High Blood Pressure and Cold Weather

"Cold weather has been proven to increase blood pressure in the elderly. It's important to monitor blood pressure during cold weather and treat it accordingly." (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

Recent studies have shown that cold weather increases blood pressure in elderly people. For some the change is slight, while in others it can be significant. Scientists are just starting to understand this relationship.

In some people, cold weather interferes with the body’s ability to regulate body temperature. Part of this system involves the constriction and dilation of different blood vessels in the body. If vessels constrict without need or too aggressively, blood pressure can spike. Sometimes the body keeps too much fluid in the blood, increasing blood volume and again increasing blood pressure. When a person is cold, the blood vessels in the extremities contract, limiting the space the blood can flow within the body. This can also raise a person’s blood pressure.  In others, cold weather causes emotional stress as a result of the uncomfortable physical sensations brought about by being cold. That emotional stress can lead to reactions in the body that constrict blood vessels and increase heart rate, leading to higher blood pressure.

Some elderly people will experience more than one of these issues, or a combination of all of them. Since higher blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke or heart attack in older people, it’s very important to keep an eye on blood pressure during colder weather and to immediately treat any changes that put a person at risk.

Walk In Tubs and High Blood Pressure

Walk in tubs can aid in the control of blood pressure in a few ways. First, walk in tubs offer full body soaks, and that type of bath is the best way to warm a person and increase their core body temperature. The effect of a warm bath on core body temperature can last for hours after a person has finished a soak in their walk in tub. Increasing an elderly person’s core body temperature can help mitigate the changes in the body that cold weather facilitates which in turn can lead to smaller elevations in blood pressure or perhaps no changes at all.

Secondly, a full body soak in a walk in bathtub is extremely enjoyable and relaxing. Helping a person relax can negate the negative emotional effects of cold weather and help a person lower their stress level. Any blood pressure increases caused by that stress may also dissipate.

In addition, full body soaks in walk in tubs can aid in circulation to the extremities and to the surface of the skin by causing dilation of the blood vessels in these areas, which can also help to lower blood pressure.

Of course, every person is unique and may respond differently to warm soaks in walk in tubs, and no one treatment is the right answer for everyone. As such, it’s extremely important to consult a doctor before embarking upon any regimen designed to combat cold-induced high blood pressure in elderly people.

Core Temperature Drops and Cold Weather

"Elderly people are more sensitive to cold and less able to mitigate changes in temperature than younger people. It's important that they have all the tools necessary to maintain a healthy core body temperature." (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

Elderly people are more sensitive to and are less able to mitigate changes in temperature as well as younger people for a couple of reasons.

Firstly, the biochemical processes that help control body temperature just don’t work as well in older people as they do in younger people. Secondly, older people have less body fat and less muscle mass than younger people. Body fat and muscle tissue act as insulation in the body and help retain body heat. When a person has less of both, drops in temperature – even moderate ones – can significantly affect the rate at which an older person loses heat and the rate at which their core body temperature falls. Lastly, as people age, their skin becomes thinner and looser, increasing the overall surface area and increasing the rate at which heat is transferred out of the body. As a result, older people lose heat more quickly than younger people and are more susceptible to outside temperature changes.

These combined susceptibilities can result in the onset of Hypothermia in an older person at temperatures that would not trigger it in a younger person. Hypothermia is a condition where a person’s core body temperature drops below safe levels and results in the malfunction of internal body systems. Hypothermia is extremely dangerous and in an elderly person, it can quickly become deadly. Symptoms of hypothermia include disorientation, confusion, fatigue, shivering, slurred speech, sleepiness, memory loss, irregular heartbeat, numbness in the extremities and cool or pale skin.

Walk In Bathtubs and Core Body Temperature

It’s pretty obvious that a long, full body soak in a warm walk in bathtub can raise a person’s core body temperature. One of the first treatments for a patient with hypothermia is the slow and steady raising of body temperature to help the body normalize its internal functions. Depending on the situation, this is usually accomplished with heated blankets, heated liquid compresses like hot water bottles, heating pads and hot baths.

Without a doubt, the best “treatment” for hypothermia is preventing it from happening in the first place. Hot baths in a walk in tub accompanied by sufficient room heat, heated blankets, warm, dry clothing and hot food and beverages go a long way in keeping an elderly person’s core body temperature at a healthy and safe level. Whenever temperatures dip suddenly in your area (especially if they are below 65 degrees), it is imperative that you check on elderly loved ones to be sure they are dressed appropriately (layers of warm, moisture wicking fabric are best), have adequate heat and access to warm blankets, are remembering to eat and drink (preferably warm food and liquids), and are taking their medications as scheduled. If they are lucky enough to have access to a walk in tub, you will want to make sure they take full advantage of its benefits as well.

If you suspect that an elderly person may be suffering from hypothermia, call 911 immediately and ask for specific instructions on what you should do to help while you wait for emergency personnel to arrive. Only trained health professionals should determine the course of action for a person suffering from hypothermia and their assistance is immediately required in these situations.

Slips, Falls and Cold Weather

"Cold weather leads to snowy, icy or wet surfaces which in turn can cause slips and falls, so precautions need to be taken wherever possible to help the elderly avoid injury during colder months." (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

One of the most common causes of injury in elderly people is slipping and falling. Cold weather is often accompanied by snow or ice, which in themselves pose serious hazards outside when older folks or folks with limited mobility try to negotiate icy or snowy walkways, sidewalks or stairs. But cold weather outside can also effect the elderly inside, particularly in the kitchen and bathroom.

Shoes that have melted ice, snow or rain on them are more slippery than those that are dry. Walking into a kitchen or bathroom (which usually have smooth, water-resistant floor surfaces like tile, wood, marble or linoleum) wearing wet shoes can lead to sudden slips and falls.

Limbs that are cold can often be numb, and this may affect a person’s ability to properly sense where the floor is under their feet or to get a firm grip on a railing. This is particularly true of steps and uneven thresholds, and can lead to trips and falls.

Walk In Tubs and Slips and Falls

Walk in bathtubs from Safety Tubs® have built in safety bars that help a person balance and support their weight as they enter and exit a tub. For a cold person who needs to warm up and has partially or fully numb hands and/or feet, this is an extremely helpful safety precaution. Warm full body soaks in a walk in bathtub help a person regain warmth and feeling in their limbs, allowing them to more safely navigate stairs or thresholds.

Other precautions include making sure that an elderly person who is mobile outside does not walk on pavements or stairs or other pathways that are not clear of ice or snow. Ideally, they should always walk with someone else who can be there to lend them support or help them avoid a fall. They should always be dressed appropriately to be sure they stay warm and comfortable and should wear solid, warm footwear that has excellent tread and grip, even in snow.

Once inside, footwear should be wiped and dried before walking fully into the house, or it should be taken off and exchanged for dry, warm, non-slip slippers, shoes or boots. Seats or benches right next to doors that allow people to easily change footwear is an excellent idea, so long as it does not hinder movement or block walkways or pose a tripping hazard.

