Jul 22 2008
“Safety First” for Your Aging Parents
Alzheimer’s is a serious disease that affects 4.5 million people per year in the United States, and nearly 14,000 in metropolitan Indianapolis.
It is said that by 2010 this disease is going to affect over 5.5 million people. For many families, this presents numerous challenges, not the least of which is a concern for their safety.
Recent research shows that an educated family member will help those with the disease to stay at home safely a year an a half longer than if they were being cared for by an uneducated caregiver.
“Thank you so much for this detailed list of what needs to be modified to allow aging parents to retain their independence…safely. After my mother fell and broke her hip, we had to modify almost everything in her house. We installed many assistive devices. Some addressed retaining her dignity such as grooming products like adressing stick. This is a very simple looking product that now enables my mom to put on her underwear, her socks, her pants, and tops all by herself.
Mom’s favorite thing is the Lift Chair. It is a great looking chair, and she can easily get in and out without assistance.
My tip on the safety bars is to research online stores. We looked at all the “box stores” and were unable to find attractive, non-industrial looking bars. She didn’t want her bathroom to look like a public restroom. We found some great bars on the internet.
Good luck to those of you who are facing this change. It’s tough and can be expensive, but luckily there are so many options out there now to chose from. “