether you have a disability or not.

As people age or adjust to a new diagnosis, keeping them in their homes becomes quite a challenge.   Many people have trouble walking and/or using the stairs.  Seeing so many people buzz around in scooter chairs these days has been quite an eye opener.  It tells us that a lot of people have mobility issues and it also tells how much they enjoy being out in the world.   We now appreciate that people using scooters, wheelchairs, canes, crutches and walkers are a part of our lives.  Too many people have been forced in care receiving situations because they could not maneuver around their own homes.  If you are independently mobile I hope you know how lucky you are.

The judicious use of ergonomic tools and ideas may determine whether you can remain in your own home.  At the very least your home should have:

• At least one entrance without a step
• A bathroom on the entry level
• Accessible electrical outlets and light controls
• An interior door at least 32 inches wide

Ergonomics isn’t all about remodeling though.  If you do a little homework and ask questions when you shop, you can find many tools and appliances that will make life easier for you.   Many of them will be advertized as such and almost all sales people will be familiar with ergonomic design.  It is no longer a big mystery.  Appliances, gardening tools, door knobs, and special steering wheels for your car are only few of many items that fall in this category.   Ergonomic design can help you live independently.  Life is good but it isn’t always easy.   Shop wisely, ask questions, and try out the many marvelous products available to you.

 

 

 

Canes, Walkers and Wheelchairs: Three Ways to Prevent Mobility Devices from Sabotaging Your Health

I usually just skim the advertisement pages of the newspaper, but the other day a story about a new type of cane caught my eye.  I am familiar with canes, walkers, and wheelchairs after years working with seniors, but I have never seen anything like this.   This particular cane looks like something out of the Bionic Man television series of old (www.TheHurryCane.com) and I liked what I saw.   Canes have undoubtedly been around since humankind started walking upright, but designs incorporating technological advances are fairly new.

Many seniors use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes to help them get around.   I was rather astounded to read that many of the falls that land seniors in the hospital are related to the use of mobility devices.  How can this be?  The very pieces of equipment that have been designed to offer support and stability are causing injury accidents.

1. You probably already know the answer to that question.  Canes and walkers are pretty common place but no matter how beautiful the design, if they don’t fit your special needs you become an accident waiting to happen.  I’ve worked with many people using mobility devices and do you know what?  The majority of them, especially those using them for what they see as short term, have borrowed them from friends, friends-of-friends or family member.
2. Ideally a medical professional is the person to turn to for advice about mobility equipment.  Unscrupulous venders or unknowing friends will try to save you a few dollars by saying that a cane is just a cane, a walker just a walker or a wheelchair just a wheelchair.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  You need a piece of equipment that you will be comfortable with; not something that may cause additional problems.  Do your homework and find some other way to save pennies.  Canes and walkers allow people to remain functionally independent, but a faulty piece of equipment can alter your gait and cause unspeakable problems. 
3.  Consult a physician and work with a Physical and/or Occupational therapist specializing in the selection, care and use of mobility devices.   Part of the process should be learning how to use your particular cane, walker or wheelchair and practicing until you are an expert.  Your device should give you a sense of stability and security.  You should not feel intimidated or vulnerable when you set out on your walk.

A number of new designs for wheelchairs, walkers and canes are available today.   Ideally a cane or walker should be adjustable, adaptable, and able to stand upright so that you aren’t juggling keys and packages or tripping over them if they fall to the floor.  I’ve seen some fancy wheeled walkers that glide like baby joggers, but haven’t had the pleasure of working with one of the high tech canes.  It is in your best interest to buy the best equipment that you can afford and learn how to use it properly. 

Senior Living: Safe Driving at 70 and Beyond

I have always been rather philosophical about older drivers giving up their keys at a certain age, but as that “certain age” approaches, philosophical thoughts go out the window.    Newspapers are filled with dire predictions about what will happens as older drivers clog the roadways.  Every once in awhile someone sees fit to give us a break and it is rather uplifting.