Sources:

http://www.emaxhealth.com/28/9057.html

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/01/090112201031.htm

http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=13804835

http://www.ehow.com/list_7549299_tips-elderly-care-cold.html

1. Drink Less Alcohol
2. Get a Better Education
3. Get a Better Job
4. Get Fit
5. Lose Weight
6. Manage Debt
7. Manage Stress
8. Quit Smoking
9. Save Money
10. Take a Trip
11. Volunteer to Help Others

This list got the folks here at FreeStyle Magazine thinking, “What can we do to help people accomplish these goals, or at least get them on the right track?” We put our heads together, brainstormed a bit, and kept coming back to the following idea:

Purchase a walk-in bathtub.

And yes, we know exactly what you are thinking: “Well, of course they’re going to say that!” or “What the heck do walk-in bathtubs have to do with any of those resolutions?” And yes, we absolutely admit to being partial to the Safety Tubs® line of walk-in bathtubs.

But, to be perfectly honest, walk-in bathtubs, whether they are the Safety Tubs® brand or another brand, are incredibly adept tools for managing overall health and well being. Since so many of the resolutions in the list published by the US government aim to improve both health and well being, the use of walk-in bathtubs seemed like a pretty natural fit.

To help illuminate our thought process, here’s how we arrived at the conclusions we did regarding walk-in bathtubs and how they can help people achieve their New Year’s Resolution goals.

1) Resolution #1: Drink Less Alcohol

According to experts, people who abuse alcohol do so for different reasons but the most common are stress, boredom, escapism and social pressure. While using a walk-in bathtub to administer different forms of hydrotherapy can’t help a person directly cope with social pressure, it can help them directly cope with the other three: stress, boredom and escapism. Relaxing in a warm, deep bath, especially those with massaging hydrotherapy options, relaxes a person both mentally and physically through multiple physical methods (for more on this topic, see our previous feature article on Hydrotherapy). Boredom often leads to stress, and both can be addressed by spending an hour pampering yourself with a spa like experience in your walk-in bathtub.

Escapism is the need to get away from normal routines and stressful bits of everyday life. People can embark on “mini-vacations” by spending some time enjoying water jet or air massage, breathing in therapeutic scents using the aromatherapy option and enjoying the changing scenery and mood enhancement delivered with the chromatherapy option. The experience a person tailors for themselves in their walk-in bathtub can significantly and positively affect their mood, level of stress, and physical well-being, all factors that help in the control of urges to drink.

2) Resolution #2: Getting a Better Education

While it may seem like a bit of a stretch, it really isn’t. American Standard, the parent company of SafetyTubs® brand of walk-in bathtubs and seated safety showers, contributes financially each year to the communities that support them, including to scholarship programs and financial assistance for education. Purchasing a product from a company that is supportive of the community ultimately helps them help others. When a person decides to purchase a product, whether it’s a walk-in bathtub or piece of clothing or food, it is in their best interest to support a company that invests in its community and works hard to give back to those who support them. Purchasing product from a company that is a “good citizen” might quite literally result in money back in the purchaser’s pockets or in programs that help them personally pursue educational opportunities.

3) Resolution #3: Getting a Better Job

A walk-in bathtub can’t give someone work experience they don’t have, or get them in the door to see someone who wouldn’t ordinarily take their call but it can help people prepare physically and mentally to look and feel their best when they do meet prospective employers face-to-face. Any of the thousands of guides to interviewing that are available today discuss the importance of personal hygiene and confidence when conducting business with people, including while interviewing. The therapeutic relaxation people experience while enjoying full body soaks (and the soak in a Safety Tub® walk in bathtub is a full body immersion soak that employs a comfortable, almost weightless reclining position) actually causes physical changes in the body, changes that help people combat stress, feel healthier, and more at ease. These subtle changes in the body help people feel more confident and composed when in an interviewing situation. If a person already has a job, relaxation therapy can help them handle stress better, become more focused mentally, and perform better on a daily basis, all benefits that help increase chances of promotion or help people succeed more readily with a business of their own.

4) Resolution #4: Getting Fit

To get fit, a person needs to exercise. Exercise often leads to stretched, pulled or broken-down muscles, joint compression and tendon or ligament pulls and strains, all of which result in temporary pain. Walk-in bathtubs will help relieve those aches and pains with therapeutic full-body soaks and hydrotherapy. Safety Tubs® walk-in tubs help ease entry and exits with a convenient molded seat that makes full-body soaks easy and comfortable. Many typical tubs only allow a person to submerge part of their body at a time, and often are difficult for older or mobility impaired people – who often exercise using methods like Chair Aerobics – to safely enter and exit. A walk-in bath offers an important post-exercise treatment to keep muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments as healthy as possible and to keep pain to a minimum.

5) Resolution #5: Losing Weight

Regular full body soaks in hot water result in a number of physical changes in the body: it increases circulation, aiding in the speed at which fluids are moved throughout the body and it relaxes the muscles, including the muscles in the wall of blood vessels, allowing blood to move more quickly and increasing circulation to parts of the body that may not normally experience increased blood flow. All of these small changes help the lymph system perform more efficiently. The lymph system plays a role in the formation of a certain, infamous type of subcutaneous fat cell: cellulite. Cellulite occurs when blood microcirculation, venous flow and/or lymphatic drainage to the subcutaneous layer is impaired. Soaking in a hot bath, particularly one with jet or air massage, can actually help prevent the formation of cellulite and lessen the amount of cellulite that has formed by helping the body better cope with the proper movement of blood and lymph fluids. While a person may not actually lose weight simply by soaking in walk-in bathtub, it certainly can help improve the appearance of cellulite and regular soaks will help prevent the formation of new cellulite in the future.

6) Resolution #6: Managing Debt

In these difficult economic times, many people have become more aware of how careful financial planning is crucial to their well-being in the future. The purchase of a walk-in bathtub, even if it is not yet required, makes a lot of financial sense and can actually help save money in the long run, which in turn helps them manage debt load. Firstly, installing a walk-in bathtub lessens the risk of the most popular type of bathroom injuries: slips, trips and falls. Avoiding one accident can save thousands of dollars in medical bills, particularly if the accident results in a severe injury like a broken bone. Secondly, a walk-in bathtub offers the opportunity to enjoy different forms of hydrotherapy, which in turn helps the body maintain health and helps ease pain. This can lower the number of trips to the doctor’s office and even reduce the need for prescription drugs, saving money on an on-going basis. Third, the installation of a walk-in tub ensures that no matter what common mobility challenges a person might experience as they age, there will be no need to remodel the bathroom in the future to accommodate changing physical needs. Thinking ahead today will help manage expenses and debt in the future.

7) Resolution #7: Managing Stress

A core component to other resolutions (like drinking less, getting fit and quitting smoking), managing stress is absolutely critical to good physical and mental health. Everyone manages stress in slightly different ways, but experts agree that there are a number of common practices that benefit everyone, regardless of their particular likes or dislikes, and they include activities like going for a walk, calling a good friend, having a good workout, and yes, taking a long bath and getting a massage. A good, long, warm, comfortable soak in a walk-in tub, which allows full-body immersion and provides the ultimate soaking experience, causes many beneficial changes in the body that all help contribute to the relaxation of muscles and help soothe people emotionally. Add in hydrotherapy massage, and the relaxation is even more complete. The result is the physical alleviation of stress and a happier, more content state-of-mind.

