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The practice of aging in place is becoming more common among elderly people for many reasons. According to a study by AARP, 90% of people over the age of 65 would prefer to live at their home rather than stay at an assisted living facility or a nursing home. For one, independent living at home is more comfortable. Cost is also a major consideration since the cost of living in a nursing home isn’t inexpensive. However, if you wish to enjoy independent living in the comfort of your home, avoid these practices and actions.

Moving Furniture On Your Own

If a family member finds out you’ve been moving furniture on your own, they may require someone to stay with you at all times. Moving furniture is dangerous when you have mobility limitations, balance concerns or other issues. It’s important to make your living arrangement comfortable, but call a friend, neighbor or a loved one and ask for help when you need to move furniture.

Insufficient Lighting

Not having enough lighting in hallways, bathrooms and other areas can create trip hazards and put your independent living efforts in jeopardy. It doesn’t do any good to have a stair lift, Barres d'appui or any other equipment in your home if you can’t see them and end up falling as a result. Improve the lighting throughout your home, particularly your nighttime lighting, and you’ll be able to navigate your home much more easily.

Ignoring Phone Calls From Loved Ones

Your loved ones worry about you when you’re at home alone, so be ready to answer their calls when the phone rings. Otherwise, they will likely assume the worst and either keep calling or panic and come to your home. Continuing to ignore their calls may prompt them to decide to have a caregiver at your home at all times so they can have peace of mind.

Not Taking Advantage of Accessibility & Mobility Products

Mobility devices are available to help you. Having a stair lift, wheelchair ramp, vertical platform lift, grab bars or any other tools don’t signify that you can’t do things on your own. What they do is help you in the event you lose your balance, as they provide something to hold onto. They also prevent a potential accident that could lead to a serious injury forcing you to live in an assisted living facility.

Refusing Help

Independent living does not mean you should refuse help and do everything on your own. If a loved one offers help with moving furniture, gardening, cooking or anything else, it’s because they want to protect you. Refusing their assistance too often could slowly make them lose trust, so accept help as much as it’s offered to protect yourself and their peace of mind.

Next Day Access is committed to helping make independent living a reality for seniors. We offer a wide range of accessibility products to make living at home a safe experience, while also providing peace of mind to loved ones. Give us a call or visit our website to see what accessibility solutions may be right for you.

Becoming homebound when you’re naturally an active person can be a tough transition to make. Both elderly people striving for independent living and the person providing senior care should consider different activities to keep the mind sharp and the body healthy. Depression is very real and more than 6.5 million Americans over the age of 65 experience some level of it, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Staying active and engaged can help by providing some inspiration and possibly giving you the sense of purpose you’ve been trying to discover. Consider these homebound activity ideas.

Learn Something New

If being homebound is a new chapter in your life, then it may be time to take advantage of it and learn something new. This can include anything from knitting to sewing, painting, writing, drawing, pottery and much more. Doing activities with your hands helps keep your fine motor skills sharp. Try a new activity every day or work to master a new challenge and you may feel a great sense of accomplishment as you strive for independent living.

Keep Your Mind Sharp By Exploring The Internet

Many seniors are hesitant to explore the Internet if they haven’t had much exposure to it. But then once they give it a chance and understand how it can be relevant to them, they often realize the possibilities available at their fingertips. They can read relevant stories about their life to gain inspiration about independent living, check out YouTube for entertainment or educational purposes, stay in touch with loved ones and much more.

Utilize Technology To Socialize

The feeling of depression or isolation can occur if elderly people don’t socialize with their friends, family or other loved ones often enough. Technology today allows this to be a simple task where you can even see their face rather than just hear their voice. Staying socially connected is important for people who are homebound, even if they don’t realize it right away. Utilizing available technology is a great way to stay socially connected.

Explore Work Or Volunteer Projects

Many organizations today have plenty of projects that can be worked on from home. Give local non-profit organizations a call and see if they have anything they need help with, depending on what you’re able to do. You could also explore work-from-home opportunities if you want to make extra cash. There are a lot of opportunities available and taking advantage of them can keep you busy and possibly fill a void you may have by giving you responsibilities.

Next Day Access wants to make independent living easier for seniors. Whether you need a wheelchair ramp or a stair lift installed or any other accessibility product to improve your mobility, we are here for you. Being homebound can be a tough transition for some seniors, so Nous contacter today to schedule a free home assessment and see how mobility aids can improve your independent living.

As the season’s change and the temperatures outside get warmer, it’s becoming time to get your pool in shape. If you’re an elderly person who wants to make the most of senior living, consider investing in a pool lift. It makes getting in and out of the pool safer and you can enjoy participating in pool parties when you invite family or friends over to your home. Before you invest, there are a few factors you should consider to ensure you get the proper product for your situation.