The Wall Street Journal (Wednesday, February 29, 2012) featured an articled by Sue Shellenbarger about safe drivers over 70.  The author focused on preventive measures that senior drivers can take to assure that they can keep their keys as long as possible.    In order to avoid “the talk” from concerned family members, seniors need to demonstrate that they are capable of making informed decisions about things that concern them.   Getting older does not mean that your driving days are over, but it does mean that it is time to evaluate, maintain, and improve safe driving skills.  Many 70 year olds look and act much younger than their years while others do not, and this needs to be taken into consideration.    The author pointed out that many older drivers can and are taking preventive measures in order to drive responsibly.

No one will deny that reduced range of motion, arthritic joints, trouble with night vision and glare, and decreased fine motor skill do make life challenging.  These abilities change at different rates for different people, so it unconscionable to assume that all drivers of a certain age have deficits or are unsafe.  It is comforting to know that there are ways to counteract a good many of these difficulties and maintain safe driving capabilities.   Safe driving is not age specific.  It is a function of person, environment, and vehicle factors.

 Seniors actually practice many more safe driving behaviors than people in other age groups.   Informed seniors who are aware of their changing physical capabilities can regulate themselves by making a few adjustments.  For example:  by limiting night driving, avoiding  bad weather conditions and rush hour traffic, a good many problems can be avoided.  This is good sense at any age.

Population trends tell us that older adults make up a respectable percentage of the worlds population.  Like it or not, this tells us that  people are going to want to drive and take of themselves for a longer period of time.    Recognizing that aging and chronic illnesses may bring changes in vision, cognition and motor skills is the first step toward making safety a priority.  This is something that each individual has to do themselves.   Monitor your own driving skills and capabilities, recognize any impairment that you may have, and make adjustments.  Help is available and modern technology is on your side.  Safe driving courses are available for older drivers, and car assessment programs are available to help seniors modify their vehicles to adapt to changing needs.  Studies have identified problem areas and designed new products.  Thicker steering wheels, keyless entry and ignition, power mirrors and larger dashboard controls are only a few of the marvelous inventions designed to help you.  The best features are those will accommodate your particular limitations or needs.   Make a point to have your car assessed and do whatever it takes to make you a better driver.   You will know when it is time to give up your keys and hopefully you will do so graciously, but in the meantime drive safely. 

 

Independent Living: Managing Activities of Daily Living

Accidents happen.  Have you thought about how you would manage if you suffered a stroke or had severe arthritis?  What are you going to do if you break a bone, have pain from repetitive stress injuries or carpal tunnel syndrome?  What are you going to do if your manual dexterity is seriously compromised?  We thrive on being independent, but we are all guilty of taking our good fortune for granted.  Go ahead. Can you brush your teeth, or cook a meal, or even dress yourself if you only have one hand?   What about slicing a tomato or buttering a bagel or unlocking your front door?  We don’t give much thought to activities of daily living until something happens that takes that independence away from us.

It doesn’t necessarily have to be something catastrophic; even a minor setback can serve to make you realize how vulnerable you are.  I have worked through carpal tunnel syndrome, trigger finger and now deal with degenerative joint disease in both thumbs.  No biggie, you think, but when a body part let you down it is more than a minor inconvenience.  A friend of mind fell and broke her wrist.  With a history of rather severe osteoporosis it is going to take than a few weeks to heal.  Her cast is positioned in such a manner that she can’t use her fingers to type of button a blouse, more than a minor inconvenience.  A disability, permanent or not, is only a heart beat away from any us.

Once you get over the shock of being dependent on others for putting tooth paste on a brush or pulling up your slacks, you will want to think of ways to do things for yourself again.   Some people are very creative and come up with all sorts of clever ways to compensate, but others need to shop around and find innovative assistive devices to make life easier.   Some of us aren’t particularly gifted when it comes to figuring out or manipulating anything mechanical and this is doubly frustrating.  An Occupational Therapist can guide you through the maze of products and teach you how to use them.  Older people and those living with any degenerative or painful disease processes will welcome gifts designed to meet their needs.   Look for items like easy to grip utensils or ice cube trays that don’t have to be twisted to release the cubes.  Many are so subtle that they don’t look any different than regular products.  People with disabilities don’t want to call attention to the fact that they need to do things a little differently than others.

Shop around for ergonomic products that are easier to use, and may even prevent some repetitive stress injuries from occurring in the first place.  The latest Arthritis Today magazine (January/February 2012) featured an article by Sean Kelly that lists 25 tips and gadgets designed to make activities of daily living easier.  Visit www.arthritis.org for a complete list.  You will be quite delighted at the many products available that can make life manageable again.

