Have you ever tried to finish a home improvement project without using the right tools? How did it turn out? As a new homeowner, I’ve learned the results aren’t pretty.

Along the same lines, using the right equipment can enable people with certain physical limitations to safely accomplish every-day tasks in the home. If you use any of these common household items for these (or similar) reasons, allow me to share with you a few safer options.

1) Avoid holding onto the towel rack to enter and exit the bathtub or shower. These racks were never designed to hold more than the weight of wet towels.

Instead, consider installing grab bars, which designed to provide adequate support.

2) Avoid holding onto furniture to maintain balance when walking around the home. Furniture can serve many purposes, but it is not a adequate long-term solution to make walking safer.

Instead, consider using an assistive device, such as a cane or a walker, which can help keep you steady when walking around the home.

3) Avoid sitting on a bucket or a step stool when taking a shower.

Instead, use a shower chair or a tub bench. Both items are designed to assist with bathing activity and are height-adjustable.

If you think any of these devices can benefit a loved one speak to their physician or a home health care professional.

Click on the video below to learn more ways to keep the home safe for your loved one.

^{Photo by Danilo Rizzuti}

New York City temperatures are beginning to drop. Before you know it snow will be in the forecast, which means older adults need to take adequate precautions before heading outdoors. They can reduce their risk of falling by sticking to these guidelines.

Using an assistive device such as a walker or a cane doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take additional steps for winter safety.

For more helpful tips on preventing accidents this winter, check out the VNSNY page.

However, before I make any of those resolutions I took time to reflect on my experiences providing care in the greatest city on earth and here’s what I came up with.

The Value of Home Care

Having choices is good. Having choices when it comes to caring for the older adults in our lives is invaluable. Everyday I witness how home health care improves the quality of life of the elderly and can be an alternative to living in a nursing home.

Finding the Right Words

As I have shared previously I’ve been working to improve my Mandarin which is one of the most widely spoken Chinese dialects. My wife recently pointed out that the majority of my improvement has not been through the online language program I use but is a result of my everyday interactions with the Chinese speaking seniors I work with.

Stepping into the Community

Several times this year I spent time with various local community groups to talk about topics ranging from the benefits of exercise to falls prevention. I quickly realized many of the older adults in the audience actually had prior knowledge of the topics I had come to speak about and the fruit of our time together was our discussion on how to put the discussed principles into daily practice.

Now it’s your turn, drop a comment and let us know what were some of your highlights in the past year.

Photo courtesy of Salvatore Vuono

The caregiver simply wanted to express her gratitude to all the people who assisted her husband’s transition back home after a prolonged hospital stay. Although her husband was returning to a familiar environment, he was physically weaker and I worked with him to improve his strength and safety within the home.

The gratitude of this caregiver allowed me to refocus my attention to the thankfulness I have for my family this time of year. Have a peaceful week.

Equally if not more impressive are the elderly I work with who continue to take care of their bodies by staying physically active. Here are some of the ways I have observed how they do it:

1.) Socialization

Regular trips to the local senior center allow them to catch up with friends and participate in activities such as group exercise.

2.) Exercise Routine

They stick to a set time of day to walk, stretch, or do simple exercises, and this can be as important as setting aside time for meals.

3.) Supportive Network

Their family and friends provide an encouraging voice to help them stay positive in all that they do.

4.) Falls Prevention

They live in a safe home environment and are knowledgeable about falls prevention.

Have a peaceful week.

Now back to the question, my immediate reply to my friend’s question was any role with National Geographic magazine would do, really. Blogger, production assistant, travel secretary, which would certainly fill my appetite for travel — you get the picture.

However, after some more serious thought, I realized my work with the elderly is what I am really excited about. Working with older adults and seeing improvements in their daily lives is rewarding. The opportunities I have to teach an exercise to increase one’s strength, to provide education to help one prevent a fall and listen to someone’s life story, and in turn build their trust, are just some of the highlights that can occur daily.

Sure the thought of traveling around the world still sounds exotic, but right now providing care in the New York City is like having the world at my finger tips.

This past summer was a time of change for my family as we moved to a new home in an unfamiliar neighborhood. I’m often asked how I like living in my new area. I usually respond that I’m thankful for my neighbors.

