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}

Why is it so high here and is there anything that can be done to change that? I’m glad to say that there is something that can be done to change it, and it is called getting informed and controlling your symptoms. Medication management is very important in any disease but environmental changes often bring the biggest impact on symptom control. This means that there are things that you and your family can do to reduce the asthma triggers and control your symptoms.

Focus on the room you sleep in. Get rid of excess there, no carpeting and weekly mopping will keep (invisible) dust mites under control. Dust mites are a major trigger for symptoms.

No Pets. If you must have pets they do not stay in the bedroom ever! Fish are OK but sorry, no furry creatures allowed.

No smoking in your home EVER!

These three steps will change your asthmatics life for the better.

Because the first anniversary of Isabella’s death is this week (Jan. 15), I wanted to talk about my unplanned reunion with Ferdinand. It happed on August 15; seven months to the day that Isabella died.

I passed a local restaurant and saw Ferdinand sitting outside…alone. I was on my way home from work and my hands were full of groceries and dry cleaning and I walked past quickly, a little terrified. When I arrived at home I dropped my things and told John that Ferdinand was eating on the corner and I had to go see him. John agreed and held off cooking our dinner until I returned.

I walked to the restaurant and knocked on the table. Ferdinand recognized me and agreed when I asked if I could sit down. There is no other way to describe our meeting than awkward. We spent intense time together in January waiting for his wife to leave this world and that was our only mutual frame of reference. Since she had died on Jan. 15 I suggested that maybe it was karma that brought us together on August 15 to check in.

Ferdinand told me about the funeral and their two sons, and support groups, and a new roommate. We had a comical moment when he said, “You’re much thinner than I remember.” I hypothesized that I was wearing turtleneck sweaters and a down coat in January.

We made small talk about the restaurant’s Monday night trout and goulash specials and then he asked the question I had been expecting. “Why didn’t you return my call?” I was honest. One of the benefits of hospice is that the primary caregiver receives 13 months of bereavement care if desired. It’s not usually the same volunteer who provides both the care giving and the bereavement services. I have been doing this work long enough to know that I am the gal you want around in a crisis, at the time of death, or in the immediate aftermath, but a different type of emotional connection is needed to help the bereaved, and I don’t do a good enough job with the people in my own family who are bereaved. I can’t practice on strangers.

Ferdinand indicated that he understood what I was saying, or perhaps he wanted to return to his New York magazine and his trout. I said that I needed to get home for dinner. We stood and hugged. As I began to walk away, Ferdinand thanked me for coming up to talk to him. “I know it took courage,” he said.

He had no idea how right he was.

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.

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.