A recent family reunion to celebrate Grandmas 90th Birthday got me thinking:
How can we make Grandma more comfortable as she remains in her own home?
During our family reunion trip to see Grandma- My grandma said numerous times every day, "I don't ever want to go to a nursing home". Home is where most folks feel comfortable, their lives are filled with daily routines. When the routine is broken, there is a breakdown of spirit and happiness for many. Hearing and seeing my Grandma go through her daily routines and being a member of the National Aging In Place Council organization, I wanted to focus our weekly "Stay at Home" blog on how to keep Grandma (or anyone for that matter) comfortable in their own homes as they age.
Below are some things to pay attention to when helping a loved one or neighbor "Stay at Home" comfortably and safely:
1) Medication management: this is teh number #1 reason that people can not stay in their own home and need to move to assisted living. One solution is to purchase an automatic pill dispenser that is locked until meds are dispensed at set times. A loud alarm and blinking light let's people know it's time for their meds. This item can be purchased for only $69.95 at www.rmmedicalsales.com/pill-reminder.html
2) Food: Upon inspection of Grandma's fridge, there was nothing fresh-in fact many expired items and half eaten food filled her fridge. A daily or bi-wekly care giver visit would go a long way to keeping up healthy eating habits.
3) Care Giver: There are many avenues to find a local care giver. Check with the national Aging in Place for quality organizations at www.naipc.org
4) Laundry: Unclutter all the items that go unused for a year or more! Education or "re education" on how to properly use the washer and dryer may be needed. Services can take out and launder or care givers can assist with laundy in the home.
5) Wandering Wristbands: these items are a must if there are any signs of dementia. They are worn like a regular wrist watch, are surprisingly affordable and can be found at: www.mediband.com/.../2008/01/17/wristbands-for-dementia-patients
6) Communication devices: Cell phones and I Pads etc... are a great way to keep in touch with Grandma or your loved one. Technology is changing rapidly and it's easy to have a face to face chat from long distance.
7) Construction Services: Light remodeling, small ramps, neutral thresholds, non slip flooring, improved plumbing fixtures, door and cabinet hardware, new appliances and much more can be a blessing in keeping Grandma navigating around her home. In Minnesota or Wisconsin, contact Lake Country Builders at www.lakecountrybuilders.com for these and more construction services.
8) Estate planners, lawyers and mortgage specialists: Sooner rather than later is the time to think about these services!
Conclusion: It's been said that most people take more time to plan a vacation than the aging of loved ones or themselves. Take action now to help Grandma stay in her own home safe and comfortably. The average cost of assisted living facilities can be $10,000 per month or more.

The National Aging in Place Chapter of Minneapolis, Minnesota (NAIPC) is a new group  Lake Country Builders is a member of and participates in. The chapter has grown to over 3 dozen members. The membership has broken into "sub committees". June 11th, Lake Country Builders sub committee is part of an "ageless presentation" on Universal Living and Universal Design with the mission of helping people "Stay at Home" as they age or acquire disabilities. We will focus on the top 10 remodel ideas that help seniors and their care givers in their own homes. If you have aging parents or are concerned about someone else, attend the meeting. Improvements and remodeling for accessible living builds equity in your home and is less costly than a few months in a care facility. In many cases, universal design/"Stay at Home" improvements are funded by insurance companies, government agencies etc... Call Lake Country Builders, the "Stay at Home" experts for a free initial consultation today!

Rethinking our Homes for Aging in Place
   
The desire for independence is natural and ninety-five percent of adults 75 and older want to stay in their homes. The earlier you start to make decisions and incorporate Universal Designs in your home the better. Life happens. As our day to day lives continue to race by we need to take the time to rethink our home so we can
“age in  place”. It’s like saving for retirement, those changes and/or design plans will be in place for when the time comes.

Take a moment to browse online at the many design options available.  Here at
Lake Country Builders, STAY AT HOME, Inc. we are excited to continue forward with our clients in helping them with these changes and introducing new clients to the possibilities.  A little forethought during the “design & planning” stages can be your best investment of both time and money if you want to live happily ever after in your home.