8) Resolution #8: Quitting Smoking

Like drinking, smoking can be a psychological response for dealing with external pressures. Many times the external trigger for smoking is stress, anxiety, boredom and the need to “escape” from a situation. An important part of maintaining the willpower necessary to avoid smoking (or relapsing into the habit if one has already quit) is to foster a positive attitude and optimistic state of mind. These are tools that give a person the best chance of conquering their desire to smoke when situations arise that have previously triggered the need. This is much easier to achieve if one is relaxed and in good health, and walk-in bathtubs can help people reach that state through relaxation therapy. Pampering oneself with a spa-like experience leads to a happier and more relaxed state of being, helping a person to maintain the strength needed to combat smoking desires when they arise.

9) Resolution #9: Saving Money

Remodeling a bathroom once is much more cost-effective than remodeling it twice. When a person thinks ahead about the needs they may have in the future and finds a solution that works for the here and now as well, they can significantly decrease the need for costly bathroom updates. Walk-in bathtubs, particularly models from Safety Tubs®, are attractive additions to current bathrooms and offer a slew of health and safety benefits, benefits that become even more apparent as time goes by. Incorporating universal design principals today means no need for costly changes in the future, saving both money and time.

10) Resolution #10: Take a Trip

While a luxurious, spa-like experience in a walk-in bathtub is not an actual physical trip, it certainly can be a mental one and provide similar benefits in terms of relaxation and rejuvenation. Soaking in hot water and enjoying the sensations of water jet and air bubble hydrotherapy as well as aromatherapy and chromatherapy soothes and refreshes the body, which physically affects the mind in the same way “vacation” time does. Many times it’s not feasible, either financially or in terms of time, to take a trip when one would like, and hydrotherapy in a walk-in tub can provide sessions of mini-relief that help keep one balanced and healthful until the opportunity to embark upon a ‘true’ vacation presents itself.

11) Resolution #11: Volunteer to Help Others

The many health and safety benefits a walk-in bathtub offers can be extremely beneficial to people who don’t have one, and voluntarily gifting people with a walk-in bathtub is a thoughtful way to improve the quality of their lives. Another way to voluntarily help others is to educate people on the benefits of hydrotherapy and the safety features walk in bathtubs offer, as many people still aren’t aware that walk-in bathtubs exist, or the myriad of benefits they offer. Given that a large percentage of the injuries elderly people suffer occur in the bathroom, helping them understand their safety options is a great way to make a positive difference in their lives.

Sources:

http://www.moder8now.com/problem-drinking/alcohol-dependence/

http://www.nutrave.com/cellulite-treatment/cellulite-causes.htm

http://helpguide.org/mental/stress_management_relief_coping.htm

http://www.winternet.com/~terrym/quitsmoke.html

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New_Years_Resolutions.shtml

The Holidays always bring out the best in people. It’s a time of joy, love, sharing and caring so whenever possible the gifts we trade should encapsulate and personify those ideals. However, it’s not always easy – nor possible – to personally sift through the massive amount of promotional propaganda that accosts us this time of year and find those unique gifts that truly make a positive difference in people’s lives.

Understanding this challenge, FreeStyle Online Magazine spent a bit of time researching and sorting through products available this Holiday Season and identified those that are most thoughtful and helpful. The result is our 2010 Top 15 Gifts List, a list of items that aren’t only functional and beautiful, but give the added gift of health, comfort and safety to those we cherish.

Gifts range from walk-in tubs to doorknob grips to support pillows and range in price from a few bucks to a few thousand dollars. Each gift was selected for its quality, effectiveness and utility and while all are perfect for folks over the age 55, many are just as useful to those in their younger years as well.

FreeStyle Magazine 2010 Top 15 Gifts List

A) Universal Design Gifts

Universal Design is the term used to describe the design of products and environments that are accessible by everyone, regardless of age or physical limitations. Gifts that help make daily life and routines safer, easier, more comfortable and more enjoyable are those that literally keep giving, day after day. The following universal design products are highly rated for their usefulness, functionality and visual aesthetics.

1) American Standard Culinaire^TM Top Mount Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink.

Price: $461

A versatile, space saving and easy-to-clean kitchen sink, the Culinaire^TM Top Mount Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink from American Standard fits easily into smaller areas and leaves more countertop space available without sacrificing sink volume and utility. Helpful when retrofitting tighter spaces to allow for better universal access, particularly for people who need to sacrifice counter space to open up floor space in order to accommodate those with walking aids or wheelchairs, this sink is a beautiful and functional upgrade for any kitchen.

2) American Standard Colony® Soft Pull Down Kitchen Faucet

Price: $239 – $311

This beautiful, easy to grip, multi-functional faucet offers a full 360 degree swivel spout, solid brass construction and single lever convenience to control both temperature (to prevent scalds) and flow rate. The simple, pull-down hand spray easily toggles between functions (pause/spray/stream) at the light touch of a button, making it perfect for those who may experience manual dexterity degradation. The innovative pause function is especially handy for easily watering plants of filling pots without the threat of water getting where it doesn’t belong. Other key features include water temperature memory, lifetime drip-free performance and easy installation.

3) American Standard Repertoire^TM Pedestal Sink

Price: $400 – $600

Engineered to be both beautiful and durable, this pedestal sink gracefully holds up to everyday use and has a limited footprint, making it an ideal fixture to include in smaller bathrooms where access may be problematic for people with limited mobility who utilize walking aids or wheelchairs. The stylish pedestal base also provides protection from hot water pipe burns by cleverly encasing and concealing the piping.

4) American Standard Townsend Champion® 4 Right Height Elongated Toilet

Price: $560

The Townsend Champion® 4 Right Height Elongated Toilet boasts the industry’s widest 2 3/8” trapway and a 4” flush valve, so it virtually eliminates clogs and toilet overflows. With a 17” height seat for easy sitting and standing, an elongated seat for ultimate comfort and stability, and a permanent Everclean® bacteria and mold resistant surface, it offers safety, convenience and peace-of-mind along with a fabulous 10-year warranty.

5) Safety Tub® Walk-in Bath

Price: $3,000 – $8,000

Safety Tubs® award winning Walk-In Bathtubs offer the ultimate in bathing safety, comfort and convenience. Complete with the patented, guaranteed, leak-resistant T5 Door System, industry low threshold, ergonomic controls, slip resistant flooring, safety grab bars, molded 17” built in seats, anti-scald devices and available with optional jet massage therapy, air massage therapy, aromatherapy and chromatherapy, Safety Tubs® walk-in baths offer the ultimate therapy for people of any age who enjoy a relaxing spa experience or who suffer from regular muscle aches and pains, arthritis and other diseases and conditions that benefit from long soaks in either hot or cold water. Available in multiple sizes, the walk-in bath tubs fit in all standard sized tub openings, so installation is a snap.

