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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (June 15, 2016)
12A COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL June 15, 2016 How to prepare a home for elderly residents Upon reaching retirement age, new re- tirees may face decisions regarding their living arrangements. Some seniors may opt to stay put, while others may want to downsize their homes to save money and relieve themselves of the burdens of maintaining larger homes. But those are not the only situations seniors fi nd themselves in. Some se- niors realize they can no longer care for themselves without assistance. In such instances, seniors may opt for assisted living facilities or choose to move in with a relative, such as a grown son or daughter. While assisted living facilities are designed to meet the needs of the el- derly, young men and women welcom- ing seniors into their homes may need to take on some home improvement proj- ects to ensure their homes are as safe as possible for elderly residents. • Convert a room on the fi rst fl oor into a bedroom. While this may not ap- ply to all seniors, some men and women struggle with stairs as they age, and that can make it diffi cult for them to fully participate in a household. Homeowners with an extra room to spare can convert a room on the fi rst fl oor of their homes into a bedroom so seniors won’t have to climb up and down stairs throughout the day. That ease of accessibility to the primary fl oor of the house encour- ages seniors to be active participants in a household. If possible, choose an area that is close to a fi rst-fl oor bathroom. • Take steps to make bathrooms safer. The National Institute on Aging says that more than one in three seniors over age 65 fall each year, and 80 percent of those falls take place in the bathroom. Slippery tile fl oors can make it diffi cult for seniors to navigate bathrooms safely, and bathtubs and shower stalls present additional challenges. Install grab bars on bathroom walls and next to toilets to provide support. In addition, consider installing a shower chair or bench and removable shower nozzle in the show- er or tub so seniors can sit down while they bathe and rinse without having to stand up on slippery surfaces. Make sure any mats around bathtubs and sinks are nonskid to reduce the risk of falls even further. • Install an extra phone line or two. While kids and adults between the ages of 18 and 50 may never use the land- lines in their homes, many seniors still rely on traditional telephones as their primary means of communicating with the outside world. Install extra landlines in your home, including in seniors’ bed- rooms, so they can more readily access the phone should they fall and need to call for emergency help. Phones in se- niors’ bedrooms may also provide some additional privacy to seniors who don’t want to carry on phone conversations in busy areas of the home, such as the kitchen or living room. Such lines may also reduce feelings of isolation. • Prioritize accessibility when storing items. When storing groceries, books, magazines, or other items seniors are likely to use, choose locations that are accessible to seniors. Avoid storing items on the top shelf of pantries, book- cases or entertainment centers, as se- niors with limited mobility may not be able to reach them. Many seniors move in with their adult children to make their golden years saf- er and more enjoyable and manageable. Such a change in living arrangements may necessitate some changes on the part of homeowners so they can ensure their homes are safe for seniors. The basics on long-term health insurance Various insurance plans pro- tect individuals from fi nancial calamity. Insurance works by requiring policy holders to pay a premium. In the event of an accident or incident, a claim can be fi led and the insurance com- pany will reimburse the person for expenses, minus the deduct- ible. Health insurance is one type of insurance that people have to manage their health and well- being. There’s also another, perhaps lesser-known insurance that can prove invaluable. It is called long-term care insurance. Long-term care insurance, or LTCI, is an insurance product that is found primarily in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. LTCI general- ly covers assisted living needs, home care, hospice care, adult daycare, and other requirements of senior living and/or health management. People who in- vest in LTCI are planning ahead for the times when they may no longer be able to care for them- selves without assistance. LTCI will help offset the ever-rising costs associated with special- ized senior housing and nursing facilities. Traditional healthcare insur- ance and government-sponsored plans (i.e., Medicare in the United States) will not pay for daily, extended care services. The AARP notes that these oth- er plans may only cover a short stay in a sub-acute rehabilitation center or nursing home, or pay for a limited amount of at-home care. LTCI can help families fi - nance the cost of medical care when all other options will not. LTCI should be looked into early in life, as policies often cost less if purchased when one is younger and in good health. People in poor health or already receiving long-term care ser- vices may not qualify for LTCI outright. But there are some workarounds, including buying a limited amount of coverage or coverage at a higher “nonstan- dard” rate. Some policies do not require medical underwriting, and these may be advantageous to people with preexisting health conditions. When shopping for policies, look into how long LTCI will pay. Some policies include lim- its on how long or how much providers will pay for care, with some plans maxing out at two to fi ve years. Other policies may not implement a term limit. Speak with a tax specialist as well, as premiums paid on a long-term care insurance prod- ucts may be tax deductible. Long-term care insurance is a way for individuals to fi nance the often expensive costs for medical services that may be re- quired as one ages. It’s not like her. Mom has always been so patient, but now when I ask her questions she gets angry. Celebrating our 6 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! We can help. 1-855-ORE-ADRC HelpForAlz.org OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAM Grant Gording, BC-HIS Jenna Buetow Board Certifi ed in Hearing Instrument Sciences Hearing Consultant Bring in this coupon to receive a free pack of batteries. Expires June 30th. FREE Hearing Screenings FREE Hearing Aid Checks & Cleanings Just call to schedule an appointment! Grant's Hearing 1498 Center E. Main St., CG www.grantshearing.com 541-942-8444 S o me So e time t i me ti m e s, mes, s p a am m pe peri r ing ri ng i s no n t en enou ough ou u gh t o ke keep ep y ou our r fe f eet e et e h al he alth th hy. y I f you yo o u ar a e a se s e ni nior or o r ha h ve v f ee eet t th that at r eq equi uire ui re s pe p ci cial a c ar al are, e e, y yo o u’ u r re e n ot t a lo o ne ne.. Ou O u r serv Our se e rvic rv v ic c es a re e s pe p ci c al ally ly d es esig ig gne e d fo for r th thos o e os wh who h o ha ave v e t he h se a nd o th t er e m ed edic i al ic a l c on ondi d iti di ti i ons: on n s: s arthritis mobility limitations diabetes limited vision O r ce Ou cert r ifi rt fie fi e d Re Regi gi i st g ster ered er ed d N ur u se a ss s s es e sse sess an se nd ca care ress fo re forr yo y ur f ee eet: t : t: Nail trimming Debridement or buffi ng of corns and calluses Education regarding diabetic foot care Education for preventative care The Relay For Life of South Lane County invites all cancer survivors and their caregivers to a Home treatment for athlete’s foot and tinea pedis Survivor Luncheon To o s ch c edul ed d ul l e an a pp p o oi i nt ntme m nt, me nt t , ca c all l l 5 41 ll 41-7 -767 -7 7 67 7-5 5 40 4 0. 0 June 25, 2015 from 2pm – 5pm 1515 15 5 15 1 5 V il illa la age e D ri i ve ve, , Co Cott ttag tt ag g e G Gr rov r o ov ve, v e, O R 97 9 42 2 4 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help 1025 N. 19th St., Cottage Grove Please RSVP to Sabina Johnson at 541-359-5514 ww w w. w . pe peac aceh ac c eh ehea e lt ea l t h. h or org/ r g/ g/cg c g ch cg c Join us in this celebration of hope.
