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WHEN YOUR ELDER PARENT CHOOSES TO REMAIN AT HOME

- CREATING A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT -

By Linda MacDonald, RPN

You may find that your elder parent insists on remaining in her own home, despite failing health. Or, you may decide it would be better for all involved, if she came to live with you. Whatever the situation, there are steps you can take to create a safe environment for your parent and caregiver. The caregiver may be you, another relative, or a trusted, trained personal support worker. Creating a stress and accident free workplace could mean the difference between harmony and chaos within the home.

What follows is a tour through the home and what can be done to improve potentially dangerous situations.

BEDROOM

> Non- pile broadloom is fine, but rid the entire house of scatter mats

> Should your parent have chronic breathing or arthritic conditions, it may be wise to consider an articulated hospital bed. If not, there are many excellent products that provide ease of movement, such as support poles, swing grips, bed rails and pillow supports

> Always provide a night-light, as confusion often arises from evening onward

> Provide a bell, buzzer, or set up an intercom for moments of distress at night

> A radio, tuned to the language of choice, may provide comfort on sleepless nights

> If incontinence is an issue, there are now large, washable incontinence pads available.

> Adult pull-ups at night are also a pro-active way of protecting your parent from embarrassment.

BATHROOM

This is the most dangerous room in the house, and where the majority of falls occur.

> Ceramic tiles and shiny floor coverings present constant hazards. Non-slip flooring is now available, and a shade can be chosen to enhance the current colour scheme.

> Non-slip strips on the floor of the tub, shower chairs, grab bars on the tub's far wall (angled), and outside the tub (vertical) are necessities, not luxuries.

> A hand-held shower head eases hair washing, and greatly reduces the back-strain of the caregiver.

> If the height of the toilet poses precarious sitting problems, there are various models of raised seats to choose from and are well worth the investment.

KITCHEN

Another dangerous place. Again, ceramic tiles and shiny surfaces present an opportunity for an accident. Non-skid flooring is highly recommended.

> Spills ought to be immediately removed.

> Appliances and furniture should be against walls whenever possible, leaving the remaining space free of clutter for ease of movement.

> For seniors experiencing pain and distress with wrist and finger manipulation while eating, there are non-slip plates, articulated utensils, and non-spill drinking cups. If mealtime has become an unpleasant experience, these items could reverse that outcome.

> Many seniors have the habit of flinging themselves straight back into a chair, causing it to tip backwards. Should this be the situation, you might want to investigate a balanced chair or chair anchors.

LIVING ROOM

This is the room where the family gathers, and it might have to accommodate a fair number of people.

> Place furniture against the walls, and keep coffee and end-tables out of the centre of the space .

> Provide a comfortable easy chair with a handy adjustable handle and back support for your parent. Place the chair a couple of inches from the wall to provide space for those moments when she flings herself into it.

HALLWAYS, STAIRS AND OTHER SPACES

> If you have long hallways in your home, the installation of a hand rail could prevent or stall a fall. If you have ceramic or gleaming wood flooring there, and don't want to rip it out, consult a professional carpet retailer on the availability of non-skid, full length runners.

> If your parent is wheelchair dependent, or uses a walker and unable to manipulate stairs, you may be able to obtain a permit to build an outside ramp.

> If you have a 2 storey house, the same situation can be remedied with the installation of an electronic chair lift.

Both of these suggestions involve enormous expense, but each family and circumstance is different, and should be considered accordingly.

HEALTH SUPPLIES AND SERVICES

As an independent consultant, I am not affiliated in any way with these companies and cannot recommend any one of them over another. However, I will say that having dealt with a number of them, I found service to be reliable, efficient, and knowledgeable. Please consult the Home Health Supplies and Services section of your local Yellow Pages, or go online requesting same, giving your city or region.

Rather than running all over town collecting catalogues, call and request that a copy be sent to your home. Ask them for a price list to be included. If they say they don't have one, ask why not. Do not make any decisions on a final product until you have compared all your options. Insist they describe the integrity of the product you require, and ask about their customer service policies. For instance, as Director of Care in a retirement facility, I called a supply company, requesting a raised toilet seat. Not only did they arrive that afternoon, they brought 3 models for the resident to test. Now that's customer service!

In the coming issues of this newsletter, I hope to bring you information on caregiver relief, and choosing the ideal retirement residence.

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Linda MacDonald is a Retirement Lifestyles Specialist with a background in nursing, and extensive experience in marketing, administration, and as a Director of Care within the residential retirement community. She can be reached at lmacdon@sympatico.ca