Adapting Kitchens for the Elderly and People with Disabilities

Most caregivers and seniors can attest to the changes they have to make in their living space as people’s agility declines or disabilities arise. We all want to live independently, but sometimes our home can feel like a liability when it is not set up in a safe manner. Over the next few months, LTS is going to dedicate a number of blog posts to how we can make adjustments to the different rooms in homes or apartments – big or small – and how to make home feel more like home!

Kitchens can be a danger zone for people with vision loss, who are wheelchair bound, or have declining balance and strength. Here are a number of ways you can adapt kitchens for seniors. Maybe Lidia Bastianich or Martha Stewart could show us a few easy recipes in an adapted kitchen? PBS – we hope you are reading this!

Easy, cost-effective ways: Sometimes a few simple and inexpensive adjustments can significantly increase the safety level for both the elderly and caregivers.

·         Labels – Clearly label the cabinet doors or shelves to make things easy to find.

·         Placement – Make sure that commonly used items like drinking glasses, silverware, dishes, or pots are within reach.

·         Microwave – If you have a microwave above the stovetop, consider purchasing a new/used microwave to place on the counter to reduce stretching and having to carry heavy dishes.

·         Cabinet doors and drawers – Always keep these closed to avoid accidents, and paint or tape the edges with a contrasting color in case they are left open.

·         Remove lower cabinets – You may need to remove the cabinet below the sink or in other areas to accommodate wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

·         Lighting under side cabinets – Purchase inexpensive touch lights to illuminate the countertops

·         Trays – Using contrasting colored trays under daily food items or cups can decrease the odds of a spill.

• Unplug stove – If you think the elderly person will not need the stove or oven, consider unplugging it to avoid accidents.

Re-building your kitchen: If you have the funds to adapt your existing kitchen, work with an architect and a long-term services and supports specialist to find the right tools and appliances for your unique needs. Here are some things to consider:

·         Pull down shelves – These are nifty shelves that move upward and downward using a hinge. They allow individuals to pull shelves closer to their points of view while also carrying the weight of the items on the shelves.

·         Countertop height – Depending on the individual, lowering a countertop’s height might make a world of difference for everyday tasks.

·         Side opening oven – Lifting a heavy oven door downward can be uncomfortable, difficult, and dangerous. A side door can eliminate all these hassles.

·         Pullout shelf below oven – Adding a shelf below the oven acts as placeholder for hot items. This way, you don’t have to lift hot items over to another counter.

·         Easy to use faucets– Hot, cold? Which way?! Install a new faucet that has clear red or blue marks to represent hot or cold water, and that has a simple handle with a gripper rather than difficult knobs.

·         Electrical outlets – Install outlets in convenient locations; consider adding contrasting outlet covers for visibility.

Let us know what challenges you’ve faced in the kitchen and how you’ve overcome them. We’ll be happy to update our blog with your tried and tested ideas!

Yes, the elderly date, too.

Just like “young folks,” people in older generations look to connect with others on a social, emotional, and physical level. A quick Google search reveals many online dating sites specific to seniors, and this vast list indicates how prevalent elderly dating is. Here are a few different issues we’ve come across with the elderly and dating.

Parents and dating: The thought of your parent dating might be one of the hardest things to imagine if he or she is dating someone new. It might be especially difficult if it comes after the loss of their significant other. The new couple can most likely relate to one another’s experience with aging, and they may also bond if they have the same physical illness or condition. If there is a large age difference or you have other reservations, you may want to consider these reservations more closely if the person brings positivity to your parent.

Sex and the elderly: In a New York Times op-ed from January 2014, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel shares the startling trends in Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) among elderly: “The Department of Health and Human Services released a little-noticed report on Medicare a few months ago…The number of Medicare enrollees who took advantage of free STD tests is about the same as the number who received free colonoscopies to screen for colon cancer, amounting to about 5 percent of all those on Medicare.” As he says, this might not be surprising to everyone, as “…retirement communities and assisted living facilities are becoming like college campuses. They cram a lot of similarly aged people together, and when they do, things naturally happen.”