6) Safety Tubs® Seated Safety Shower^TM

Price: $2,500

Safety Tubs® Seated Safety Shower^TM is the first seated shower built to universal design standards, meaning it’s accessible to most people, including the elderly and disabled. This acrylic, fully molded seated shower comes with a multitude of ground-breaking features including a wide, contoured full-sized seating area that’s high enough to make sitting and standing easy, an accessory ledge for personal items, a built in armrest, a 3” threshold and a built-in, wrap-around grab bar. At 60” wide, it fits into most standard tub openings, making installation easy and convenient.

7) Furniture Risers

Price: $24.95 – $44.00

Furniture risers are the perfect alternative for people who need to raise the height of chairs and other furniture surfaces in their home to accommodate changing physical needs as they age or experience issues with mobility, but who do not want to purchase new furniture. Available in two styles, Easy Risers and Elephant Feet Furniture Risers, these furniture risers easily attach to the feet of existing furniture and elevate them to more accessible heights, making chairs and sofas easier to sit on and get up from, and surfaces like tables higher to accommodate wheelchairs underneath. Available in multiple heights and widths for use with different types of furniture feet and legs, Furniture Risers are a wonderfully economical way to have a big impact on the quality of a loved one’s life.

8) Doorknob Grips

Price: $4.25

Winner of Today’s Caregiver magazine’s 2010 Caregiver Friendly® award, The Great Grips Doorknob Grips make excellent stocking stuffers. Designed to provide extra leverage and better grips for people who suffer from arthritis or other conditions that weaken the hands, these soft, comfortable doorknob grips sport a small lever that makes gripping and turning doorknobs incredibly easy. ADA compliant, these handy little grips are easy to install and come in clear or a light green that also glows in the dark for up to 6 hours after being exposed to daylight.

B) Health and Comfort Gifts

There is nothing more precious than good health, so giving a gift that helps improve the health, well being and comfort of a cherished member of your family or dear friend this Holiday Season is an excellent way to illustrate just how much they mean to you.

9) Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition

Price: $15.61

The Trigger Point Therapy WorkBook by Clair and Amber Davies has already sold more than 200,000 copies and is fast becoming a favorite of medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists to help teach their patients how to alleviate and lessen muscle and joint pain, particularly from undiagnosable causes. The techniques taught in this book involve applying short, repeated massage strokes to “trigger points”, tiny knots of muscle tissue where restricted circulation and lack of oxygen can cause pain locally, or even in other parts of the body. Well written, easy to understand and direct, the book is a wonderful guide that will help people in your life alleviate and prevent common types of pain.

10) Lap Desk Tray

Price: $129.00

The Lapster Lap Desk Tray enables people to read, work and use laptops while in bed, on the couch or in a favorite chair. It has a smooth wooden surface shaped in a patented kidney bean shape and can concurrently hold a laptop, reading materials and other paperwork without becoming cluttered. The reading panel adjusts to three different angles for stress-free, comfortable reading and the built in lycra wrist pad provides correct ergonomic wrist and hand support. Sturdy legs fold flat under the surface when not in use and secure with strong magnets. It’s a wonderfully useful and comfortable alternative to a typical desk and chair.

11) Back Cushion

Price: $45.75

One of the most common reasons people visit their doctor is back pain. Many times, back pain is caused by the poor posture that results from inadequate back support from chairs, sofas or car seats. The Lumbar Plus Cushion is a comfortable, well fitting lumbar support back pillow that works with body temperature to conform perfectly to a person’s back contour and offers excellent comfort and support. The pillow is covered in an attractive, blue, tweed style fabric that is removable and machine washable. Strong, adjustable straps keep the cushion firmly in place when in use on chairs and seats. The cushion keeps the spine in a correct position, helping to alleviate back and muscle aches associated with slouching and poor posture.

12) Aromatherapy Hand & Foot Warmer

Price: $19.99

The Bed Buddy Hand and Foot Warmer Aromatherapy Gift Set is a great way to provide relief from aches in pains in the hands and feet – particularly from arthritis – by delivering moist, soothing heat therapy. Filled with 100% natural materials and lightly scented with eucalyptus, cloves and cinnamon, these reusable hand and foot mitts are microwavable and stay warm for up to an hour. Available in zebra, leopard or pink, they are a wonderful way to treat the important people in your life with a spa like experience that helps alleviate pain, anytime they’d like.

13) Chair Aerobics DVD Videos

Price: $13.95 per DVD

Chair aerobics are a great way for anyone to enjoy fun, safe and effective exercise. Wonderful for people who are confined to wheelchairs, beds, or who are mobility impaired, they are also a great workout for people with higher fitness levels who sit for long periods of time in office chairs and are looking for ways to exercise while working. The videos teach isolation of muscle groups and how to use body weight to condition and tone muscles, while also elevating heart rate and working the cardiovascular system. There are 9 different videos ranging from Tai Chi to Salsa to the original Chair Aerobics, and each contain fun, original exercises that keep the heart, lungs and muscles healthy.

14) Brain Fitness Software

Price: $249.95

Studies have shown that regular exercise of the brain can help prevent mental fatigue and helps delay the onset of dementia in patients with Alzheimer’s or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). Dakim Brain Fitness Software cross-trains 6 cognitive domains in the brain: long- and short- term memory, language, computation, visuospatial orientation and critical thinking. It can actually help prevent the degradation of the neurons and synapses in aging minds a well. Useful for any age, this software is a great way to keep the mind as healthy as the body.

15) Gel Kitchen Mat

Price: $99.95 – $199.95

The Gel Pro Chef Mat is a wonderful gel-filled mat that helps relieve back pain, foot pain and arthritis pain that results from standing while performing typical kitchen tasks. Featuring a basket-weave design, these mats are easy to clean, stain resistant and are held in place with a non-skid bottom. If punctured, the unique non-migrating gel will not leak and they make standing comfortable, especially for longer periods. Available in six colors and different lengths, they work well with any kitchen décor and configuration.

Sources:

1.      http://www.americanstandard.com

2.      http://www.safetytubs.com

3.      http://www.activeforever.com/

4.      http://www.alimed.com/

5.      http://www.levenger.com/

6.      http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/70458/top_ergonomic_gifts_for_people_with_pg2.html?cat=70 – by Gwynn Guess, Yahoo! Contributor Network

Bathtub and Bathroom Injuries in Children

Most injuries that occur to young children happen in the bathroom. Understanding how to prevent slips and falls, scalds and drowning are imperative to children’s bath safety. (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

In the United States, from 1990 to 2007, an annual average of 43,600 bathtub and shower related injuries occurred to children aged 18 years and younger. The greatest number of injuries occurred in children less than two years of age, and 54% of all injuries were to children under the age of four. 97.1% of all injuries occurred at home.

Lacerations from slips and falls made up 59.5% of the injuries. 79% of those injuries occurred in the bathtub and the remainder in the shower. Burns are also a major source of injury in children. The majority of children aged four and under who are hospitalized with burn-related injuries suffer from scalds (65%). Hot tap water burns cause more deaths and hospitalizations than burns from any other hot liquids.

