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.
Rubber Tips
Walkers and canes have rubber tips that provides traction and absorbs impact. Over time these…
Posted in: Did you know?, FAQ, Healthy in NYC, Home Safety, Staying Active, Working with the Elderly Tags: caregiver, caregiver support, elderly, Falls, prevention, safety, tips
I have always admired caregivers for the sacrifices they make for their loved ones. In recent weeks my admiration for them has only deepened as my wife and I welcomed in our first child. We have been learning the art of burping, changing diapers, surviving those sleepless nights and of course providing the love our daughter needs.
I realized that our family’s time of transition is truly a on the job learning experience. It was not a surprise that the caregivers I’ve met in the past few years came to mind…
Posted in: Events, Family Caregiving Tags: caregiver, caregiving, elderly, primary caregiver
I remember when I was a little girl, my grandfather would sometimes say to me, “Oh, getting older is so hard. All the aches and pains…” According to him, entering one’s “golden years” was not something to look forward to. However, I did understand why he would say that to me — he had rheumatoid arthritis which crippled his knees, thus impairing his mobility. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, he was in chronic pain. I never saw him take any pills, but he would constantly use Bengay, and sometimes I…
Posted in: Health Care Tips, Healthy in NYC, Important Health News, Working with the Elderly Tags: alternative medicine, arthritis, elderly, exercise, pain
We can all agree that routine walking is a great form of exercise especially for the elderly. However improper fitting or uncomfortable shoes can not only lead to foot problems but can cause pain or injury to the knee and the back.
Before you head to your local shoe store take a look at some of the helpful guidelines I found from the online AARP article “When Comfort Counts: Choosing a Walking Shoe”.
Posted in: Did you know?, Healthy in NYC, Staying Active, Working with the Elderly Tags: elderly, tips
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:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, installing grab bars may be a good idea.
Grab Bar…
Posted in: Did you know?, FAQ, Family Caregiving, Health Care Tips, Home Safety, Working with the Elderly Tags: caregiver, elderly, Falls, prevention, tips
When a patient is discharged from the hospital, rehab center or nursing and he or she returns home, it can be a stressful time for any caregiver. Take a look at this Center for Medicare and Medicaid Service video which provides valuable tips to assist both the patient and caregiver during this time of transition.
Afterwards, download and print out their helpful discharge checklist.
Based on my experience as a therapist in the hospital and home care setting, I have found these questions helpful to ask prior to your loved one’s discharge.
1) Do…
Posted in: Did you know?, Family Caregiving, Health Care Tips, Working with the Elderly Tags: caregiver, caregiving, communication, elderly, primary caregiver, tips
We can all agree that taking a daily walk is an excellent way for the elderly to stay fit. However rising summer temperatures can leave the elderly susceptible to heat-related illnesses if proper precautions are not taken during outdoor activities.
Heat stroke is the most dangerous form of a heat-related illness which occurs when a person’s body temperature rises to 106 degrees or higher and is unable to cool down. This condition can lead to death or disability if immediate treatment is…
Posted in: Did you know?, Healthy in NYC, Working with the Elderly Tags: caregiving, elderly, prevention, safety, tips, wellness
It Has Been a Few Years
To my surprise a man in his late 80’s who I’ll refer to as Mr. Ben had agreed to be seen for his annual physical therapy checkup for the first time in a few years. His visiting nurse warned me that he agreed to see me only for short period of time so I could assess his need for a cane due to a recent fall. If I were a betting man, my guess would be that I only had about 30 minutes for the…
Posted in: Staying Active, Working with the Elderly Tags: elderly
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with a group of elderly women on the topic of preventing falls. Of those in attendance, each lives independently in a senior building in Queens. To my pleasant surprise the planned presentation, which had four main points and an easy to follow handout, transformed into a dynamic conversation between the women.
As each person shared stories of their own falls and recovery, it was apparent their contributions injected relevancy into the statistics and insights I had presented. I appreciated their honesty…
Posted in: Did you know?, Events, Health Care Tips, Home Safety, Staying Active, Working with the Elderly Tags: communication, elderly, prevention, tips, wellness
Photo by Deirdre Nolan
I have often remarked that when a volunteer and a patient get together for the first time it can best be summed up as a cross between a blind date and a job interview. Imagine introducing another volunteer to this scenario – a four-legged furry one that possesses only non-verbal communication skills, the most important of which is a happily wagging tail.
I recently met a volunteer who has gone through VNSNY hospice training and training conducted by the Good Dog Foundation whose mission is to provide animal…
Posted in: Did you know?, Family Caregiving, Working with the Elderly Tags: animal assisted therapy, communication, elderly, volunteer