 

Manual Or Battery-Operated?

Most pool lifts are battery-operated, but there are some manual ones available as well. While the manual pool lifts are typically much cheaper, the downside is the lever system can be difficult to operate on your own and may require someone’s assistance to lift you in and out of the pool. On the other hand, a battery-operated pool lift can get you in and out of the pool safely with a push of a button. Most people agree battery-operated pool lifts are well worth the investment compared to manual models.

 

Placement Of The Pool Lift

It’s ideal to have a professional pool lift installer come out to ensure it’s put in the proper spot. Many factors have to be considered, including whether you have a pool deck, the shape and design of the pool, the water depth and more. One of the main goals of a pool lift is to create a safe environment for outdoor activities for elderly people and the placement of your product is critical. The depth at which you get submerged into the pool is also a consideration and can be adjusted by the professional installer.

 

Portability Options

While you may not want to move your pool lift from one pool to another at a different location, it is possible to move it to different areas around your pool. You can get yours anchored for permanent placement or semi-fixed to allow for portability options. The semi-fixed installation could be valuable if you have friends or family members over, so you can easily remove the pool lift if you don’t want it to get in the way. You won’t be sacrificing any safety features or sturdiness regardless of the option you choose. Just remember to call your pool lift professional when you need to move it and reinstall it so it’s done properly and safely.

Next Day Access offers a variety of pool lifts to help you improve your senior living. The spring and summer months provide great opportunities for relaxing by the pool, and many seniors invest in a pool lift so they can feel confident and safe getting in and out of the water. Whether you’re ready to purchase a pool lift or are still considering the benefits, Nous contacter to schedule a free home assessment and we will answer any questions you may have.

If you or a loved one are getting older or have a mobility limitation, then you may want to think about installing accessibility products in your home. Something as simple as a wheelchair ramp can make a huge impact on your quality of life. And if you have a multi-level home, then a stair lift can create a safer space to live in. But before you go out and buy the least expensive products from the first company you find, it’s valuable to ask these five questions.

Which Products And Brands Do You Offer?

You first want to ensure the company offers the products you need. They should be able to give you all the information you need about a patient lift, stair lift, platform lift, ramps, portable showers and anything else you may need. Once you confirm they have what you need, ask about the brands they sell and do some research on them. Like anything, not all brands are created equally, so you want to ensure you’re investing in good quality equipment.

Will You Install All Equipment?

Professional installation is a major factor when purchasing accessibility products. A professional knows exactly what to look for and has experienced many different situations to ensure safe installation. Once this is confirmed, you can also ask whether they can be relied on to service the equipment if needed at any time.

Is Your Company Bonded And Insured?

Bonds and insurance are standard among reputable companies today. It protects you, your property and the company involved in case an accident happens to a person or property. Ask for a copy of their insurance before working with the company so you know you’re protected.

How Can I Trust Your Employees Being In My Home?

Installing a stair lift, residential elevator or other similar equipment can be a time-consuming process. You will have employees from that company in your home, so you want to make sure you feel safe around them. Ask the company about the background checks they conduct on all employees. You can also verify their statements by reading online reviews and learning about the experiences of other customers.

Do You Offer A Warranty Or Product Guarantee?

No matter how good a product or service is, there’s a chance it may be faulty at some point. While you may not need to take advantage of it, always get information about their warranty or product guarantee program. The better the warranty is, the more confident you should feel since you know the company backs their products and services.

Next Day Access has a variety of accessibility products to make your home easier to navigate. We provide free home assessments and are available to answer any questions you may have about all of our products. To learn more about how we can help make your home more accessible, Nous contacter at any time to schedule your home assessment.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was created to provide people with disabilities easier access to public places. However, many people don’t realize the ADA does not apply to churches and other places of worship since it does not govern religious organizations or entities controlled by them, according to the Office of Legislative Research in Hartford, Connecticut. While it’s not a requirement to be ADA compliant, it could be a major benefit to the members of your place of worship if you had some accessibility tools like wheelchair ramps. Here are some ways you can improve accessibility in a few simple steps.

How To Improve Accessibility In Your Church

Most of the time churches don’t have to make major modifications to the existing structure to improve accessibility significantly. Wheelchair ramps today can be placed virtually anywhere and can be designed and modified to fit your needs. Installing wheelchair ramps near all entrances is the most common way to help people with mobility limitations enter the building.

If you have staircases indoors, you may also consider installing a stair lift or a platform lift. Walking up the stairs can be challenging for members of your organization, and a stair lift gives them an option to sit on a seat and be transported up and down the stairs safely. Different options of stair lifts are available, so having a professional come out to evaluate your space can ensure you invest in the right product to fit your needs.

Will Residential Accessibility Products Be Sufficient?

