Safety and patient education while "aging in place" is important to our family members near their sunset years. Remaining independent at home and living "the same" is what we mostly strive for.
In order to do so, then we must look at a some real time decisions while simultaneously creating a plan for the future. Ask your (grand) parent to make a list of what would be helpful to them this week, this month and this year, despite the cost. Make it a wish list of sorts. Is it a cleaner/housekeeper, is it a shopping/delivery app, a weekly meeting or lecture or educational stimulation, a planned visit or shopping trip? You would be amazed at the simplicity of certain errands or tasks that go unnoticed because of the "complexity or difficulty" that the seniors perceive. It may be as simple as rolling up the living room rug that they always trip on, which requires moving the furniture, which would require cleaning out the corner closet and then putting it all back together. It may be a simple as fixing or getting Wi-Fi and upgrading their existing computer to promote so much more than they could even imagine. It could mean YOU doing the food shopping and delivery (in person or online) or taking them with you or hiring someone to do it with them.
Our goals are to prolong the time that they can remain safely living at home, promoting independence with Activities of Daily Living and self care and reducing the risk of falls. There are key items to consider for the future (near and far future) that families may not be aware of. Oftentimes, things change drastically after your loved one takes a fall which is sudden, unexpected and a huge shift filled with fear and rash decision making. With our help, we like to be proactive to prevent the "worst news" and put some safety measures in place.
Many families would benefit from seeking community help, social services, a social worker, a senior group and geriatrician to create a "team" of professionals and a safety net of options. Your local hospital may have resources that are no or low cost options. Your neighborhood may have "eldercare" services to aid in the participation of meal deliveries, home visits or group activities. If your family member is in the hospital, the discharge planning meeting must be accurately and honestly discussed so it reflects their current and future needs. The meeting is to make decisions to make the environment and lifestyle the best possible case scenario for healing and recovery, cover all the bases.
If your loved one is failing to thrive at home, please involve their primary care physician or their geriatrician or call for help to get the process started. So many seniors suffer from lack of memory or confusion that was compensated for or covered up for years. However it worsens with aging, which would be detrimental with dehydration, lack of nutrition and medication errors that can be easily prevented.
As a geriatric physical therapist, I can be part of the team that creates the safest environment for your senior family member, allow me to help you with this.
We use telehealth, video chatting and the use of technology to administer Physical Therapy and intervene to assist in pre and post surgery, injury recovery, rehabilitation, exercise science and maintenance programs.