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It may seem silly to start adapting your home in your fifties or sixties to make it more accessible and easier to navigate for someone who uses a walker, is in a wheelchair or cannot reach high shelves due to arthritis.  Though, when you currently have none of these conditions, it is the right time to make adjustments and something that many Americans should seriously consider. In a survey conducted by the National Council on Aging, older Americans overwhelmingly indicated that they would prefer to remain living in their current residence as they grow older. Nine out of ten seniors planned on living in their home for 5-10 years more at least, which should make planning ahead for future mobility challenges a priority.

Interestingly, the majority of seniors surveyed (85%) did not think their homes would need any significant renovations to enable them to continue living there. This might be true when in good health and mobility is unimpaired, but the reality is that many seniors will experience a fall after the age of 65.  Modifications in key areas such as bathrooms and long hallways will reduce their risk of fall and greatly enhance their ability to move about their home safely.  For example, a shower with a small step up or down poses no hurdle in your younger years, but as the years pass those few inches could really matter.

Of course, preparation does not call for massive structural renovations like knocking out walls. There are practical changes that can be made for reasonable costs and without massive disruption to everyday life. For example, installing grab bars in bathrooms or at door thresholds where a step down or up is required.  Quick, low-cost changes like this can lessen the risk for falls that could turn into more complicated health problems.  In addition, there are easy-to-use technologies that can make life easier for seniors and provide peace of mind for family members.

While some people may find it overly invasive, there are companies that offer monitoring services via in-home WiFi connected cameras and sensors.  These devices can detect falls, lack of movement or other characteristics that may indicate a health problem.  This then triggers an alarm that allows a professional emergency response team, caregivers or family members to perform a visual or voice check-in.  These solutions are limited to the home and while they serve a purpose the safety net does not extend to out-of-home mobility.

For mobile seniors, there are also mPERS devices. Mobile Personal Emergency Response Systems can be worn like a pendant or a watch that seniors press if they fall and need medical assistance.  mPERS devices work inside and away from the home and they can also often auto-detect falls to call for help without any action from the person wearing or carrying the device.  These devices offer two-way voice communication with professionally trained emergency response operators, 911 operators, loved ones or caregivers depending upon how they are setup.  Often the service providers can also provide loved ones and caregivers access to a mapping tool that shows the location of the senior with the mPERS device in real-time.

Aging in place is an admirable goal and one that anyone who wants to should pursue. It is important to be realistic about the health challenges that one could face down the road and to plan for the unexpected. Doing so will only make living at home possible for longer. There may be an upfront cost and it may require dealing with aging issues that many of us would prefer to ignore and sweep under the rug, but the benefits of planning ahead outweigh the disappointment of having to move out of the home you have loved for years.

 

Chris Holbert, who wrote this article, is the chief executive officer of SecuraTrac, which develops and sells mobile health and safety poducts for families and workplaces.

 

srmedia by — September 11, 2020 in Lifestyles

Financial hardships created or worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic will be much worse for older Americans living alone and could force nearly 3 million of them into possible poverty or greater health risks, according to an organization that’s monitoring the issue.

“Recent history shows us what happens to an already vulnerable population of older adults living in single households,” said Susan Silberman, a senior director of the National Council on Aging (NCOA), an advocacy organization for seniors. “Their far more precarious financial situation is worsened by an economic downturn to a greater degree than older adults living with others. This is only part of the story. Older adults living alone will likely face devastating health impacts related to social isolation.”

NCOA reported its concerns as co-author of a study that applies historical data from the 2008 recession to today’s economic and public health crisis.

In part, the analysis found that the number of vulnerable older adults living alone is likely to increase as married couples lose their partners because of the pandemic. Although the analysis focused on the potential financial risks to older adults during an impending recession, COVID-19 adds potentially devastating health consequences on top of any economic impacts, NCOA noted.

“It is critically important to maintain a strong social safety net and ensure that people who need to access benefits are able to do so,” while also “narrowing financial disparities” for the older population, Silberman said.

srmedia by — September 11, 2020 in Personal Finance/Consumers

The Pierce County Law Library, a particular hit with seniors at one of its sites, has received a national award for its “library within a library” collaboration with the Pierce County Library System (PCLS).