A common concern churches and places of worship have is the cost of making improvements. While it may seem tempting to invest in residential-grade accessibility products, it’s usually ideal to opt for commercial products instead. The high traffic volume could lead to quicker wear-and-tear and potentially fail easier also. To keep the members of your organization safe and stay in compliance with your local building ordinances and guidelines, be sure to work with a reputable company that installs quality equipment to meet all of your needs.

Where To Begin Improving Church Accessibility

When you’re ready to start improving accessibility in your church or place of worship, the first thing to do is find a trustworthy company to provide you with an assessment. They will look at everything from the appropriate location for wheelchair ramps, whether a stair lift could be beneficial, if grab bars could help in certain locations and much more. You don’t have to make one big investment to improve accessibility in all places at once if budgeting is a concern. You can start by installing a few grab bars in bathrooms and other locations and slowly invest in more when the time is right.

When you contact Next Day Access, we can help you schedule a free assessment for your church or place of worship and you’ll be on your way to having a more accessible environment for all of your members.

COVID-19 has taken over the world and has created a level of uncertainty among the general population because of so many unknowns. Next Day Access knows this is a very serious virus and that seniors and people with chronic medical conditions are more at risk of getting sick. This Washington Post article explains that out of the first 100 deaths due to COVID-19 in the United States, roughly 45% of the people were 80-years-old or older and about 85% were over the age of 60. If you fall in this age bracket, precautions need to be taken immediately to reduce your risk of getting this highly contagious virus.

Why Seniors Are Considered Higher Risk

To further build on the statistics, the Journal of the American Medical Association has conducted a study showing that 90% of all COVID-19 cases include people between ages 30-79. Children accounted for only 1%. Older people may not have as strong of an immune system as others, and many also have underlying health conditions. Seniors have a higher risk of getting the coronavirus if they have conditions like diabetes, lung disease, heart disease and more. And with these underlying conditions, it’s much more difficult to recover from.

Take Preventative Actions Now

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests taking immediate action to reduce your risk and prevent getting sick. These actions include:

-Stocking up on household supplies and food

-Keeping distance between yourself and other people

-Avoiding travel

-Washing your hands frequently 

-Avoiding crowds whenever possible

-Staying at home

-Cleaning your home thoroughly and disinfecting all surfaces

Simple preventative actions taken regularly can greatly reduce your risk of getting the coronavirus. And if you live in a retirement home or an assisted living facility, it’s even more paramount to take these preventative actions since you have more exposure to people. Good hygiene is essential to combating COVID-19 and potentially reducing the symptoms if it is contracted.

What To Do If You Start Feeling Sick

Talk to your health care provider today to learn what you need to do if you get sick. The United States Government is breaking news regularly about how they are working with health care providers for testing, treatments and other helpful actions. Keep in touch with family, friends, and neighbors and let them know if you are feeling any of the following symptoms:

-Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

-Fever

-Coughing

-Chest pain

-Confusion

-Bluish face or lips

Many experts expect the coronavirus to peak and fall soon since many other epidemics have followed a similar pattern. Panicking isn’t the solution, but preparation, awareness and taking precautions can help us all deal with the coronavirus with the most ideal outcomes. While the practice of social distancing is becoming common across the country and some parts of the world, be careful not to feel too isolated from others. Talk to your loved ones regularly and keep a positive mindset as much as possible through these difficult times for everyone.

Accès le lendemain 

Rogers, MN

Dear Management,

I was approved for a stair lift for my home by the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Prosthetics Department. I am a 100% service connected disabled veteran. I was contacted by Chris in December to arrange installation. Bill did the original measurements and Chase and Jake did the installations on enero 16.

Everything was done in a timely, professional, and pleasant manner. Chase provided excellent instructions on all aspects of use. These three men are excellent representatives of your firm possessing technical skills and interpersonal skills that set a great tone for Next Day Access, and enhances your reputation.

However, both my wife and I agreed the space taken up by the stair lift of 7 stairs, a landing, and 7 more stairs in our rather small home just was not in our best interests. The installation was perfect, but the space restrictions caused me to call Chris to determine a course of action.

First off, I served 28 years in the Army and retired as a lieutenant colonel, taught 14 years in a technical college with major emphasis on all aspects of supervisory management training, and had an association with INNOVA, Inc. a leadership and management consultant firm for over 30 years.

I am sharing these experiences to reinforce my observation that the response from Chris to my problem was incredibly customer oriented, understanding, professional, and relieving. Furthermore, his response and plan to come over to our home in Ladysmith to remove the stair lift deserves so much recognition. It is apparent that Next Day Access get it when it comes to running an outstanding business. A rarity in today’s marketplace. 

Sincerely,

Kerm Morgan