Aging in Place Archives

This year, Father’s Day is junio 19 which is fast approaching. Sometimes figuring out what to get Dad can be a challenging endeavor, especially if you want to get him something special or sentimental. We have a fantastic aging father gift idea / suggestion for you, called Storyworth!

What is Storyworth?

Storyworth is an opportunity to share your father’s memories and special moments in a beautiful keepsake book. Your father can then share the book and the experiences and advice within the text with loved ones. The hope is that your father’s legacy will live on for his grandchildren and many generations to come.

How Does Storyworth Work?

Step 1

You chose a question to help get him to start writing and send it in an email.

Step 2

Your father simply replies to the question you emailed him, and then it is shared with you.

Step 3

After one year, his replies and stories that stem from his responses are bound by Storyworth into a charming and beautiful keepsake book.

To ensure these books last for generations, the Storyworth company designs the book with quality materials. This ensures the book looks fantastic and ages nicely over time.

If you feel stumped trying to come up with questions, just go to their website. This is also the website you use to get everything set up. The Storyworth team has plenty of sample questions to help you get into the flow of sending weekly questions. Here are a few examples from their website:

What is one of your fondest childhood memories?
What things matter most to you in life?
What items do you think you cannot live without?
Do you have any regrets in life?
Who are your favorite artists?

Why Storyworth?

Storyworth books can include photos that contribute nicely to the layout and intimacy of the book. It is also a wonderful way to stay connected with family who no longer live close by. The aim of these books is to conserve memories of the past to pass on to future generations while learning more about the special people in your life that matter most to you.

You will likely be surprised by some things, and other things might help make sense of why you react the way you do in specific scenarios. Maybe you are more like your father than you realize.

Since Storyworth began, it has been getting rave reviews, such as this one from Adrianne in Rochester, New York, “Storyworth is more than just a book, more than a collection of stories. It is the gift of time you spend with family uncovering those stories. There has never been a gift that has held more meaning or value to me.”

At Next Day Access, we are privileged to help families as they shop for mobility equipment or accessibility devices that can make their aging loved ones safer and more comfortable while they are aging in place.

We see the bonds between the families and the love children have for their aging parents as they shop. We thank you for making us the place you go to for all your aging loved ones’ needs, and we would like to extend a heartfelt Happy Father’s Day to all the dads this year.

For aging adults, the stairs in their homes can become too dangerous to navigate. They may have limited mobility, accessibility concerns, lack of stability, or weakened muscles. When the stairs seem too challenging, many aging adults may think it is time for an assisted living community or a home with no stairs. At Next Day Access, our goal is to find solutions so aging adults can age safely and comfortably at home. We offer various Monte-escaliers, some even suit curved stairs. Many individuals do not realize how cost-effective it is to put in a stairlift rather than move. We can even have your stairlift installed in no time with as little intrusion on your day-to-day as possible. Other than stairlifts being cost-effective, here are a few other benefits you will find when choosing to install a stairlift:

Stairlifts prevent injuries

Injury prevention is the most obvious benefit of installing a stairlift. You are less likely to slip and fall downstairs, which is the most common area that presents a high-risk fall. Just missing one step can result in a broken leg, hip, or other injuries.

Stairlifts are easy to use

Stairlifts are extremely easy to operate. When using the stairlift, you sit on the seat, put on the seatbelt, and press the switch on the armrest. Once you are at the top of the stairs, release the switch, and the lift will come to a rest.

If you find yourself at the top of the stairs but the stairlift is at the bottom, there are remotes you can leave upstairs and downstairs to send the stairlift to where it needs to be.

Stairlifts are comfortable

You can purchase a lift with extra cushion, but most people feel the standard lift is already very comfortable. There is a stairlift called the Bruno Elite, which is considered the highest quality because the seat, back, and armrest all have padded cushions.

Stairlifts restore independence

We once had an installer tearfully tell us about a sweet interaction with a customer. The customer was so thrilled with her stairlift because she was always stuck on the top floor, too afraid to go down the stairs for fear of falling. She was delighted she could now order a pizza since she had a stairlift! It’s such a simple thing, but having independence in your home is vital for your physical and mental health.

