Tips To Help Parents Who Want To Age In Place

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I would like to echo the comments of my Occupational Therapy colleague, Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L of FL, regarding the value of an OT consultation to identifying the best and most cost effective ways to modify a family's home as some members age. In addition, I think it's important to understand the value of an OT's in-put when an illness or injury (such as stroke, severe vision loss due to macular degeneration, hip replacement due to fracture from a fall--to name a few)create the unexpected and urgent need for changes to the home.
Some OT's are specialists in the area of home modifications and have sought additional training and education that helps them to not only advise, but to advocate for their client during a remodel process. CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist--certification from the National Association of Home Builders) OT's have received the same training as CAPS Contractors, Architects, Designers, etc. and are truly valued by these professionals in the home modification/remodel process.
Just one small correction to my esteemed colleague's comments--not ALL OT's have Master's or PhD's. Some of us have been therapists so long that a BS degree was the entry level competency and we have added to that knowledge with incomparable years of experience and continuing education.
You can find CAPS Occupational Therapists at www.nahb.org/CAPSinfo

Sharon Ireland-Burke, BS, OTR/L, CAPS of CA 5:28PM August 21, 2009

check out
Seniors Helping Seniors In-Home Services
where active Seniors who want to help are matched with Seniors who need help staying in their homes... the Purpose is to keep both sides of the seniors independent and social.
www.seniorshelpingseniors.com

Lynn Svindland of CT 11:45AM July 27, 2009

The comments posted already mention some very real issues regarding the cost of home modification and types of services needed to remain at home. Community resources such as the Area Agency on Aging can be helpful in finding needed resources for those who have limited funds. The services of a geriatric care manager can also be very beneficial in assessing needs, planning for care and/or services needed and implementing the services needed to stay at home.
Planning ahead for future needs helps senior parents stay as independent as possible for as long as possible.

N Iannone of AZ 1:07PM July 14, 2009

Aging "successfully" is complicated. There are many, many products and options that can be chosen.The problem is, choosing the wrong option(s) can be devastating financially. It can also be personally devastating, as wrong choices can change lives and even cause death. There are so many personal variables to consider when helping a person to "age in place" (which is a term that sounds to me like being stuck. I prefer talking about aging productively, or happily, or safely)...Anyway, factors that need to be considered when planning for future age related changes include such things as size, shape, height, weight, abilities such as balance, range of motion, reach, grip, strength, endurance, vision, hearing,touch, mental abilities, personal choice, health conditions, beliefs, habits, financial resources, environmental design, culture, etc. There are many, many more things to consider. Planning ahead or adjusting NOW for aging parents can be overwhelming. Just as the article suggested, there is a need for outside consultants. But, I think the best consultant was missed. The very best expert to contact is an occupational therapist (OT). An occupational therapist or an (OT)is a highly skilled member of a health care profession, and is certified nationally, then most are licensed by their state. The OT has a master's or doctoral degree. The OT works to enable people of all ages and abilities to live life to the fullest. OT's are experts in this and as such are the best consultant for this job. The OT will identify the factors that support or limit abilities, health, safety and well being, and will then identify the best strategies and solutions to promote health,reduce the potential for injury, improve the quality of life, enhance abilities, delay dis-ability and maximize safety at home. OT's are able to help families and individuals identify the best and most cost effective strategies to help people make their homes fit their abilities and life styles. As the population of older adults continues to dramatically grow, making homes fit the person will be a key factor in remaining at home (or aging in place)even when abilities have declined. OT's can be a great help. For more information about occupational therapy, go to www.aota.org. or for more information about safe aging go to www.safeaging.com.

Dr. Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD, OTR/L of FL 1:00PM July 14, 2009

This is a great plan as long as those senior parents can at least and to some degree still take care of themselves. But even the best of plans along this line are limited. It's an unfortunate circumstance but we all reach that point when we simply can not do for ourselves any longer. Options?...Either a full time nurse, an assisted living facility, or sell most of their property and live with the older children and take care of them yourself. Only one of the above will be your choice.

Randall Laraway of OH 11:16PM July 13, 2009

The plan discussed here assumes that someone has money to modify his or her home. What do you do with someone who is almost blind and deaf? That person can easily be taken advantage of. And I know from my father's experiendce that seniors tire of Meals on Wheels.
But with the aging of the baby boomers there will be new ideas and programs on how to care for seniors. Baby Boomers don't want to move into an assisted living facility. Those are not being built with the frequency that they were in the 1990s.

Jaye of PA 8:33PM July 13, 2009

In Austin our Meals on Wheels not only delivers meals, but has other assistive volunteer programs as well. They have a program to match you with a volunteer who will grocery shop for you a couple times a month. They also have a program that will match you with a volunteer who will take you to the doctor. We also have Caregiver Groups through local churches who will provide transportation to seniors to various locations including the beauty shop. Your community may also have some of these services available. Each organization does have a screening process, but these services can be a real blessing if you are no longer able to drive.

J. Grantham of TX 5:40PM July 13, 2009

Since I was active and working part-time until I was past eighty, becoming a bit disabled came all at once and as a complete surprise.
Fortunately, I had been making the house the way I wanted it should I become slow and unable to do much. The one major thing I had to do was to lift all the small scatter rugs and put them away. I use a cane even in the house and try to be deliberate in the way I move about the house.
I found after having a hip replacement, that I had to see a podiatrist to assure me that I wouldn't develop ingrown toenails, and to have my toenails trimmed. Hip replacements take away one's ability to bend way over for pedicure care. One might dislocate the hip. Medicare pays for this care if it is needed every two months.
Also because I had developed very swollen legs after my hip replacement because of a pulmonary embolism which occurred during surgery, I decided on my own to have my legs and feet massaged a couple of times a month. I feel it is important for old folks to keep their underpinnings viable.
Because it is very hot here for a good part of the year, I ride my stationary bicycle for exercise and use 1 lb. weights for arm and upper body exercise.
In addition to the above great advice in the article, I thought I'd add a few more suggestions. It seems as though in some cases when aging begins to take hold, one is like the one-horse shay - falling apart in unexpected ways, seemingly, all at once. So, be sure to maintain a sense of humor.

J. of CA 2:27PM July 13, 2009

Meals On Wheels is a godsend for thousands of seniors who have no one in the area to provide balanced meals daily. I see its benefits often in the senior complexes that I manage on an over sight basis. (i.e. These complexes are for seniors but are also not assisted living faciilties). Just because a person mentioned in this article that parents had used this service, do not assume that she/he is in the same town as the parents needing assistance. Both of my children live hundreds of miles away from me, for example. Likewise, do not assume that it is always possible for children who are often working 1-2 jobs and still raising their own children, supporting kids in college, and possibly caring for two sets of aging parents, working out of town part of the time, etc. to prepare and deliver meals for loved ones on a daily basis. We see instances where kids are taking on a second job just to help support a parent who has inadequate income. I feel is insensitive to direct snide comments or criticism without knowing the full circumstances and certainly this contributor is trying to stay abreast of ways to help parents.

Betty of NV 2:00PM July 13, 2009