With such sobering data available, it’s important that parents and other childcare providers understand what precautions they can take to minimize the risk of injury to kids in the bathroom.

Children’s Bathtub and Shower Safety

Slips and Falls

Slips and falls account for the majority of bathroom related injuries in children. An August 2009 study by Pediatrics Journal showed that slips and falls in the tub and shower are the most common causes of bathroom injury in children, and many happen even while the parent is present and watching. Children have high centers of gravity and tend to topple forward. Some falls happen so fast that even vigilant parents aren’t quick enough to react so it’s important to keep the tub as safe as possible in the event a fall does happen. There are many steps you can take to minimize the risk of injury to children as a result of slippery tub and shower surfaces.

The American Standard Children’s Temporary Bath Conversion has many safety features designed into the product including a molded seat, gentle sloping basin and high counter height. (Photo courtesy of ©American Standard)

• Ensure bathtubs are fitted with non-slip mats, treads or tape that are specifically designed and placed for toddlers and babies.
• Bathe children in tubs that are designed specifically for their age ranges, like the award-winning American Standard FunBath™ Children’s Temporary Bath Conversion from American Standard. These tubs often have integrated features like tub seats and gently sloping surfaces that make bathing children easier for the parents and safer for the children. The American Standard FunBath™ Children’s Temporary Bath Conversion model actually elevates the tub surface to 36” in height, eliminating kneeling and strains on the back and allowing parents to more securely position the child in their arms before moving them in or out of the tub, thereby decreasing the risk of a slip or fall. The tub comes in unique “child friendly” designs with a custom fit tub lid that converts the tub deck into a large changing station or storage compartment. The tub installation is quick and temporary. It can easily be placed over existing tubs and quickly removed when no longer needed.
• Encourage children to sit while being bathed. Discourage standing, jumping or rough play in or around the tub during bath time.
• Cover faucets and bath controls with Faucet Covers or other soft, secured materials to lessen the chance of lacerations if a child does fall while in the bathtub.

Hot Water Burns

Burns from scalding water cause a significant proportion of bathroom injuries each year in the United States, mostly to children and the elderly. Babies under 5 years of age are at particular risk because their skin is 15 times thinner than an adult’s, making it far more sensitive to pain and more prone to injury. To keep babies and young children as safe as possible from hot water scalds, be sure to do the following:

Scalds cause a significant number of bathroom injuries in children each year. Be sure your faucets are equipped with anti-scald devices and never leave children unattended in the tub or shower. (Photo Courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

• Be sure your faucet is equipped with an Anti-Scald Device. There are two types of scald control, one that monitors temperature, and another that monitors pressure. The temperature version is the more sensitive of the two, though it is more expensive. Devices that combine both types of control are best, and it is highly recommended that households with children employ these devices to ensure bath safety.
• Always test the water temperature before placing a child in the bath or shower, and never run the water to fill a bathtub while the child is sitting in the bath.
• Set the maximum hot water setting on your hot water tank to 118 degrees F.
• Do not bathe your child in a shower if you can instead bathe them in a tub. Shower water temperature is harder to control, as water temperature can suddenly change and burn the skin before a child can move out of the water stream.

Drowning

Every year, sad reports are published about parents who leave children unattended in tub for a few minutes and come back to find their children unconscious or worse, even in water only a few inches deep. Children can drown quickly in the smallest amounts of water so it is absolutely imperative that they never be left alone while being bathed or near water.

• Always use the smallest and most shallow amount of water possible when bathing your child.
• Never leave your child unattended in the bathroom, even when filling the tub. If you have to leave the bathroom, take your child with you.
• Never leave your child unattended in a tub or shower. If you use a bath seat or bathing cradle, do not be lulled into a false sense of security and keep an eye on them at all times. Children have drowned in tubs while strapped into these devices that have tipped over and trapped their faces underwater.
• Always keep your hands on your child while they’re in the bathtub or shower. Not only will this help to help prevent a slip or fall, it will also ensure their face never has the opportunity to slip underwater.
• Keep all bathing equipment – like sponges, soaps and towels – nearby and within arm’s reach so you do not need to let go of your child or turn your back on them while they are in the tub or shower to retrieve that equipment.
• Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks to prevent toddlers from climbing or falling into the toilet. Children have actually drowned in toilets by climbing on them and falling in headfirst, where they get stuck and are unable to lift their heads above the water to breathe.

Shampoos/Soaps/Bubble Baths

Natural, organic soaps made specifically for babies and young children are best for use on their sensitive skin, which can be irritated by fragrances and chemicals. (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

Shampoos, soaps and bubble baths can be irritating to children, particularly young babies. It is not advisable to bathe them everyday, as their skin is very thin and sensitive. How often a baby is bathed is partly up to the parent and doctor, but once or twice a week is usually sufficient. Toddlers who may get dirtier quicker can generally tolerate more frequent bathing.

Soaking in bath water that contains soaps or fragrances can cause irritation to the sensitive skin in genital areas and can also cause internal infections, particularly in girls, so the amount of time a child is exposed to these substances while being bathed should be limited.

• Be sure to bathe an infant or small child using very mild soaps and cleansers made specifically for children. Natural, organic products are best as some popular baby soaps and shampoos still contain chemicals that can irritate a baby’s or child’s sensitive skin.
• If bath time is also play time, let the child play first and then use soaps and shampoos at the end. Remove the child from the soapy water as quickly as possible. Soaking in soapy water for extended periods can lead to genital irritation or infection, and skin rashes.
• The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend giving bubble bathes to girls of any age due to the increased risk of bladder and vaginal infections.

Spas and Hydrotherapy Tubs

Never bathe your child in a spa-like tub. Water currents in spa tubs are often too strong and kids will have problems keeping themselves upright, regardless if they are sitting or standing. Because these types of tubs require jets and intakes be submerged beneath the water to operate correctly, the level of water in the tub is often too deep for children and poses a significant drowning hazard. Spa tubs often have heaters that heat the water, and children can become overheated very quickly due to their small size. Heat stroke and burns are a real and dangerous possibility in tubs with spa temperature water.

Glass Doors

If your shower or tub is equipped with glass doors, be sure the glass is safety glass to prevent dangerous shards from scattering about the bathroom in the event a glass door breaks.

Toilet Safety

Climbing

As kids become mobile, any surface becomes a potential place to crawl, walk or climb. Toilets are no exception. Because they are just about even in height with a one or two year old toddler and have interesting moving parts, they provide an enticing object with which to play and climb for most young kids.

• Be sure toilets are safely and securely bolted to the floor, and do not slide, rock or tilt with weight transfer.
• Keep the tank cover on at all times and be sure it is firmly secured in place. A tank cover that slips and falls on a toddler is heavy enough to cause serious injury.
• If a toddler succeeds to climb atop a toilet, they may try to climb up higher onto towel racks, countertops or tub rims, where falls can be extremely dangerous or life threatening. Be sure that towel racks, other types of wall installations, countertops or tub rims are not within climbing reach of the toilet. If they are, keep the door to the bathroom closed at all times when it is not in use.

