COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL January 20, 2016
11A
Renovations for senior safety
As adults approach their golden years, the homes they once
thought of as sanctuaries can become unsafe. Families wrestle
with the decision to keep parents and grandparents in their
homes or move them into assisted living facilities or other senior
residences.
Modifying seniors’ homes to make them safer is another option.
The National Institute on Aging says that families may be able
to have a senior stay at home by helping older relatives remain
independent but safe. The following are a few ways to do just that.
• Remove fall hazards. The NIA reports that six out of 10 falls
happen at home, where people spend the most time and fail to
think about their safety. Seniors who want to be independent
may overestimate their physical abilities. Because falls can be so
dangerous, leading to cuts, abrasions, broken bones, and more,
seniors and their families must take steps to prevent falls in homes.
Improve lighting, especially at night when sight may become
diminished. Install hand rails and grab bars where possible. Pick
up clutter and remove tripping hazards, such as slippery rugs
or electric cords. Install an electric stair climbing seat to make
traversing stairs less risky.
• Improve visibility and ability to communicate. Vision loss may
accompany aging, but technology can help mitigate such losses.
Use big-button phones, remote controls and even keyboards so
seniors can keep in touch. Voice-activated thermostats or smart
home technology also can make it easier for seniors to voice their
needs.
• Modify fi xtures and other features. Dexterity may wane with age,
and arthritis can make grasping or turning doorknobs and faucets
more challenging. Take inventory of areas of the home that present
the biggest obstacles to seniors. Replace knobs in the shower or on
faucets with lever handles, which are easier to maneuver. Install
new cabinets and doors that freely glide open and self-close.
Replace toggle light switches with easier paddle-type switches
that can be pushed with a hand or even arm. Motion-sensor lights
also can be handy. Push-button oven controls may make cooking
easier.
• Prepare for medical emergencies. Invest in medical alert systems,
such as necklaces or bracelets, that can be used to contact police or
emergency medical personnel directly. Make phones available in
commonly used rooms in the home, such as bedrooms, the living
room, bathrooms, and the kitchen.
• Install ramps and nonslip fl ooring. Ramps can make it easier to
reach the front door or cross over elevated doorway thresholds.
Nonslip fl ooring also can prevent falls around the house, offering
more traction for feet, walkers or canes.
• Repair cracks in walkways and driveways. Safety should
also extend to the outdoors. Be sure to repair cracks or uneven
pavement. Replace loose patio blocks or bricks with a more stable
design or with concrete or asphalt. While outdoors, trim back
bushes and make sure there are no tripping hazards outside as
well.
A few modifi cations can make it possible for seniors to live
comfortably in their homes for many years.
Cut the costs of your prescriptions
The costs of fi lling prescriptions is simply too big to bear for
many people, even now that the Affordable Care Act has greatly
reduced the amount of people who are uninsured. A survey from
the Commonwealth Fund found that 35 million people in America
failed to fi ll a prescription in 2014 because of the cost of the
medication. That fi gure represents an improvement from 2010,
when 48 million people did not fi ll their prescriptions due to the
costs of those medications, but it still serves to highlight a need
many people have to cut the costs of their medicine.
Though people who cannot afford to fi ll their prescriptions often
feel helpless, there are a handful of ways they can cut the costs of
their medications and start feeling better.
• Discuss changes with your physician. Perhaps the simplest way
to cut prescription costs is to discuss medication options with
your physician. Brand-name drugs are typically more expensive
than generic alternatives, so speak with your physician about
generic drugs or less costly brand-name drugs that may treat your
condition as well as expensive brand-name drugs do.
• Consider Patient Assistance Programs. Sometimes referred to
as “Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs,” Patient Assistance
Programs, or PAPs, can greatly reduce the burden of prescription
drug costs. Sponsored by pharmaceutical companies, PAPs
distribute billions of dollars to patients who otherwise could not
afford their medications. Eligibility criteria varies depending
on the program, but men and women struggling to pay for their
prescriptions can speak with their physicians about PAPs.
S ENIOR N EWS L INE
New Year, New You
Did you make a list of resolutions for the New Year? How are you
doing so far? They say if we can keep a resolution for 21 days,
we're likely to stick with it. Here are some ideas to make 2016 a
healthier, more active year.
• If you always hear about local events after the fact, sign up for
online notices for museum exhibits, special readings at the library,
lectures and lunches at the senior center.
• Consider taking a class. Reducing the risk of falls and senior
driving safety are both worthwhile. Check the education
department course catalog for something new and fun. Classes
even might be free for seniors.
• Do a puzzle a day. It doesn't matter what kind. Crossword,
scrabble, solitaire are all good brain stretchers. Go online to AARP
at games.aarp.org for free games.
• Get out of the house once a day. Walk to the mailbox, set up a
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walking routine with a friend (even if you
have to go to the local rec center) or pick a
different place to visit every day.
• Eat something that's good for you at least
a few times per week, even if you don't especially care for it. If
you don't like green vegetables, for example, scan the Internet
for recipes that will make them more palatable. Do you have a
smoothie blender? Many ingredients can be combined to taste
better together.
• Consider upgrading your technology knowledge. If your
grandchildren have smartphones, think about whether you might
benefi t from having that instant contact with them, rather than
waiting until you open email to see the latest photos from them.
• Look up old friends. If you're not familiar with social media,
take a class, and especially learn about the safety aspects.
Stay Happy, Stay Healthy
Negative stereotypes about aging can produce negative outcomes
in seniors, including physical function.
That's quite a statement, and apparently it's true. The phrase "Don't
worry, be happy" might well include the addition of "and stay
healthier." Researchers interacted with 100 seniors ages 61-99 to
learn whether positive stereotyping could have positive outcomes.
They used implicit (implied) and explicit (clearly expressed)
• Consult your member organizations. If you are a member of the
AAA automotive group or the American Association of Retired
Persons, you might be eligible for medication discount cards free
of charge. These cards provide discounts on your medications,
but some come with expensive fees upfront. Look for no-fee
cards, such as those offered to AAA and AARP members or
others offered by nonprofi t organizations, before considering
options offered by pharmaceutical companies or other for-profi t
businesses.
• Contact charitable organizations. Some charitable organizations,
such as the National Organization for Rare Disorders and maybe
even some local nonprofi ts, offer prescription assistance to people
in need. Visit NORD online at www.rarediseases.org.
messages, in varying combinations, at one-week intervals. The
results showed that implicit interventions caused improved
self-perception, which included better physical function. The
opposite also was true: Negative messages resulted in negative
self-perception. The impact lasted for three weeks. And implicit
messages had a greater effect than explicit ones.
Becca Levy, associate professor at Yale, has been studying us for
a long time. In some of her research, participants played computer
games with words fl ashed on the screen. These subliminal
messages had an impact, either positive or negative, about aging
stereotypes, and affected memory tasks, walking speed and even
handwriting. If fl ash messages could have such a great impact,
think about what more overt messages could do.
Researchers have come up with a numbers of ways we can stay
healthier as we age, and it's all about our frame of mind.
• Stay happy and positive, on an even keel, without going to
extremes emotionally.
• Look at the glass as half full, and be hopeful about the future.
• Remain social. Get out, be with people -- the happier the better.
If there are negative people in your life, try to avoid them. Avoid
hostility. Search for group activities that have a positive purpose.
• Be resilient in the face of diffi culties and search for the good in
any situation -- because there is always a silver lining.
Your health will thank you.
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