These are just a few of the benefits of installing a stairlift in your home. Our goal at Next Day Access is to help aging adults and individuals with mobility difficulties feel safe and comfortable at home. We are able to do this because we offer several solutions for accessibility concerns, including stairlifts, wheelchair ramps, porch lifts, and much more. Don’t hesitate to Nous contacter today for all your mobility and accessibility needs.

Medicaid is a state-administered federally controlled health insurance program. It covers vulnerable people from birth to age 65 and beyond. The system and its rules, however, can be confusing, especially if you are attempting to navigate it for a loved one or patient.

Since 1965, Medicaid has provided insurance for families, but its importance rose recently due to the rising costs of medical services and medication. Sadly, the most considerable financial toll is on people who need it the most, including children, disabled people, and aging adults. These individuals depend on Medicaid to afford the services and support they need to have a good quality of life.

Medicaid is an excellent resource for aging adults since it works with Medicare and provides comprehensive coverage. Understanding the nuances of Medicaid like who it covers and who qualifies for coverage, however, can be confusing. Requirements vary from state to state.

What Does Medicaid Cover?

Here are some of the required coverages of Medicaid:

Hospital care
Skilled nursing
In-home care
Doctor’s visits
Preventative care
Wellness screenings
Medical Transportation
Diagnostics

Who Qualifies for Medicaid?

Forty-two states have now adopted the optional Special Income Level standard to qualify for Medicaid. Under the special income rule, people expected to need nursing home care for at least 30 days can earn up to 300% of the Supplemental Security Income Federal Benefit Rate. Many states have set the income level to be $794, which is 100% of the FBR. Other states require individuals to use all of their income for institutionalized long-term care before Medicaid kicks in. Luckily, there are different ways for people who have medical needs to qualify.

Asset Limits and Exemptions

Medicaid is strict with its asset limits of $2000 per applicant, but they allow for some exemptions. For example, if your spouse needs nursing home care, but you plan on staying at home, you may be entitled to keep a certain amount of assets.

The following items are considered assets:

Investments
Cash in bank accounts
Second vehicles or homes
Life insurance policies
Revocable trusts
Certain Annuities

These items are considered exempt assets:

Retirement accounts
A primary vehicle
A primary home
Personal property
Household items

The American Council of Aging offers a state-by-state eligibility guide for further information. You can also find additional support at MedicaidPlanningAssistance.org. This website will help find the income limit by state.

At Next Day Access, we care about aging adults getting the support they need to live their best lives. We offer our support by providing the products they need to help with mobility and accessibility. Nous contacter today to schedule your free in-home complimentary consultation.

Sadly, many people in hospitals or nursing homes receive care that aligns not with their wishes. Aging adults need to voice their end-of-life requests to their families and caretakers. One of the biggest requests by aging adults is the desire to die at home surrounded by loved ones and not in a hospital room. If they express their wishes, the provider may see if palliative care or hospice care can be brought in for at-home treatment.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care exists for patients living with severe illnesses such as heart failure or cancer. It is usually a step before Hospice care. The palliative care team focuses on treatment to provide the medication needed and maintain maximum comfort for the patient. The goals are to enhance the patient’s life by focusing on their quality of life and help release some pressure from caretakers or family. The organized services supplied by this type of care can be helpful to an aging adult.

A patient can receive palliative care along with curative care and may start at the time of diagnosis. Yet, over time if the doctor or palliative team believes ongoing treatment is no longer helping, they can either continue with comfort care or agree to call in hospice care.

What is Hospice?

The website seniorsafetyadvice.com provides an excellent definition of hospice.

Hospice is a type of health care that focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient. They manage the pain and symptoms and attend to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. Hospice care provides an alternative to therapies focused on life-prolonging measures that may be arduous, likely to cause more symptoms, or are not aligned with a person’s goals.

Many people think hospice signals the end, but that is not always the case. Hospice services exist to help within the palliative care space as well. Although palliative care predominately exists for terminally ill individuals, it also treats illness. Even if your doctor says your loved one has a 20% chance of living, your loved one can qualify for palliative care.