There are many publications out now focused on Universal Design in Interior Design.  STAY AT HOME, Inc. is proud to be listed with the NAIPC ( National Aging in Place Council)  as a Service Provider for Interior Design and Home Remodeling.

Recommended reading on this topic can be found on their website. www.ageinplace.org


 
 

Helping People with Dementia to Stay at Home:

Recently,  Lake Country Builders interviewed for a project involving Alzheimers residents. I found myself in unfamiliar territory and wondered what is  Alzheimers and how is it different from other unfamiliar diseases such as Dementia? Below is a summary of research and information for our weekly Stay At Home Blog:

It can happen at any age -that's what people don't realize.  People in their 50's die from it all of the time.  There are 38 types of Dementia and Alzheimer's. Alzheimers and Dementia are basically two generic names given to them all. You cannot know which type of Dementia someone has unless they have their brain opened after death. Most often, this doesn’t happen and the disease remains mysterious and misunderstood.

 With dementia, it is progressive and more and more brain goes missing- at some point your body starts to forget certain life things- like how to turn on a faucet, how to brush your teeth, go to the bathroom.

 In fact, death occurs because your body will forget how to breathe, etc. Pretty scary stuff!

Dementia is one of the biggest health and social care challenges of our generation. Yet, as  reports  show, we are failing to address it effectively.  

The next question worth wondering is, Can people with Alzheimers and Dementia remain in their homes with this disease?

While staying at home is not right for everyone we know many people want to remain in the familiar surroundings they are used to with family or loved ones. Only with the right support and improvements in the home will this be possible.

Many people are happier if they can remain independent and in their own homes as long as possible.

Helping people with dementia to live at home and preventing them from needing to go into hospitals could save 127 million a year, according to a report launched by Healthcare at Home today.

To achieve this, it may be necessary to make some adaptions to their homes or to use new equipment and/or assistive technology that has been designed to enable people with dementia to remain independent for longer or make it easier for others to give support.

There are several options for extending care at home:

• In-home help refers to caregivers that you can hire to provide assistance for your loved one. In-home help ranges from help a few hours a week to live-in help, depending on your needs. You’ll want to evaluate what sort of tasks you’d like help with, how much you can afford to spend, and what hours you need. Getting help with basic tasks like housekeeping, shopping, or other errands can also help you provide more focused care for your loved one.
• Day programs, also called adult day care, are programs that typically operate weekdays and offer a variety of activities and socialization opportunities. They also provide the chance for the caregiver to continue working or attend to other needs. There are some programs that specialize in dementia care.
• Respite care. Respite care is short-term care where your loved one stays in a facility temporarily. This gives the caregiver a block of time to rest, travel or attend to other things. This gives time for in home improvements to be made by a certified remodeler and when the person in need returns to their home-they are more comfortable and happy.

***Call Lake Country Builders, Stay At Home division for a team evaluation of your site at 952-474-7121.

Our Stay at Home division of Lake Country Builders is involved in an exciting concept!

 Couples or singles that are aging or that have specific needs have an alternative consideration to a nursing home type facility.

Larger homes that are built on spacious lots are becoming care facilities that offer peace and comfort far beyond a nursing home facility at similar expense. Picture yourself or your loved one in need relaxing in a comfortable chair with an ottoman under your feet enjoying a best seller read by the fireplace. Other residents may be enjoying a home cooked appetizer at the kitchen island while others look through old photo albums in the family room. These are realities, not dreams as a new concept is sweeping the area.

These larger, comfortable homes are being retrofitted with elevators and slightly remodeled to accommodate care staffers, cooks, attendants etc…Couples (or singles) have private bedroom retreats with their own private bathrooms. Family members and grandchildren are more comfortable visiting a comfortable home rather than a nursing home facility. It’s a win-win situation for everyone!

These  comfortable Stay at Home retreats are Universally designed to accommodate aging in place needs or specific needs residents. If you have aging parents, consider this peaceful alternative in Minnesota. Contact Lake Country Builders to find out more about these distinctively unique and real possibilities.