The Excellence in Community Engagement Award is presented by the American Association of Law Libraries in recognition of efforts to educate communities and encourage public involvement. The Pierce County Law Library, located in downtown Tacoma in the County-City Building that also houses county courts, was cited for increasing its availability through satellite locations in the and Gig Harbor branches of PCLS.

The satellites have print and electronic resouces to help meet the public’s needs for legal information. Law Library surveys revealed an emphasis on elder law and probate resources at the Gig Harbor location, and family and landlord tenant law at Lakewood. The satellites also in-person reference assistance and public workshops on legal issues.

“Our partnership with PCLS allowed us to take the law out of the courthouse and to the neighborhoods where people live and work. The success of these branches proves that legal information is a resource everyone needs and should be available without cost,” said James Bush, president of the Law Library Board of Trustees.

More information about the Law Library is available at laurie.miller@piercecountywa.gov.

srmedia by — September 11, 2020 in News

As COVID-19 restrictions ease in Washington, nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have resumed visits for families. Visits won’t be the same as before the pandemic, at least until the threat of coronavirus has passed. There may be limits on when, where, and for how long you can see loved ones, and distancing rules will likely be in place.
We’ve been through an unprecedented crisis with the pandemic. This was the first time many family members couldn’t visit in-person with their loved ones for such a long time. Even as restrictions ease, visits will look different for the near-future.
If your loved one’s nursing home is resuming in-person visits, AARP recommends asking the facility five key questions to prepare:
1. What is the nursing home doing to help make it safe for visitors to come back? The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which regulates long-term care facilities, provided nursing homes with recommendations about resuming in-person visits, including:

  • At least 28 days without a new COVID-19 case in the facility.
  • Declining cases in the surrounding community.
  • Regular testing for residents.
  • Adequate supplies of personal protective equipment.
  1. What kinds of health checks will be required for visitors?The federal guidelines include:
  • Checking visitors’ temperatures.
  • Asking visitors about COVID-19 symptoms and their potential exposure.
  • Observing visitors for symptoms or signs of infection.
  1. Are visits restricted by time and place?Keep in mind:
  • You may need an appointment for your visit.
  • Visiting hours may be restricted.
  • Visits may be time-limited or only in designated areas.
  • You may be able to set a regular schedule for visiting your loved one.
  1. What protective and social-distancing measures are in place, under federal guidelines? You may need to:
  • Wear a mask or use hand sanitizer. Ask if the facility will provide them.
  • Stay six feet away from your loved one.
  • If you want to bring food or gifts, ask the facility about its policies first.
  1. Are you doing everything possible to minimize risks to residents?
  • Don’t visit if you feel ill, even if the symptoms are mild, or if you have had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the previous two weeks.
  • Keep visits short, and stay outdoors if possible.
  • Consider a virtual visit by phone or video chat as an alternative to visiting in-person.

The top priority is keeping residents of nursing homes, assisted-living and other long-term care facilities, their family members and staff safe as in-person visits resume.

In addition, AARP is urging Congress to ensure all long-term care facilities regularly test residents and staff; have and correctly use personal protective equipment; publicly report COVID-19 cases and deaths daily; and facilitate virtual visits between residents and their families—even after in-person visits resume.
A video chat with family and friends reduces loneliness for nursing home residents, and the pandemic has reminded us just how important that connection can be.
AARP has more resources available at aarp.org/nursinghomes.

Doug Shadel, who wrote this article,  is the state director of AARP Washington.

 

State plan for reopening nursing facilities

A gradual return to pre-pandemic activities at long-term care facilities in Washington, including in-person visits, was announced in August by Governor Jay Inslee.

Starting Aug. 12, nursing homes and similar facilities that met certain health requirements could partially reopen to social activities that were curtailed due to the COVID-19 outbreak earlier this year.

Long-term care facilities must offer residents remote visitation in every phase. Other forms of visitation are also allowed depending on which long term care phase a facility is in.

For a facility in Phase 1 of the reopening plan, only window, remote or outdoor visits (two per day) are allowed, with an exception for compassionate-care visits. Phase 2 allows the same activities, with the addition of limited indoor visits for residents unable to participate in virtual or outdoor visits. Visits in Phase 3 can allow limited indoor visits for all residents.

Full visitation won’t be reinstated until Phase 4.

Facilities can participate in the phases if they go 28 days without a resident or employee testing positive for COVID-19 and have at least a 14-day supply of personal protective equipment.

srmedia by — September 11, 2020 in Health & Fitness