By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
While the stay-at-home directives for combating the spread of the coronavirus may have disrupted normal fitness routines through the closures of gyms, parks, and other common exercise locations, there are still plenty of work out options available when it comes to sheltering-in-place. In particular many gyms and work-out classes are being freely livestreamed or posted on-line through related websites and social media. This includes many courses and other options that would normally be available through paid registration only.
Here are a sampling of free livestreams, on demand videos, and other offerings to cover a wide range of solo & group exercise options including yoga, dance, body weight training, as well as aerobics & other general fitness.
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By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
With the coronavirus lockdown and stay-at-home orders in effect, a large percentage of the population will find themselves spending far more time indoors within their own households that they may be used to. Here are a collection of fun & educational websites focusing on entertainment to help stave off any budding cabin fever. All sites are free to access with a focus on providing visual, auditory, and mental stimulation.
Entertainment
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
The bathroom is usually one of the brightest lit rooms within the household due to its function as a main place for grooming and viewing oneself in the mirror. However, this room also tends to be one of the smaller enclosed areas which brings its own considerations in counterpoint to many of the other larger rooms. While a smaller area may be easier to light up uniformly, placing lights in accessible locations while in such tight corners can prove to be more difficult.
When it comes to lighting in the bathroom, these particular circumstances, tips, and recommendations should be kept in mind.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
According to the Center of Disease Control, around 235,000 non-fatal injuries are suffered in the bathroom per year within the USA with over 80% directly caused by falling. This is often due to the slippery surface of the room's waterproof flooring. Thus remodeling the bathroom floor for greater safety and accessibility should be a priority when it comes to preparing a household for aging in place, especially as 80% of all falls by those aged 65+ also occur in the bathroom (with an estimate of around 1/3rd of the senior population potentially suffering a fall during the year).
Flooring can be measured with a dynamic coefficient of friction whereby the higher the number, the better the slip resistance. For the bathroom, a coefficient of 0.42 or higher will be needed. While the ceramic tile industry has adopted these friction ratings for safety reasons, other materials are optimally recommended for floor use in the bathroom.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Grab bars are a necessity within the bathroom when it comes to aging in place as they can help prevent many falls and subsequent injuries within the area. In particular, the bathroom is the source of around 80% of the falls taken by 1 in 3 seniors every year within the USA (with a full 30-50% of those falls being avoidable as they were caused by environmental factors such as slippery surfaces, tripping hazards, poor lighting etc).
Due to this, installing grab bars and other safety features within the room should be one of the first procedures done when making a household more accessible.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Here are a selection of inexpensive & easy to make DIY sensory toys that have a St. Patrick's day theme (which includes rainbows, pots of gold, shamrocks & clover, as well as other suitably green tinted recipes & tutorials). Crafts range from various varieties of doughs suitable for tactile, olfactory, and gustatory stimulation as well as visual bottles, bags, and balls for more convenient and less messy play.
In particular, sensory toys are recommended for their therapeutic effect on kids, seniors, caregivers and others in need of stress relief, patients with dementia or Alzheimer's, as well as those with arthritis and other hand issues.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
As one ages, it's pretty typical that a person may require larger bathroom storage including shelving & cabinets in order to accommodate more equipment. This would include the storage of common bathroom ableware or daily living aids for bathing or grooming as well as medical or health related devices (such as toiletry aids, extended reach bath sponges, transfer benches & other adjustable seating etc).
Here are a selection of tips & advice for remodeling, retrofitting, or simply tweaking a bathroom's storage, shelving, and cabinets to better fall within the guidelines of accessibility & universal design for properly aging in place.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Using the toilet and using the nearby sink should go hand-in-hand due to hygienic reasons and thus the bathroom sink & vanity is an area of the household that will also be used multiple times a day by every inhabitant in the household.
Similar to the kitchen sink & counter, the bathroom sink & vanity should also be adjusted to be properly accessible for aging in place. This should be done early on in the retrofitting or remodeling process along with the tub/shower and toilet due to their frequent use and the severity of the problems that may occur if the sink is not accessible after the user's health or mobility has deteriorated.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Another main area of concern when it comes to accessibility and universal design in the bathroom centers around the ease of use and safety of the toilet. The toilet is one of the most commonly used features within the bathroom, normally requiring multiple visits throughout the day, and can be somewhat tricky to navigate for those with mobility limitations or other health conditions. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Management, around 14% of the 235,000 emergency room visits that occur per year due to injuries suffered while in the bathroom occur while the person is using the toilet.
Here are a variety of general suggestions & tips for improving the function and safety of the toilet commode and surrounding area within the bathroom.
By Anna Hazard
Barrier Free Showers
For aging in place, the most accessible type of bathing area is a barrier-free shower stall (also known as a curbless, roll-in, or walk-in shower). These types of installations have no lip or raised edge at their entrance so they are completely level with the rest of the bathroom floor.
This means that a walker, wheelchair, or transfer chair can be rolled straight into them for easy access and positioning which is especially beneficial for those with more limited mobility. For wheelchair use the entrance to the shower should be a minimum of 36" wide and its interior should be at least 36" x 60" (with more clearance space making maneuvering in a bathing wheelchair or other mobility aid far easier). |
AboutNews updates, tips, and guides on senior care, senior health, stress relief and a host of other caregiving related topics from the professionals at Ella Stewart Care. |