Senior Lifestyle: Skype Technology

Computers, the Internet, and networking have changed the way many people socialize, yes even seniors.   Families separated by great distances are now able to exchange e-mails, send pictures, and talk face to face by using services such as Skype.

I had heard of Skype and thought it sounded like a good idea, but probably wouldn’t have initiated it myself.  I had seen Raj talking to his parents on episodes of The Big Bang Theory, and of course that ridiculously funny scene in the movie It’s Complicated, but that was the extent of my interest.

But then our daughter decided to spend the winter in Australia.  I guess she thought that it would be a good way to keep an eye on us, because she downloaded Skype to our computer and ordered a set of headphones before she left.  The only hard part was figuring out the time difference and arranging a time to meet.   We tried it out for the first time this weekend and guess what?  I liked it.  I liked it a lot more than talking on the telephone.  For one thing, I am more comfortable sitting at my computer in a comfortable chair than trying to find a quiet place in the house to talk on the phone.  I also like having my hands free because I think better if I can use them.   For example: Daughter was able to talk me through downloading her latest e-book to my Nook while we were visiting. I never would have understood the instructions if I were just listening on the phone, but with our computers in front of us we were able to work through the process together.  I’ve read of people learning/ teaching reading or piano lessons this way.  It’s a whole new name for togetherness.  I was impressed that the reception was so good.  I could actually hear tropical bird’s sounds from her balcony, as if I were in the next room.

This is technology at its finest, technology that anyone can use.  I am still waiting for some of my friends to come on board (only a few have snapped that they don’t need any more new fangled gadgets) and plan to take full advantage of video conferencing technology.  That’s all it is you know; the ability to place a call using your computer.  Imagine that you can see the other person (if you wish) and have a face to face conversation.

It is all about creating connections near and far.  If you live miles away from your children and grandchildren it is like stepping into their home for a visit or a how to lesson.  You could show your daughter how to make a pie crust from scratch or put the finishing touches on a roast beef dinner.  Life doesn’t get much better does it?

Dementia and Living Independently

Varying degrees of dementia can be managed very well at home or in an assistant living facility, except where wandering is a problem.   Wandering is the one behavior that stresses family and caregivers the most, and often leads to institutionalization earlier than need be.  There is nothing more stressful than trying to keep track of an individual who is determined to go out for walks without telling anyone.

People with mild to moderate dementia still have the need to be independent.  Being independent is being able to enjoy activities like walking, running and driving.  To them, telling them that they cannot do something that they have been doing for years is like putting them in prison. People who have been going for a walk every day are not about to change their ways. The idea that they may get lost is not real to them. They often become irritated and even hostile if they are told that they can not go out on their own.  This becomes very worrisome.  Confusion and getting lost are very real possibilities, and the outcome can be quite dire.

I was pleased to read a short article in the latest AARP newsletter (December 2011) by Candy Sagon.   She wrote about the propensity of dementia or Alzheimer residents to wander off and get lost. You would be surprised at how much territory a good walker can cover in a very short period of time. 

The author researched a new product that should allow both the caregiver and the individual a little more peace of mind.  A locator shoe with a built-in Global Positioning Device can make it easier to track down the wearer.  The device is hidden in the shoe and the individual is spared the embarrassment of wearing an alarm bracelet, or the indignity of being rounded up and directed back home.  The shoes look like regular walking shoes.   The individual can move freely in familiar territory (geo fence), but when they stray from their beaten bath a map on a computer or phone will alert the caregiver.  No more frantic phone calls to relatives and police, drives around neighborhood, or staff trying to find recalcitrant walkers.

Senior Living: A Dragon For Christmas

If you are tired of getting candy, bath salts, fruit baskets, and an endless supply of robes and sweaters for Christmas, it is time for you to speak up.  Every year I hear you being asked what you want for Christmas.  Every year I hear you stammer and mumble and say that you don’t want or need anything at all.  Now you know that isn’t going to happen.  You also know that you would be hurt if the kids took what you said at face value and didn’t get you anything.  This year, I don’t want you to grumble and fuss as you hang another robe in your closet.  Ask for something that you really “want”.  It doesn’t have to be something that you “need”; we are talking about getting something that makes you feel really special.