Our area’s recent winter storm was eye opening for me, once I got past my own annoyance of shoveling snow and leaves out of my driveway in the middle of autumn. Many of my neighbors were outdoors assisting one another during the clean up, sometimes even without being asked. People were using their snow blowers to help clear their neighbor’s driveways, and others made food for those who were trying to figure out how to fix the damage from fallen trees.

As winter is approaching, we should think about how we can use out time and talents to regularly provide assistance big or small to an older adult living nearby. Perhaps their caregiver needs a little break, so you spend a few hours with them playing chess or listening to some music. Or if there is a storm approaching, you can ask if they need any groceries or if you can clear their steps.

You may also consider joining our team of VNSNY volunteers who really set an example in community engagement, helping out when help is needed.

Small acts of kindness can have lasting value.

Photo by SOMMAI

Here’s the scenario: the big game everyone has been waiting for is about to start, and one second of action can’t be missed. Now let’s examine what items surround our sports fan sitting in his living room.

Things you may find:

• Remote Control: It’s too risky to allow someone to change the channel.
• Food and Beverage: Nutritional requirements need to be sustained, right?
• Phone: Emergency calls might have to come in through, even during the big game.

What do all of these items have in common?

They are all important to our sports fan and are within arm’s length so one second of the action isn’t missed.

Now how does this apply to falls prevention in the elderly? Falls occur most commonly when seniors are trying to get out of bed in the middle of the night to travel to the bathroom.

What can we learn from the elderly who minimize their risk of falls?

Just like our sports fan, the senior who stays safe keeps important items close to him, especially during night time hours. Some of the items that are within arm’s length are:

• Night lamps: Provides enough illumination so you know where you’re going. A touch sensitive lamp is a good alternative if one has limited hand dexterity.
• Assistive devices: If you use a cane or walker keep it close to you at all times. Holding onto furniture is not a safe alternative.
• Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS): If you utilize one wear the portable necklace or bracelet at all times.
• Phone: Keep your communication with the outside world accessible.
• And you can learn more about falls prevention with a new VNSNY service called Strong Foundations.

Keep your environment safe to keep yourself safe.

I have also seen caregivers connect to a supportive community that enables them to provide better care for their loved ones and themselves. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s, here are some steps you can take to receive the support you need:

Connect with a support group

• A local Alzheimer’s support group is a place where you can receive educational, social, and emotional support.
• Take a look at the Alzheimer’s Association website to find a group meeting near you.

Explore professional home care

• If the person you are caring for is starting to have difficulty with daily activities, such as bathing, walking, dressing, or toileting, you may consider exploring whether long-term home care is a better option.
• Our VNSNY CHOICE long-term home care team includes a registered nurse, social worker, physical therapist, home health aide, and dietitian.

Read up on resources

There is an overwhelming amount of Alzheimer’s resources on the web. Start with a few of these sites:

• The Alzheimer’s Association
• Alzheimer’s Foundation of America
• Visiting Nurse Service of New York

Have a peaceful week.

Photo by Master isolated images

If you are not familiar with Pat Summit, she is widely considered the most successful college basketball coach of all time. Her recognition is well deserved after coaching Tennessee University’s women’s basketball team to a record eight national championships and more than 1,000 wins.

Sally Jenkins of the Washington Post writes:

“Denial was followed by anger. For the first few weeks, Summitt would barely even discuss the subject. She told her doctors, ‘You don’t know me. You don’t know what I’m capable of.’ Finally, Summitt realized she would have to accept the diagnosis. ‘I can’t change it,’ she says. After a pause, she adds, ‘But I can try to do something about it.’”

Summit has made it clear that she will continue to coach despite being diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. I believe Summit’s desire to continue leading her team outshines all her previous accomplishments since she is now one of the public faces of a disease that affects millions of Americans.

Dementia is a progressive disease that causes a loss of brain function, which can result in memory loss and problems with concentration and decision-making. Alzheimer’s Disease is believed to be the most common form of dementia.

Over the years, a number of my seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia have been able to lead productive lives. What is their secret? All of them have had a good support network, which included a combination of caregivers and medical staff. In my next post I’ll lay out a few helpful ways to build a support network after a Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

Are you or someone you know living with Alzheimer’s or a form of dementia? If so, I urge you to take a look at our resource page, Living With Alzheimer’s Disease, which provides helpful tips for managing the disease.

Have a peaceful week.