Toilet Injury

Keep toilet lids down and closed, and use toilet locks to prevent children from accessing the toilet bowl. Raised seats or lids can fall down and hurt a child’s hand, head or other body part. A 2008 study by Pediatrics Journal revealed that a high number of unsuspecting male toddlers were injured when toilet seats fell on their penises, some causing severe injuries.

Drowning and Water Safety

In addition, toddlers may try to climb the toilet with the lid open and fall face forward into the water. Children drown every year in toilet bowls that were left open and unlocked. Remove “self cleaning” toilet products from toilet tanks as well, so the water does not contain bleach or other harsh chemicals.

General Bathroom Safety

Slips & Falls

Making sure your bathroom is safe for children and adults will provide peace of mind and an enjoyable, stress-free bath time for child and parent alike. (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

Bathrooms often have tile or hardwood floors that become slippery when wet and lots of fixtures attached to walls that look fun to climb, so it’s important to help protect kids from slips and falls in the bathroom that happen outside of the bathtub and shower.

• If a floor is made of tile or other smooth material, be sure to place non-slip/non-trip mats or rugs on the floor to provide kids and parents carrying children with a well gripping surface for proper footing.
• If towel racks and other wall fixtures are reachable by toddlers, move them so they are out of reach. This will not only prevent children from trying to climb or hang off them, but will keep them out of the way if a child does trip and fall, removing the opportunity for head injury or lacerations.
• While children are being bathed, keep pets from inside the bathroom. Pets may get aggravated if a child is stressed or crying and may act out aggressively either at the parent or child, and they can get underfoot and trip toddlers and parents as they walk about.

Medicines and Poisons

As any parent or child caregiver knows, children are infinitely curious and will get into anything they can. The first place foreign objects usually end up is in their mouths. As such, it is vastly important that harmful medicines, cleaners and other substances are kept in child-resistant containers behind safety-latched cabinet doors, particularly in the bathroom where many cabinets and drawers are at toddler level.

• If possible, keep all medicines, cosmetics, vitamins, personal care items, cleaners and chemicals placed in cabinets that are out of reach to children.
• Be sure all medications, vitamins and other similar items are in child-resistant packaging.
• Install childproof cabinet locks on all cabinets to keep children from accessing them.

Electrical Appliances

Keep hair dryers, curling irons and other electrical appliances out of the bathroom if possible. If you prefer to keep them in the bathroom, make sure they are well away from open sinks, tubs and showers and remain unplugged except when in use. Be sure to keep hot appliances well out of the reach of children while they are cooling off.

Be sure your bathroom appliances contain immersion protection devices. These devices shut off the flow of electricity to the appliance if they fall into water, keeping electrocution injury to a minimum. Products made prior to the mid-1990’s do not have these devices installed, so be sure to replace any old appliances with new ones.

Laundry and Waste Baskets

Keep wastebaskets inside cabinets with child safety locks. Always immediately dispose of harmful objects – like old medicine bottles, cleaning bottles or razor blades – in an outside trashcan instead of in household wastebaskets.

Tall laundry baskets can topple over and hurt your child if they try to climb on them. Keep hampers and laundry baskets locked in closets if possible. If you have a hamper with a weighted lid, be sure to latch it shut with safety straps.

If you have laundry chutes in your house, be sure to securely latch them shut to prevent toddlers from crawling into them and severely injuring themselves.

Phones

Bring your phone into the bathroom so you have it handy in case of an unforeseen emergency but place it in a secure place away from the tub or sink. Do not answer the phone while you are bathing your child. Besides it being a dangerous distraction, you can also mistakenly drop it in the tub or sink.

Sources:

1. Injury Prevention: Bathroom Safety, by Dr. Paul^TM; http://www.drpaul.com/injprev/inj-bath.html

2. Bathtime Safety For Babies and Children, by safekids.co.uk; http://www.safekids.co.uk/BathSafetyChildren.html

3. Half of all bathtub injuries involve toddlers, by LiveScience Staff, Kids and Parenting on msnbc.com; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31892607/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/

4. Child Safety in the Bathroom, by Dan Vandervort’s HomeTips.com; http://www.hometips.com/diy-how-to/child-safety-bathroom.html

5. Injuries Associated With Bathtubs and Showers Among Children in the United States, by Shengyi J. Mao, BS; Lara B. McKenzie, PhD, MA; Huiyun Xiang, MD, PhD, MPH; Gary A. Smith, MD, DRPH; http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/124/2/541

6. Parent Tips: Bathtub safety tips for young children, by Rebecca Scarlett; http://www.helium.com/items/1911933-parent-tips-bathtub-safety-tips-for-young-children

7. Bathtub Safety, by Donald A. Davis; http://www.familycorner.com/archives/safety/1.shtml

8. Toddler Bath Safety, by Jamie Malone, eHow Contributor; http://www.ehow.com/about_6659275_toddler-bath-safety.html

9. Facts About Burn Injury, by Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC; http://www.chp.edu/CHP/P02796

10. American Standard’s Children’s Temporary Bath Conversion, by American Standard; http://www.safetytubs.com/tubsforkids/boys_description.php

11. American Standard’s Children’s Temporary Bath Conversion, by American Standard; http://www.safetytubs.com/tubsforkids/girls_description.php

Part 3 of 3

House Wide General Improvements

Floors and Stairs

Steps pose a major danger to the elderly, particularly those with impaired strength, movement or balance. Attention to small details like proper railing installation, non-slip stair treads and the removal of area rugs from the tops and bottoms of staircases can help reduce the risk of injury. (Photo courtesy of IstockPhoto.com)

Since slipping and falling is a major cause of injury in the elderly, it’s important to pay particular attention to the condition of floors and stairs. There are many steps you can take to minimize the chance of injury by making sure floor and stair surfaces throughout the home are both safe and secure.

For Floors:

• Secure carpets and area rugs with adequate grips so they don’t move or shift when people walk over them. Carpets with a high-quality rubber backing will grip smooth floor surfaces well. If existing carpets or area rugs don’t have rubber backing, install carpet tape or non-slip rug pads to keep them firmly in place.
• Don’t place area rugs on top of wall-to-wall carpeting. They will not lie as flat as they should and edges that stick or curl up can cause trips and falls.
• Consider replacing tile or hardwood floors with safer non-slip flooring, especially in bathrooms and kitchens.
• Make sure transitions from room to room are completely seamless and flat and that transition pieces are not loose or sticking up. If there is a step (or steps) from one room down or up into another, be sure to provide handrails if possible and make sure steps are very obvious and easy to see. If the step is constructed of hardwood or tile or another smooth surface, be sure to install rubber stair treads or anti-slip tape for traction. Stair treads come in traditional styles or more decorative styles. Be sure to secure treads with an appropriate adhesive to keep them firmly in place.
• Make sure wall-to-wall carpeting is tight and secure.
• Make sure walkways within the home are clear of clutter and are wide and easy to maneuver.

