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Many people are able to stay active outdoors with the assistance of canes, walkers, rollators and wheelchairs. However these devices are a safety hazard when certain parts start wearing out. Please take a moment to check the condition of your assistive device before going outdoors.

Brakes

Wheelchairs and rollators with worn brakes are a safety hazard. Your local surgical supply store or medical supply vendor can assist with repairing or replacing worn brakes.

Rollator Brake

Rubber Tips

Walkers and canes have rubber tips that provides traction and absorbs impact. Over time these…

Grab bars are valuable in helping the elderly prevent falls in the bathroom. A few questions I normally ask before I recommend the installation of a set of grab bars are:

1. Do you have difficulty getting in and out of the tub or shower?
2. Do you use the towel rack or sink for support?
3. If you use a shower seat, do you have trouble getting on and off it?
4. Have you recently fallen while taking a shower?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, installing grab bars may be a good idea.

Grab Bar…

It was reported this week that the Oscar-winner actor, Louis Gossett Jr., aged 74, was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  It is in an early stage and he has begun intensive treatment. He said in a statement that he wants to “set an example for the large number of African-American men who are victims of this disease because of the comparatively low emphasis in our community on preventive examinations and early treatment.”

Prostate cancer is the single most diagnosed non-skin cancer among African-American men. The chances of getting it are 1 in…

A few nights ago, I spoke to 94-year old Ann on the phone. She called because she wasn’t sure if her nurse would be visiting her the following morning and she felt particularly anxious that evening. As I reviewed Ann’s information, it revealed she had a history of congestive heart failure and she lived alone. After asking her a series of assessment questions, I ruled out any emergency concerns, provided some care advice, and I sent a message to the nurse to contact her in the morning.

During my conversation with…