By Anna Hazard
Introduction
With the upcoming Valentine's Day celebrations focusing on metaphorical hearts, here are an assortment of simple-to-make beverage recipes that will benefit the drinker's physical body & heart. Finished drinks will be Valentine's themed using associated shapes, tastes, and natural colors such as pinks, purples, and reds.
Most drinks will be suitable for children through seniors as well as for people who may have trouble chewing or swallowing. A further focus will be on fresh seasonal produce and other all natural ingredients (with no added salt or refined sugars) that should be easy to obtain locally even during the winter months.
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By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Getting into, out of, and maneuvering inside the shower or tub is one of the most common causes for falls, accidents, and injuries suffered while in the bathroom. This is particularly dangerous for seniors (who often may have balancing issues as well as greater liability for injury due to more fragile bones & lack of musculature) as well as those who have other mobility issues.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention cites that around 1/3rd of all senior injuries happen within the shower or bath. Thus remodeling the bathing area (whether for a shower or bath tub) should be one of the highest priorities when it comes to making a home more accessible, safer, and aging in place friendly. Here are a selection of general tips & recommendations applicable for improving safety & accessibility in both shower and bath tub style bathing areas
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
In order to lower the potential risk of tripping and falling within the bedroom, proper lighting should be installed throughout. This would include having ambient lighting from diffused sources in order to minimize glare as well as having adjustable task lighting over high-use areas such as desks, computers, dressing and reading areas (including the bed, if that is where reading & other tasks are done).
Like in the other areas of the house, light fixtures should be installed in locations with easy access for light bulb replacement and the lights themselves should be aimed downward instead of horizontally to help reduce the production of shadows and to further illuminate any potential tripping hazards. In addition, the walls of the bedroom should be painted in light colors in order to help further brighten the room as well as minimize potential shadows. In particular the glare from undiffused lighting or other reflective surfaces can cause visual acuity problems. This can be particularly dangerous when traversing the room if there isn't sufficient contrast between the flooring and walls.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction (General Flooring)
When it comes to flooring in the bedroom the focus should be on varieties that will minimize the risk of slipping or sliding by both humans and furniture. This is a particular concern due to the bedroom being one of the higher fall risk areas within the entire household.
Otherwise, much like the rest of the home, the flooring here should be easy to maintain & clean and all parts of it (whether it be carpet, laminate, or other floor boards) should be properly fastened down so that no edges or bulges pose as a tripping hazard. In addition. the bedroom floor in particular should be comfortable to walk over when barefoot while also being easy to traverse while using a variety of mobility equipment from canes to rolled walkers to wheelchairs. While the floor color should contrast against the wall colors in order to help define the edges of the rooms, highly contrasting or intricate patterning should be avoided on both carpets & hard floors as they can sometimes cause visual acuity and depth perception problems especially amongst those who may be suffering from Alzheimer's or dementia
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Besides the bed, care should be taken that the other furniture and equipment within the bedroom remains safe and easily accessible to those who may have limited mobility as well as various strength or other health conditions. In addition to larger pieces of furniture there are also an assortment of smaller accessories as well as electronics that can be added to the room to make it more aging in place friendly.
While many of these items would fall under the blanket description of ableware that has been specifically tailored for seniors or the disabled, there's also a plethora of commonly available & more general use gadgets that would also be beneficial to include.
By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
The second part of our series on smartphone apps for caregivers and other busy holiday planners focuses on holiday themed games & other app based recreational activities that are suitable for relaxation, stress relief, or entertainment with a festive flair. These apps have been rated as proven hits with adults and should also be suitable for entertaining seniors.
All apps are free to use but many can be updated to a more premium version that removes all ads or unlocks more advanced features. Apps
By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the Series
Part 2 - Holiday Games & Activities for Stress Relief
Introduction
Here are a selection of iOS and Android compatible apps that can be helpful for caregivers and other busy planners during the winter holiday season. The focus in this section is on smartphone compatible programs that will help with the various parts of organization & holiday planning (from automated gift lifts to Christmas specific recipe compendiums) as well as a few programs to help create a more festive ambiance on the user's own device.
All apps are free to use but many can be updated to a more premium version that removes all ads or unlocks more advanced features. Apps
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Previous studies have indicated that the bed and other bedroom related furniture are a the cause of a high percentage of home related injuries after accidents suffered in the kitchen and bathroom. This is particularly so for seniors who tend to spend more time in the bedroom and are already prone to injuries and accidents due to frailer health, to the point that more than 300,000+ seniors over the age of 65 are treated in emergency rooms per year due to bedroom related accidents.
Due to this, special care should be taken when it comes to choosing the proper furniture for an aging in place or accessible bedroom.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Aging in place successfully requires that one's current home is redecorated, retrofitted, or remodeled so that it remains accessible and safe as the user ages and their health & mobility potentially deteriorates. This is particularly essential for the main bedroom as it's one of the most well-used and thus important rooms within the entire household and thus should be one of the first locations remodeled for accessibility and safety.
Of all the rooms, a bulk of a person's time is spent within their personal bedroom whether sleeping or otherwise resting, preparing for the day or night, or while simply reading or using the computer. Those who may have fragile health or who may even become bedridden will be spending a proportionately greater time there as well. In general, seniors tend to spend more and more time within the bedroom as the years advance.
By Anna Hazard
View the Rest of the SeriesIntroduction
Here are a selection of further senior appropriate activities, events, and other suggestions for helping to alleviate feelings of loneliness and social isolation that can commonly occur as one ages. The focus is on more Maryland specific resources, but similar organizations & events should be available in various states throughout the country.
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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. |