Many Seniors Lack Basic Adaptive Devices That Can Be Life-Changing

Think of the countless tools you use each day – your phone, toothbrush, hairbrush – simple items, but ones you cannot envision living without. For hundreds of seniors, there are basic adaptive devices available that may mean the difference between living at home and moving to assisted living. However almost 50% of seniors living at home aren’t utilizing these effective tools – despite the fact that costs are minimal.

A newly released National Health and Aging Trends Study estimated the ability of older adults to execute tasks such as rising unassisted from a seated position and walking, and discovered that a great many of the participants could benefit from assistive devices.

Not just that, but the risk of senior falls due to the lack of simple adaptive devices is increased, leading to hospitalizations, serious injury, and disability that may easily have been prevented. In fact, once these devices were made available to older adults, based on research, disability rates for seniors fell by 50 percent, combined with a decrease in pain levels and an increase in the ability to independently perform activities of daily living.

Dr. Kenneth Lam, author of the study, explained, “It’s a technical problem which, unlike so much of aging, is actually solvable. In the hospital, I can order an M.R.I. and charge the system thousands of dollars. But down the road, that won’t help patients not fall. What happens when they get home?”

Johns Hopkins in Baltimore has recently launched a program looking to change this by introducing inexpensive assistive tools to seniors. Through several in-home visits by an occupational therapist, nurse, and repair specialist, needs are identified and resolved. That could mean installing grab bars in the bathroom, removing fall hazards, or adding a raised toilet seat or shower chair. Small changes such as these may make a sizable difference in an older adult’s ability to manage activities of daily living safely and independently.

At Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, we are pleased to offer in-home evaluations to recommend changes to the home environment that enhance safety and help seniors remain independent as well as in control. We are able to also help promote senior’s safety, comfort, and independence through services such as:

• Providing accompanied transportation for errands, medical appointments, and fun outings
• Preparing healthy meals and ensuring adequate hydration for seniors
• Providing assistance as needed with personal care needs for safe bathing/showering, getting dressed, etc.
• Maintaining a clean and organized home
• And more

To get started today, reach out to us at (866) 229-2505 , or at (269) 373-5444  in Kalamazoo, (269) 763-5350  in Paw Paw, (269) 849-9252 in St. Joseph, and (269) 963-9888  in Battle Creek. We’re happy to provide a free in-home consultation and share more about why we’re the top provider of elder care in Battle Creek, MI and other Michigan communities. For a full list of the communities we serve, please visit our locations page.