 Of course there are things that you want and things that you need. Now is the time to make a list of things that you would like, but don’t feel you can afford to buy yourself.  Don’t be such an old poop.   Your kids spend more on lattes than they do on your Christmas presents, so you needn’t worry about requesting something that costs a few bucks.  Believe me; they will be delighted to know that they are getting you something that you really want.  

 If your cupboard is filled with unopened bottles of perfume, sweaters that you never wear, or the six robes that you are saving for a rainy day, you have no one to blame but yourself.   My mother had a whole wardrobe of robes for ‘just in case’ she had to go to the hospital.   Well, eventually she did have to go to the hospital, but by that time she didn’t care whether she had a different robe for every day or not.  I’ve been wearing the same robe for six years.  Have you ever known a robe to wear out?

I know what I want for Christmas this year.  I saw an ad on television for Dragon Software (voice activated computer technology) and I though WOW, what a great idea! (www.givedragon.com). I don’t need all of the gadgets on the market but my computer is my best friend. A voice activated program would make it even friendlier.  I can hear you now mumbling about not needing any of those new fangled gadgets, but a computer is right up there with a coffee maker as the best invention ever.

 Some people are intimidated by technology, others embrace it; some lose time using it and others save time using it.  I love my computer.  There are even computers designed especially for seniors so stop mumbling and accept their offer gracefully.  Even if you never learned how to type, or have issues with your hands, you can now enjoy all that the world of technology has to offer.  Whether you want to order books, shop for unusual gifts, find out useful (or useless) information, research your family tree, or just e-mail family and friends it can all be within your grasp. 

Anyway, what I am trying to say is; put a little thought into your response when someone asks you what you want for Christmas.  If you love fresh ground gourmet coffee, ask for a monthly home delivery.  A gift certificate at the YMCA or local spa, a personal trainer,  coupons for meals at the local Sr. Center, pre-paid taxi or bus tickets, low vision products, computer classes, housekeeping services (I keep hinting, but this hasn’t happened yet), meal service delivered to your door (and I am not talking about meals on wheels here).  Do you see what I mean?  Ask for something that you would really love, but are reluctant to spend the money on yourself.  How about a dragon for Christmas?

Independent Living: The Perfect Christmas Gift

What could mean more to an independent senior than a safer and more comfortable place to live?  According to several AARP surveys, 90% of people over the age of 65 want to spend their retirement years in their own homes.

An article by Tom Kelly (Spokesman Review: Spokane, WA. December 20, 2009), suggested a way to make this happen.   Giving your parents a gift certificate for an “aging in place” evaluation would be the ideal way to start the ball rolling.  I think you will agree that assuring that your folks have a safe and comfortable place to live would be the perfect gift.   It will not only mean peace of mind for the whole family, but will assure that everything possible is being done to respect your parent’s wishes. 

The biggest challenge, of course, is getting your folks to agree that it would be money well spent.  Older people have frugal tendencies and will insist that they can get by, but we all know that this isn’t true.   It is time to have “the talk.”  The only difference is that this particular “talk” is about making something positive happen.  Press home the fact that it will cost less to “senior proof” their home than to have to move somewhere else.

First have the discussion; then follow up with a gift certificate for an “aging in place” evaluation.   The National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org) has a special certification for “aging in place” specialists.   An “aging in place” specialist can help you determine what can and should be done to make a home safer and more comfortable for senior occupants.

Projects could range from something as simple as installing grab bars or adjusting countertop heights, but eventually more comprehensive work will probably need to be done.  A lift, an elevator or even creating a master suite on the first floor may need to be considered later, but first things first.   

Accessibility issues are indeed a problem and they can make “aging in place” impossible if not attended to early on.  A timely evaluation, delivered by a third party, is often the most sensible way to present this information in a practical and no-nonsense manner.

Independent Living: Christmas Gifts

Hands fascinate me, probably because carpal tunnel syndrome and some ongoing degenerative joint disease has left me with weakness and pain in both of my thumbs.    I can use them without too much distress, but I am reminded every day that they are not going to get much better.