Clinicians need to be aware and open about this trend to prevent problems from arising. According to A Place for Mom, many STDs may be untreated in seniors because they’re hard to detect and they are so unexpected; also, STDs can actually make chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease worse. As a caregiver, as hard as it may be, it’s possible that you may want to have the “birds and the bees” talk with your elderly parent.

Dementia patients date: People who suffer from memory loss are also capable of finding connections with others. In the critically-acclaimed movie, Away from Her, starring Julie Christie, an aging married couple begins to feel the tensions of the wife suffering from Alzheimer’s. The wife moves into a long-term care facility. After some time, her husband visits and realizes his wife has connected with a mute, wheelchair-bound man who has made her happy. Obviously, this new relationship is difficult for the husband to understand, but as the film progresses, he finally comes to terms it. Away from Her was a beautiful movie and rated number six on Roger Ebert’s best movies of 2007. This movie was directed by Sarah Polley and was an adaptation of Alice Munro’s short story "The Bear Came Over theMountain" in The New Yorker.

The Sound of Music

“…Do di di di do we do do…these are a few of my favorite things!” Ah, the Sound of Music – it is one of “My Favorite Things!” Music can match or change your mood, help express the way you feel, and trigger a memory and a moment in your life.

In Linda Noelker’s blog entry on Huffington Post, she reviews Alive Inside: A Story of Music and Memory, shown at the Cleveland International Film Festival this past March.

Noelker writes, “The compelling film by director Michael Rossato-Bennett portrays the power of music to engage and enliven these nursing home residents to the amazement of staff and family members. The idea was Dan Cohen's, a social worker who found a way to bring residents to life using an iPod with a personally customized playlist. Once the headset is on and the residents are listening to their favorite songs from the 1940s or 50s, their eyes open wide, smiles appear, and some even clap their hands or tap their feet.”

This movie is another example of the growing list of research on how music and the arts benefit people with Alzheimer’s. Watching the movie is an inexpensive activity to enjoy and a nice reminder of the power of music; as a caregiver, try using music to connect with your loved one. If your family member is in a home, you can try to advocate for a focus on music if it doesn’t already exist.

Is there a song that connects you and your elderly family member? Or, a song that they’ve been drawn to? What songs do you think will stick with you forever?

Great Apps for Seniors

Have you recently laughed after getting a text from an elderly parent? Or maybe
you saw a friend request on Facebook from your mother? Increasingly, the elderly
are growing tech savvy, using smartphones and iPads. In fact, in a recent study,
99 senior citizens used the ALICE app, which helps patients manage medications.
According to the study, “The ALICE app helps reduce rates of forgetting and of
medication errors, and increases perceived independence in managing medication.
Elderly patients with no previous experience with information and communication
technologies are capable of effectively using an app designed to help them take
their medicine more safely.” As technology and the use of apps in our everyday lives
increases, so grows the ability of seniors to use apps to assist in their daily lives.
They can use them to manage medication, communicate and stay in touch with
family and friends, for entertainment, and to increase health, among many things.
Here is a great list from My Ageing Parent of the best apps for the elderly. Let us
know how they work out!

The Elderly and Falls

The elderly and falls - these two word are always paired together, but why is that? The main reason is that elderly individuals are more likely to suffer a fall. Additionally, these falls are more fatal and life-threatening when they happen to older adults. According to the CDC, one in every three adults over 65 will fall this year. What's more frightening is that in 2010 about 21,000 older adults died from injuries suffered during a fall.

Falls can range in severity, and they are usually dependent upon the height of the fall and the manner in which the individual lands. Generally speaking, the greater distance the individual falls, the greater the risk is for severe injuries. Additionally, the surface will affect the type of injury inflicted. For example, landing on a softer surface will help to lessen some of the injuries whereas a fall on concrete will cause more severe injuries. The severity of the fall is assessed by the injuries suffered during the fall. According to the CDC 20-30% of individuals suffer moderate to severe injuries. What are these? Moderate injuries include scratches, scrapes, bumps and bruises. Fractures, broken bones, and head traumas are considered some of the more severe injuries that can be suffered during a fall. Older individuals are more likely to fracture their spine, hip, forearms, legs, ankles, pelvis, and their hands.

