18 / 56
A Balancing Act
SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP SENIORS SEE
THE NEED FOR HOME MODIFICATIONS
It’s a question caregivers face
on a daily basis. How do we
balance between too much
and too little care? What is
too little? What is too much?
How do we balance what we
think needs to be done with
what might be most helpful?
INVESTIGATE AND
RAISE AWARENESS
As you begin to approach the topic
of home modifications, the best
first step is to build a list of helpful
resources. If you’ve ever tried to
find particular products or home
contractors for general work, you
know how difficult this process
can be. Who do you trust? What is
the right price? Who have others
used before? A caregiver can really
help to facilitate this process.
Community resources, like
area offices on aging, can be
enormously helpful and are good
places to start. These offices may
be knowledgeable about products
and local services that can help
with home modifications and offer
referrals on aging resources – both
subsidized and private. Geriatric
care managers are other possible
resources. Sometimes, resources
may be in your own back yard.
Neighbors and friends who have
successfully adopted changes can
be great resources for information.
ASSESSING
While a professional who
specializes in aging in place is the
best person to provide a complete
assessment, there certainly are
things caregivers can do to begin
the process. While it may not be
complete, information you uncover
will be enormously helpful when a
professional sought out.
Carefully observe and look out for
any changes in the home and with
the care recipient.
Questions to consider asking
• What kinds of things are
they having difficulty doing
at home?
• What are they not doing
It’s not just the ill, but the “well elderly” who
experience the effects of aging. Aging affects
vision, mobility, dexterity and endurance.
Arthritis or other degenerative diseases may
make it difficult to do the things one used
to do. This usually translates into some very
real and practical problems at home. The
three most common problems are: getting
in and out of the house; using the bathroom;
and going up and down the stairs. Because
most people are unaware that simple home
modifications can alleviate these problems,
many develop coping strategies to stay
in their homes, but put them at risk for
accidents or injury.
As an occupational therapist who works
in a county office in aging, I see attempts
at this balancing act on a daily basis. Some
are successful, some not, but all are well
intended. While an occupational therapist
has specialized skills and expertise to match
an environment to a person’s abilities, there
are simple steps lay caregivers can use to
approach the topic of home modifications
and begin to make recommendations for
change.
1. Investigate and Raise Awareness
2. Assess the Situation
3. Consult a Professional
18
H OWA R D C O U N T Y C A R E G I V E R G U I D E