Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, August 20, 1995 TAG: 9508220011
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LUCIA HERNDON KNIGHT-RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
For millions of people, helping aging parents and relatives maintain an independent life is a daily concern. How do you make home-sweet-home home-safe-home?
Lots of ways, according to Michael Cheikin, medical director at Chestnut Hill Rehabilitation Hospital and chief of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Chestnut Hill Hospital in Philadelphia.
And don't think it requires wheelchair ramps and other costly renovations. It can be as simple as rearranging the furniture or getting rid of area rugs that can be slippery underfoot.
``I tell people who like to compare this to childproofing a house that there are differences,'' said Cheikin, a physiatrist, or specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation. ``You childproof a house because a baby doesn't know what's safe and not safe.'' In elderproofing a house, ``you're changing the physical environment so [adults] can continue to function.''
The chief goal of safeproofing is to prevent falls, which are especially dangerous for the elderly. Falls occur because ``the environment was not right, or the person was not right,'' said Cheikin. Aging can contribute to falls. Getting older sometimes means poor vision, poor balance, weakness in the legs. There may be side effects of medications, or heart problems, or loss of sensation in the legs and feet due to diabetes or alcohol. ``Lots of elderly people use alcohol to `self-medicate' some of their physical and emotional problems,'' said Cheikin.
But while tending to the physical causes of falls, many people forget to correct the environmental ones. Cheikin recommends that the elderly survey room by room and make changes.
Bathroom. A dangerous place with all those metal fixtures and tiled surfaces. Consider installing safety bars near the toilet and in the bathtub area. If you have a shower stall, use that instead of the bathtub. ``Or if you really like a tub, get a bath bench to sit on while in the tub.'' And of course, use a nonslip bath mat, and replace your area rug with a nonskid kind.
Kitchen. Falls often result from reaching for things on high shelves. Rearrange items in your cabinets to be within easy reach. Sit down while doing kitchen tasks.
Bedrooms. Again, make sure you have nonskid rugs. Sit down while dressing. Make sure that furniture is placed for easy navigation. Don't string electrical cords across the floor. ``If you have to get up in the middle of the night, you should be able to get around the room without tripping over a chair or tripping over an electrical cord,'' Cheikin said.
Stairwells. Make sure they are well-lit, and consider installing a handrail.
If you have an elderly parent living with you, consider installing a baby monitor in his or her room.
In addition, Cheikin reminds the elderly to take care when outside. Encourage them to walk during daylight hours and look for sidewalk depressions to avoid tripping over curbs. Make sure that elderly people's shoes fit properly; if necessary, see that the elderly person uses a cane or walker.
Sometimes it can be hard to convince a parent that these modifications are needed. No one likes to think he or she is losing the ability to do all the things once taken for granted. Making changes requires relatives to be respectful of fears and emotions.
``Find a person whom the parent trusts to convey the message of making changes,'' said Cheikin. ``Sometimes they'll listen if their doctor tells them rather than a daughter.''
Another technique is to point out to an aging relative that it makes more sense to rearrange things than to retreat from life. ``Once a person falls, they often are fearful of falling again,'' said Cheikin. ``So they start curtailing their activities, avoiding going places that require they negotiate stairs, curbs. Appeal to them by saying that using a cane or installing a handrail in the bathroom will help them function better.''
Lots of people see a wheelchair as the end of mobility, said Cheikin. ``But if you let them know that a wheelchair will enable them to participate in family events again, it might not sound so bad.''
Lack of safety is usually the deciding factor in placing an elderly person in a nursing home, said Cheikin. ``If you can improve safety, you can improve the chances that a person can remain independent and at home.''
by CNB