For Stairs:

• Ensure all stairs are even in height and are deep enough to comfortably place the entire foot on the step for proper balance. Although most houses have steps with standard-sized rises and depths, some older homes – particularly antiques in older regions of the country – have taller, shallower steps that are harder to navigate.
• Check that every step is solidly constructed and has no loose boards or nails and fix any that are suspect.
• For wood, painted or tile steps or steps made out of other smooth materials, be sure to install rubber or abrasive treads or anti-slip tape for proper footing and grip. Stair treads come in traditional styles or more decorative styles. Be sure to secure treads with an appropriate adhesive to keep them firmly in place.
• For carpeted steps, be sure the carpeting is firmly installed and not sagging or loose.
• Make sure handrails run the length of the entire staircase, are placed in a position that is easy to reach, provide enough surface area for a secure grip, and are securely fastened to the wall.
• Consider installing a stair lift for people who have issues with balance, mobility or strength to ensure their safety going up and down staircases.
• Do not place area rugs at the top or bottom of staircases, where trips or slips can result in serious injury.
• If an elderly person is unable to use steps or a chair elevator consistently and safely, and their bedroom and/or bath is located upstairs, consider converting existing first level space into a bedroom and/or bathroom or construct a new addition with a bedroom and/or bathroom on the 1^st floor.

Anti-Scald devices and Hot Water Temperature

As we age, we sometimes lose the ability to feel differences in temperatures. What might be painful to a younger person does not necessarily feel the same to an older person. Or, an elderly person might suffer from cognitive or memory issues and forget how to correctly set a water temperature when taking a bath or shower. Hot water can cause 3^rd degree burns if it’s hot enough and a person’s body is exposed long enough. As such, it’s very important to make sure all household faucets are equipped with devices that help protect an elderly person from scalding water, and that the temperature of a hot water heater is not set to a dangerous level.

• The temperature of the hot water heater should be set so that it does not output water above 118 degrees F. For most people, that temperature will cause discomfort or some pain, but it will not produce 1^st degree burns. If a person living in the household is very sensitive to temperature, or is unable to distinguish between hot and cold sensations, then you may want to adjust the temperature to be 110 degrees F or less instead.
• Make sure all faucets in the house are equipped with Anti-Scald Devices. There are different types of these devices; those that monitor pressure and adjust the flow of water, and those that monitor temperature and automatically adjust it if needed. Temperature based devices are more expensive than pressure based devices, but are more effective. The best devices are those that monitor both pressure and temperature. Not only is temperature adjusted if it’s sensed to be too hot, but the flow of water is cut or significantly reduced until the temperature has been adjusted to a safe level.

Cabinetry and Countertops

Trying to access high cabinets by using step stools or chairs, or crouching low to access floor cabinets can be very difficult and dangerous for an elderly person. In addition, high counter heights, particularly in kitchens, require a person to stand for long periods of time and are not accessible to those in wheelchairs. Handles and pulls can be hard to grasp, and drawers can be difficult to pull out. There are a number of thoughtful changes you can implement house wide that will improve the ability of an elderly person to interact easily and safely with cabinetry and countertops.

• Adjust counter heights to accommodate people who are confined to wheelchairs or who can’t bend. They should be 28-34” high for someone in a wheelchair and 40” high for someone who has trouble bending.
• Place as many every day items as possible – with the most popular items located in the most accessible places – in cabinets that are the easiest to reach and reserve harder to reach cabinets for storage of special occasion or seasonal items.
• Use ergonomic, easy to grip handles and pulls
• Use high quality drawer glides so pulling drawers out and pushing them in is simple and effortless.

Doorways

Be sure doorways are wide enough to comfortably accommodate people using wheelchairs or walking devices and gives them plenty of room to maneuver on either side. (Photo courtesy of IStockPhoto.com)

For the elderly (who may sometimes have vision problems, use walking aids, find themselves confined to wheelchairs or suffer from obesity), doorways can present potential obstacles to easy movement and navigation throughout a home. Making sure doorways meet the following criteria will help the elderly or mobility impaired avoid collisions with door jams and will facilitate easier, stress-free travel.

• Doorways should be wide and tall to accommodate people confined to wheelchairs, who need to use canes or walkers or who are sight impaired and benefit from extra room to maneuver. A good width for a doorframe is 32” to 36”.
• There should not be any furniture or other obstacles within 48” to 60” of the door to allow for the full movement of the door when opened or closed, and to ensure there is enough room for the person to maneuver around it.
• Doors should not be unduly heavy or difficult to open or close.
• Door latches should be easy to grip, ergonomic and not require tight pinching or grasping or twisting of the wrist to operate.

Windows

Depending on the type, windows can be difficult even for healthy young adults to open and so for the elderly, they can be extremely problematic.

• Casement windows with cranks are the easiest for most people to open or close. There is no need for undue strength and the crank is usually positioned at a height that is easy for most people to reach, even those in wheelchairs.
• Motorized window blinds can help make the use of blinds easy for people with limited motor skills or who are wheelchair bound.

Lighting

It’s not unusual for middle-aged people to suddenly realize they can’t read small type or see as well in the dark as they used to. And, unfortunately, as we age our eyesight usually becomes worse and our eyes more sensitive to extremes of light and dark. As such, its extremely important that elderly people have strategically placed lighting installed or placed throughout their homes that employ easy to use controls, allowing them to easily brighten and dim a room as needed so they can stay safe at night or during cloudy or stormy days.

Light switches

• Use ergonomic light switches that have large tilt plates instead of those with small toggles
• Position light switches so they are no higher than 48” from the floor, so people who have problems stretching or reaching or who are confined to wheel chairs are still able to reach them.

Light fixtures

• Light fixtures like lamps should be easy to reach. If they are not controlled with a wall switch, pulls are the preferred method of operation because they are easy to grasp and use. If a knob is used, it should be big enough to grab and turn easily.
• Lights should be placed in areas that are frequently used at night and that don’t require a user to get up and navigate through a dark room to get to the light switch. For example, a lamp should always be placed next to the bed and within easy reach, so if a person needs to get up from bed at night, they can easily turn on the light first in order to navigate the room safely. Similar places would include a light next to a favorite chair or sofa.
• Night lights are extremely helpful in areas of the house that may be dark if a person must transverse them before turning on a light elsewhere. They may help those with compromised vision to avoid tripping over or bumping into objects until they are able to turn on a light.
• Be sure shades on lamps or light fixtures let ample light through. Dark shades may look fashionable, but they significantly cut down the amount of ambient light emitted from light fixtures and can make a room too dark for people with compromised eyesight.
• The amount of lighting in a room or area may need to be increased or decreased depending on a person’s need for brighter or dimmer surroundings. Most elderly people need more light to help them see clearly and more easily. Some who have conditions that make them sensitive to light, like people who suffer from chronic migraines, may need to have light adjusted to be less harsh, and more diffuse. Dimmers are a great way to control the amount of light coming from a ceiling or wall fixture and allow people to adjust the light level as needed.

Electrical Appliances

Electrical appliances are generally designed for the average healthy adult, so they can sometimes be difficult to use by people with compromised eyesight, strength, dexterity or mobility. Because they are electric, they can also be dangerous to those who don’t or aren’t able to correctly handle them.