An article in the New York Amsterdam News (July 29-Aug 4, 2010) by Gerald W. Deas pointed out why the thumb and index finger connection is so very important.  Without this connection we unable to make the pinching movement that forms the basis of so many of the tasks that we do on a daily basis.

Many older people, through no fault of their own, have hand issues.  It could be from an accident, a severe case of arthritis, a stroke, or even degenerative joint disease from long years of repetitive work.

Living independently means being able to do things like writing, opening doors, holding on to eating utensils, buttoning shirts or putting on your shoes. It sounds like pretty simple stuff doesn’t it?  Have you thought about what life would be like if you couldn’t take care of yourself because you couldn’t do this simple little motion? This type of disability often sneaks up on you; it isn’t something that you prepare for in advance.

It isn’t fair to say that a smart, aware, cognizant individual shouldn’t be able to live independently just because they are unable to use their thumbs and index fingers together as a workable unit.  It is time to give this some serious thought.  Someone in your family could be developing one of these serious hand issues right now.  It could even be you.

Physical and Occupational therapy can do wonders, but sometimes it takes a little something extra to help you through the day.   Everyone wants to be self- sufficient and they want to live an independent life.  Because hand issues are quite common you don’t have to look far to find gadgets that accommodate these special needs.  Having the right tool for any job makes it easier.

I couldn’t open a jar or a bottle if my life depended on it.  Well, I suppose my life doesn’t depend on these tasks but if I couldn’t open the mayo jar, or the catsup bottle, or my favorite brand of pickles (we won’t even mention the hermetically sealed deli lunch meat), I couldn’t make a sandwich, or cook dinner.  I know I am not alone here.   Fortunately I have an OXO bottle opener that can open anything.  My personal goal is to collect the entire set of cooking, cleaning, office supply and gardening products.  If your grandmother or mom has similar issues include items like this on their Christmas list.   It is time to forget the last minute bath powders, perfumes or candies that always seem to fill Christmas stockings.  Give gifts that will encourage and support independent living.

 

 

Senior Living: A Little Organization Might Be All Of The Help You Need

Universal design and barrier free renovations are ideal for making a home suitable for prolonged senior occupancy.   We all know that remodeling is expensive and takes time and careful consideration.  Remodeling is not something to be approached in a haphazard fashion. In the meantime, figuring out how to reclaim the space that you have will help you through the awkward in-between stages.  

Is your kitchen a mess?  Most of ours are.  It is the busiest room in the house, and it becomes a repository for just about everything.   Go ahead.  Take a good look.  Junk drawers and ”Fiber McGee” closets may add a bit of humor to a scene in the movies, but they aren’t so funny when you are actually trying to find something.   Lapses in housekeeping 101 skills are a part of life, and they happen to the best of us.

Do you have to rearrange your pantry shelves every time you look for something?  Do plastic containers and lids tumble out of the pantry when you open the door?  It is time to reclaim some of that space.   Do you really use all of those containers anyway?  I mean, I even keep the throw-away ones.  Toss the rattiest ones and stack the rest neatly.  Store all of those covers in one plastic storage bag.  It will help, at least until the next time.

You probably don’t need stacks of old dishes, new dishes, and company dishes.  Keep your favorite set and treat yourself like company. The free sets from the grocery stores or the ones you haven’t used in a dozen years can go to your favorite charity.   Store dishes you use every day in a cabinet where you can reach them.  No more standing on chairs to get to the top shelf for you.

Try storing aluminum foil, sandwich baggies and wax paper all in one place.  The mixing bowls, cutting boards, measuring cups and spoons need to be easily and safely accessible.   Keep all cooking supplies together and near your stove, but not necessarily in the drawer under the oven.  Besides having to get down on your hands and knees to find the right pan, something always seems to be stuck.    Remodeling the kitchen can be a real boon.  Modern cabinetry is wonderful.  All of the pull-outs, pull-downs and slide out areas will make you smile from ear to ear.  If you are still making do with deep unreachable areas you can find “Lazy Susans” or other slide out bins to make things reachable. Remember, no crawling in or reaching up for things that you use every day.

Clutter didn’t accumulate overnight (although sometimes it seems like it), and it isn’t going to go away overnight.  Take your time, shop around and be creative.  I don’t like to shop but browsing through a kitchen store is pure magic.