Vision Loss Defined 23.7 million American adults ages 18 or older experience some form of vision loss (American Foundation for the Blind). Vision loss, as opposed to complete blindness, refers to those who still encounter vision issues and difficulty performing everyday activities while using glasses, contact lenses or any other corrective lens (National Eye Institute).… Read more »
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Osteoporosis Defined and Home Modifications for Safer Living
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that results in fragile bones because “the body loses too much bone, makes too little bone, or both,” according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF). Because of the weakness in the bones, a range of circumstances, from falls to sneezes and bumps in serious cases, can cause breaks. Source: International… Read more »
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Maximizing Functionality with SCI
More than 1.2 million Americans are living with paralysis from spinal cord injuries (Reeve Foundation). What is a spinal cord injury? According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, spinal cord injury (SCI) is the result of a bruise (contusion) or a tear (transection) in the spinal cord from a traumatic injury. It is estimated that… Read more »
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Honoring Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month
July is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Juvenile arthritis (JA) occurs when children have inflammation in their joints. Similar to adults, children can develop various kinds of arthritis, but the most common type is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases). About 300,000 children in the United States live with juvenile… Read more »
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Home Modification Tips to Help Address Depression in Seniors
Depression is an ever-growing and very serious mental disorder that affects the lives of more than 300 million people across the globe (World Health Organization). More than two million Americans age 65 and older suffer from some form of depression (Mental Health America). A recent article in New Life Outlook discusses ideas how to… Read more »
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Join in on National Safety Month!
Aging in place is becoming more popular over the years, with nearly 90 percent of seniors now saying they want to stay in their home as long as possible (Right at Home®). At the same time, that means the need for safety in the home is ever increasing. In honor of National Safety Month, we… Read more »
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Improving Bathroom Safety with Shower Chairs
Realizing you or someone you know could benefit from bathroom modifications such as shower chairs or tub benches is only the start to improving functionality and safety in the bathroom. Now that you’re ready for the next steps, we’d like to walk you through some of the considerations to keep in mind when choosing what… Read more »
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Safer Living with Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorders in older American adults, increasing as the population ages. Currently, nearly one million people in the United States live with Parkinson’s (Parkinson’s Disease Foundation). As the disease progresses, so do the difficulties of daily activities at home due to tremors in limbs and the… Read more »
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The Rising Need for Bathroom Modifications
From slippery surfaces to sharp corners, bathrooms can be considered one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. Especially for older adults with limited mobility, these surfaces can make seating transfers, showering and toileting even more difficult. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2.5 million older people are treated in emergency… Read more »
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Breathe Easier with Home Modifications
Pulmonary issues refer to the lungs, affecting breathing which may prevent the body from getting enough oxygen (Office on Women’s Health). Because of these issues, common side effects include wheezing, chronic cough, shortness of breath and a tightness in your chest. The American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. (AOTA) offers these tips to living at home with… Read more »