Fortunately, most falls are preventable, so you can start taking steps to prevent your elderly loved one from suffering a fall. In our next post, we'll discuss different preventative measures you can take around the home to prevent this.

Calcium, Vitamin D and Bone Health

Bone health is important throughout life, but it is especially important for elderly individuals. Sadly, falls become more commonplace as we age, and weak bones increase the likelihood that breaks and fractures will occur. There are two components to bone health: calcium and vitamin D consumption.

Adequate calcium consumption throughout your lifetime will help to contribute to good bone health. Calcium is a necessary mineral that helps to build bones. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 99% of our calcium is located in our bones and our teeth. You can get calcium by from a nutritious diet or by taking supplements. Increased calcium intake will help to reduce bone density loss, and numerous studies have shown that low calcium intake can lead to osteoporosis and low bone density. Additionally, calcium is needed to help other systems in our body work, like our muscular and nervous system. The reason calcium intake is important is because when we do not consume enough calcium, our body will take necessary calcium from our bones, which is where it is stored. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, women under age 50 should consume 1,000 mg daily and women over 51 should consume 1,200 mg daily. Men age 70 and younger should consume 1,000 mg daily, and men over the age of 71 should consume 1,200 mg daily. That being said, there is one other vitamin that calcium consumption is dependent upon.

Vitamin D is this vitamin, and it is crucial for calcium intake. Why? Vitamin D is allows for and enhances the absorption of calcium from food, sunlight and supplements in the intestines. You can get a substantial amount of your vitamin D from various foods. If you’re looking to increase your intake of vitamin D, increase your intake of fatty fish, fortified cereals, fortified dairy products, and increase your intake of green leafy vegetables. In addition to eating a healthy, balanced diet, be sure to spend some time outside in the sun. You can absorb vitamin D while outside! Your body synthesizes UV rays into vitamin D! That being said, do not spend too much time outside without sun screen or else you’ll run the risk of getting a sun burn. However you get your vitamin D, be sure to make sure you are getting enough because it prevents bone density loss by allowing for the absorption of calcium.

For more information on Vitamin D and bone health, visit the follow websites:

National Institutes of Health: Vitamin D

National Institutes of Health: Calcium

Tips for Medication Compliance in the Elderly

In our last post we discussed a lot of the issues surrounding medication compliance in the elderly.

Here are some tips that we’ve been together for medication compliance.

Educate yourself and your elderly loved one:

·         Ask your doctor why your elderly loved one should be taking this medication.
·         Ask for the name of the drug and ask what the active ingredient is, and ask how it works in the body.
·         Discuss other medication options. Is this the only medication that they need? Is there a supplement that could help to mitigate some of the side effects or even the symptoms?
·         What are the side effects of this medication?
·         Does it interact with any other drugs?
·         Does it need to be taken on an empty stomach? Does it need to be taken with a full glass of water?
·         What time of day would be best to take this medication? What do most other patients do?
·         Should your elderly loved one be taking the generic form or should the prescription be written for the name-brand?
·         Bring a list of other medications to your doctor, and have them check that the drug will not interact with any other drugs on the list.

Tips for taking the medication: 

·         Write down the instructions from the physician and make that into a list. Hang this list somewhere in the house, close to your medications. You can hang it on the inside of the medicine cabinet, or hang it in the kitchen.
·         Organize all of the medications into a pill box. This will help your elderly loved one remember what day to take the medication and how much to take.
·         Encourage your elderly loved one to take his/her medications at the same time of the day each day. This will help them to create a routine.

Lastly, if these tips aren’t helping then seek assistance from your physician. Tell them the issues that you and your loved one are having, and together you can create a plan for effective medication compliance.

Here are some other websites to visit:

NIH Senior Health: Taking Medicines Safely

FDA: Medicines and You: A Guide for Older Adults

American Heart Association: Quick Tips for Taking Medications