Hospice care is beneficial for your loved one and helps the caretakers as well. Once the hospice nurse arrives, you can expect them to help make sure your loved one has all the equipment and medication needed and will then connect you with the appropriate person for the following services. Most hospice nurses, however, perform the following tasks:

Nursing care
Grief counseling
Social Work Services
Clergy visitations
Homemaking assistance
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech-language therapy
Pain management

At Next Day Access, we are here to help you as you go through these challenging days with your loved one or patient. We offer many different devices that help to ensure your loved one is safe and comfortable. We also offer a complimentary consultation to help you determine if you need additional accessibility devices at your home. Nous contacter when you are ready, and we will help.

As we age, we develop normal age-related memory loss, and sometimes our memory loss could relate to lack of sleep or stress. However, sometimes your frequent memory loss could be a sign of premature Alzheimer’s.

Studies show if Alzheimer’s disease is caught early, it can be treated with anti-dementia medication, which slows the progression of the disease. Unfortunately, however, many doctors attribute the signs of Alzheimer’s to getting older and not the disease. Here are some of the differences between normal forgetfulness and Alzheimer’s:

Retrieving Memories

You might have issues remembering things from long ago with normal age-related memory loss. Still, you usually remember something you might have forgotten with aids such as context clues. However, for people battling Alzheimer’s, even recent memories cannot be retrieved.

For example, when diagnosing a patient with Alzheimer’s, the doctor might give them three words. One of the words is “apple.” However, when the doctor asks the patient to repeat the three words, and they cannot repeat them, it could be a sign of Alzheimer’s.

Here is a portion of a summary from the website verywellhealth.com that shares the differences between forgetfulness caused by normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease.

Normal Aging

Memory improves with context clues.
Vocabulary and relationship understanding remains intact.
Able to remember the order of things and who said what.
Aware a memory problem exists.
Functioning remains good despite forgetfulness.

Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

Recent memory is poor, and cueing clues or contexts does not help.
Unaware memory problems exist.
They are frequently demonstrating poor judgment and decision-making.
Often disoriented to time and place
Difficulty with familiar chores
Repetitiveness becomes obvious
Memory intrusions occur

When a loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, we at Next Day Access understand the heartbreak and frustration associated with the diagnosis. We are here for you. We offer numerous Des produits that help people battling Alzheimer’s remain safe in their homes. Nous contacter today to schedule a complimentary consultation.

If you are the caretaker for an aging loved one, you must be vigilant when fall proofing your home. Fall prevention is an essential part of helping prevent falls in aging adults and keeping them safe and healthy.

Aging adults are already at a higher risk of falls due to various age-related risk factors. If a fall occurs, aging adults are at a much higher risk of serious injury and face a more challenging recovery process.

At Accès le lendemain, we offer several accessibility and mobility devices to keep our aging loved ones from falling. Our goal is that your aging loved one can age safely in place.

Here are a few warning signs your loved one might not be as steady on their feet. If you notice any of these signs, we urge you to contact us so we can help.

Warning Signs to Help Prevent Falls in Aging Adults:

A decline in eyesight or hearing

Poor balance when walking, possibly with an uneven gait

Injuries, pain or stiffness in feet, ankles, knees, or hips

Relying on support when walking, sitting down, or getting up

Newly diagnosed conditions such as Parkinson’s, Diabetes, Arthritis, or Hypertension.

Cognitive impairment or dementia

New prescriptions with side effects include drowsiness, muscle weakness, poor balance, poor vision, or dizziness.

Avoid Slip Hazards or Obstacles

Steps without handrails and proper lighting
Showers and bathtubs without a non-slip tread rug
Hard to reach important items
Hallways without proper nighttime lighting
Any loose items or rugs could be a trip hazard

Next Day Access offers almost everything you need to keep your aging loved one safe. We have everything from grab bars for the bathroom, railings for hallways and steps, and even Monte-escaliers and wheelchair ramps. Nous contacter today to set up a complimentary consultation.

When someone has a disability, getting into a pool can be a struggle and unsafe. Pool lifts are assistive aquatic access devices designed for people with disabilities or limited mobility who need help getting into a pool safely.

At Next Day Access, we offer a variety of Ascenseurs de piscine, and we understand deciding which lift is best for you can be confusing. Here are some tips on choosing the right pool lift for your home.

How To Choose a Pool Lift for Your Home

Portable or Fixed?

At times, customers prefer a pool lift that does not require permanent installation. In this case, a portable lift might be best since it can be stored or moved when not in.

If you would rather not worry have to store it, you would likely prefer a fixed pool lift.

What type of disability support will you need?

If you have arthritis or a weakened lower body, you may not need a pool lift with foot and headrests. Most pool lifts are designed for people who lack a full range of motion or control of their limbs. We recommend a chair featuring an armrest, back, neck, and leg support along with a secure belting system.

Weight Capacity

Any ADA-compliant pool lift must support a minimum of 300 pounds. You can, however, find pool lifts designed for bariatric use that will hold up to 450 pounds.

Power Source

You have three options for operating your pool lift. You can opt for a manual lift with a hand crank, a hydraulic lift that harnesses the pool’s water pressure, or a battery-operated lift.

The portable lift is always battery-operated due to its design. If you plug it into a power source between uses, you can recharge the battery. A properly cared for pool lift battery can last up to 5 years.

Aesthetics

You can find pool lifts in various styles, even stylish, sleek, and low-profile versions. People that want to keep their pool deck tranquil usually go for a sleeker pool lift.

Design details such as lift Installation permanence and rotating systems make a difference in the aesthetics of your lift. If an individual needs more support using the pool lift, consider the additional features you will need for the lift.

Next Day Access has many options available to access your spa or pool. Our pool lifts are economical and ADA compliant with sleek, low-profile designs. Nous contacter today if you have additional questions and learn how to choose a pool lift or schedule an installation.

When choosing to rent or buy a ramp the decision can be confusing. An important thing to consider is how long will you need the ramp? If you think you will need it for longer than 6 months many people choose to buy the ramp. If you have a temporary injury and will need the ramp for less than 6 months, you might consider renting the ramp rather than buying it.

However, different situations call for unique solutions. We compiled a checklist of common ramp uses to better explain why you should choose whether to rent or purchase a ramp.

Rent a Ramp

If you are injured and will only need short-term rehabilitation. If doctors believe you will make a full recovery, you will likely only need a ramp temporarily, therefore renting is a better choice in this scenario.
If you are renting your property, it might be better to rent the wheelchair ramp. Most landlords will not pay to have a wheelchair ramp installed on their property.
An end-of-life or hospice situation. If you know your loved one or yourself only have a few more years or months renting is preferable.
You have guests with mobility challenges coming to visit and you would like to accommodate them during their stay.

You are planning a special event. Perhaps you are having a wedding at your home or a family reunion. Whatever the case may be, it will be nice for anyone with difficulty in mobility to enter the house safely.

Buy a Ramp

You might consider purchasing the ramp if it will be used for longer than 6 months.
You or the one needing the ramp owns the property and would like to install a wheelchair ramp to make the home permanently accessible for years to come.

At Next Day Access, we offer a variety of wheelchair ramp styles for you to rent or buy, such as foldable ramps, aluminum ramps, weatherproof ramps, and more. We will deliver and install wheelchair ramps for both residential and commercial customers. You can Nous contacter for a quick quote. You will also receive a free estimate and financing is available if you choose to buy.

Many family caregivers do not get proper training on transferring someone with mobility difficulties from one place to another. For example, one of the most common tasks is to help someone in a wheelchair move safely to a toilet. Thankfully, there are a handful of toilet transfer techniques to help you.

If you do not do the transfer correctly, you could injure yourself or your loved one. We found a few transfer tips from Daily Caring we would like to share with you.

4 Toilet Transfer Techniques for Family Caregivers

Prep the Space

Remove rugs, bathmats, or any other trip hazards in the bathroom in the space you need for transferring.
Move the wheelchair feet out of the way.
Have your body set to perform the transfer.
Move the wheelchair into the proper position and lock the brakes.

Help Them Up From the Wheelchair

Have your loved one scoot up to the edge of the wheelchair and lean forward.
Ask them to either hold your forearms or put their hands on the arms of the wheelchair and push up.
Stand directly in front of them, hold their waist and stand up together, keeping your body stiff and controlled. Use your knees to lower and raise your body. Do not bend over. Bending over is how you could injure your back.
If their legs are not strong, put your knees in front of theirs while they stand. This is called blocking.
If they are weaker on one side, stand on that side to provide additional support.

Sit Them on the Toilet

Using small steps, guide them to pivot and turn 90 degrees and back up until the toilet seat is at the back of their knees.
Help them pull down their pants and undergarments.
Have them bend their knees and easily lower themselves down to the seat. Once again, use your knees to raise and lower your body to avoid injury.
Consider investing in a Bio Bidet. Bio Bidet is known for having the best toilets and toilet seats for all homes. In addition, the cleansing method utilizing a water stream sets them apart from their competition. The Bio Bidet will help ensure that your loved one gets as clean as possible after using the restroom.

Return to the Wheelchair

Get them to move forward on the toilet seat and lean towards you.
Ask them to hold your forearms and push up.
Stand close to them so you can hold on to their waist while you both stand.
Using small steps helps them pivot 90 degrees again and back to the wheelchair. But, first, make sure the brakes are still locked on the wheelchair.
Once they feel the wheelchair seat at the back of their legs, they slowly return to a seated position. You will need to hold their waist as they take a seat.

Essential Safety Tips for Transfer

Never try to pull an older adult up.
Bend from the waist.
Do not let them hold on to towel bars or toilet paper holders, as these could be non-sturdy and cause them to slip.
Make sure they do not hold you by the shoulders or the neck. This will help to prevent injury.

At Next Day Access, anyone with difficulty in mobility can find products to help keep them safe at home and on the go. For the bathroom specifically, we offer Toilet Support Arms, Grab Bars, Drive Commode Chairs, Bio Bidets, and more. Nous contacter to see the many ways we can help improve your life.

Getting an older patient to bathe can be a struggle for many family caregivers. The biggest concerns are if they do not bathe, they could develop infections, produce a strong odor, or become aggravatingly itchy.

Harvard Health recommends showering or bathing at minimum several times a week. Here are a few tips for bathing aging adults to keep them healthy and clean while minimizing stress.

3 Tips for Bathing Aging Adults

Make sure the environment is safe

Use a handheld shower device to avoid spraying them in the face.
Make sure the bath water is at a comfortable temperature.
Make sure these are Barres d'appui in the tub. Next Day Access offers an assortment of grab bars and can install them in the correct areas to help older adults feel steadier when they enter the bathroom.
Use a shower chair to help aging adults that have trouble sitting in the tub.
Keep the bathroom floor clean and dry to help avoid falls.
If your patient does not already have a walk-in tub speak to the family about the importance of installing one. Next Day Access has a conversion kit that can be installed quickly and makes it easier for aging adults to enter the tub.

Set up a portable shower for patients

There are several new ways to get a patient to bathe even if that means installing a portable shower in a room. With a portable shower, they can stay in their wheelchair and easily roll into the shower area.

The portable shower has its own drain and an easy set-up process. A portable shower could ease patients’ concern over bathroom safety, and they will likely be glad they do not have to leave their wheelchairs.

Consider opting for a sponge bath

Bathing and showering are the best ways to clean the body, but if this is not possible, a sponge bath is a good alternative solution. Here’s a helpful step-by-step guide on how to give a sponge bath.

Gather all the supplies you will need and make sure your older adult is nice and warm.
Start from the face and head and move down the body. Clean the private areas last.
For privacy and warmth uncover only the body part that is being washed.
Be sure to use gentle strokes. Remind yourself their skin is far more sensitive.
Use a different washcloth for each area so you do not transfer dirt by using dirty washcloths. Remember, the goal is to get them as clean as they would get from an actual shower or bath.

We hope these tips will help you have an easier time bathing your loved one or patient. At Next Day Access, we have everything you need to ensure aging adults living in place will feel safe not only in their bathroom but throughout the house. Nous contacter today for a complimentary in-home consultation.