• Be sure to contact major appliance manufacturers to enquire about specialty products or options that address physical limitations. Many manufacturers have products available with features like large displays for sight impaired people or larger knobs for those with compromised manual strength or dexterity.
• Major appliances should be positioned so they are easily accessible from either side. Make sure there is plenty of room around the appliances for people to move about and around each other if necessary.
• Be sure major electrical appliances are on their own circuits with breakers so that they can be easily turned off if needed, are protected from power surges that may occur in other circuits in the home, and so they don’t overload electrical circuits when other electrical appliances are concurrently running.
• If an elderly person relies upon an electrical appliance to provide a health benefit, like a specific medical device or space heater, make sure that in the event of an extended power outage, backup power is available for those appliances.
• Position electrical outlets so they are no lower than 15” from the floor and no higher than 48” so people who have problems bending or crouching or who are confined to wheel chairs are still able to reach them.
• Position thermostats no higher than 48” from the floor so they are accessible to people in wheelchairs.
• Never place an electric appliance in the vicinity of a sink or bathtub, or other area where it can be knocked over and fall into water or get splashed with water. This is especially true of space heaters in the bathroom.
• Be sure countertop and other small appliances remain unplugged when not in use.

General Tips

There are very simple changes you can make to the home that are surprisingly effective at providing a safer and more secure environment for an older individual:

• Remove hanging tablecloths or other draping linens from tables, beds, coffee tables or other pieces of furniture that may droop to the floor, get tangled in feet or legs, and cause trips and falls.
• Remove tablecloths or other pads that slip easily on counters or tables to prevent accidental scalding with hot food or liquids.
• Make sure furniture and other objects in the house do not have broken or sharp edges, nails or screws that are sticking out, and are placed well out of the way of typical foot traffic.
• If an elderly person lives with pets, try to keep pets from being underfoot. Small pets may be hard to see and cause trips or falls. High-strung pets can cause injury or falls. Crating pets during times when the person is moving about the home or securing the pet in a separate room when they’re highly excited can be helpful.
• If an elderly person lives with children, be sure to educate the children on interacting safely with the elderly person. For example, ask them to help the elderly person with easy tasks, like retrieving items from other rooms or helping them read a label. Also ask children to be considerate of the elderly person’s mobility and strength issues by not leaving their toys or other items on the floor where they can be tripped over, and to refrain from jumping on or bumping brusquely into the elderly person.

Also see- Part 1 and Part 2 of this article.

Sources:

1. ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG); http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm#4.16

2. Anti-Scald Device Installation, by Tim Carter; http://www.askthebuilder.com/B55_Anti-Scald_Device_Installation.shtml

3. Bathroom Designs for the Elderly and Handicapped, by Tracey Kelley and contributors Sarah White and Wendy Michaels.

http://homeimprovement.lovetoknow.com/Bathroom_Designs_for_the_Elderly_and_Handicapped

4. Bathroom Toilet Seat Lights, by Tracey Kelley and contributor Sarah White.

http://homeimprovement.lovetoknow.com/Bathroom_Toilet_Seat_Lights

5. Home Caregivers Follow Bed & Bath Safety Tips for Elderly Persons, by Mary King; http://www.suite101.com/content/home-caregivers-follow-bed–bath-safety-tips-for-elderly-persons-a260937

6. Accident-Prevention Tips, by the Editors of Consumer Guide; http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/tips/accident-prevention-tips.htm

7. Security & the Elderly – Tips to Reduce Stress & Be Safe, by Mark McLean; http://ezinearticles.com/?Security-and-the-Elderly—Tips-to-Reduce-Stress-and-Be-Safe&id=4260577

8. Making Your Kitchen “User Friendly”, by Christine A. Price, OSU Extension State Specialist, Gerontology, Department of Human Development and Family Science; http://ohioline.osu.edu/ss-fact/0179.html

Part 2 of 3

Kitchen Specific Improvements

Kitchen Counters and Cabinets

Like bathroom counts and cabinets, the ultimate solution for a fully accessible and safe kitchen for the elderly employs lifts, or mechanical devices that lower and raise different portions of a kitchen’s cabinets, small appliances or work top spaces. While expensive, the effect allows anyone, no matter their physical limitation, to access kitchen tools and appliances easily and is a wonderful home improvement for all ages.

If lifts aren’t an option, there are a number of other improvements you can make that will greatly increase the usability and safety of a kitchen area for an elderly or mobility impaired person.

Kitchen Counters

• Like in bathrooms, employ varying countertop heights to enhance kitchen usability as people age. Lower counters to between 28” and 34” and ensure at least 29” of clearance (from the floor up) under the counter to allow people in wheelchairs and with walking devices to get close enough to the counter to comfortable use it.
• The first 16” of depth in a counter, from the edge closest the user and back, is considered the most comfortable work area. Counter space behind those first 16” can be used for storage instead.
• Use glare-free materials for counter tops so that people can easily see items placed upon them.

Kitchen Cabinets

• Lowering higher cabinets by 3” to 5” from standard heights makes more of the shelves accessible to most people, so items are easier to access and move.
• If possible install easy access features like rolling carts and baskets, lazy susans, and full extension drawer glides to cabinets to make finding and accessing items quicker and easier.
• The use of glare-free surfaces for cabinetry improves a person’s visual ability to locate handles and knobs.

Kitchen Sinks

• Sinks that are designed to be wheelchair accessible are usually shallow, anywhere from 5” to 6.5” deep so that the user can reach to the bottom of the sink, and to provide enough clearance under the sink for a wheelchair or other walking aid. Faucets should be ergonomic and contain a single, easy to grip control to ensure operation is simple and effortless.
• Because a person on a wheelchair might bring their legs or lower part of their body in contact with the plumbing below the sink, it’s important that you insulate the pipes, particularly the hot water and drainage pipes, to prevent any burns from the hot water moving through them while the sink is in use.

(Continued in Part 3 of 3)

Part 1 of 3

Staying Independent and Safe In The Home

Seniors are living longer in their homes today than in the past, thanks to thoughtful products designed to aid independent living and through consumer education on senior home safety. (Photo courtesy of Istockphoto.com)

If you pay attention to health and medical news, you won’t be surprised to learn that people are living longer, healthier lives today than they were just a few decades ago. As a result, senior populations are expanding and more people eventually experience health issues common amongst the elderly: arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis and hearing and vision loss. Most seniors will reach a point in their lives when they need specialized environments to safely retain their independence.

There are a surprising number of home improvements you can perform that will help make life easier and more secure for yourself or elderly family members and friends. These home improvements range from major projects like installing safer flooring to small improvements like simply rearranging furniture into safer configurations.

The ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities is a great resource for ideas on how to make a home easier to live in and more accessible to people as they age. Many of the published guidelines, particularly requirements for corridor and door widths, safety bars and proper access to different types of facilities (bathrooms, for example) can go a long way to extending the amount of time an elderly or physically impaired individual can live independently.

Bathroom Specific Improvements

General Bathroom Improvements

Falls and slips are one of the most common causes of injury to elderly people. The combination of smooth surfaces and ample water make the bathroom one of the most dangerous rooms in the home. A significant number of injuries occur as people try to enter and exit their baths or showers, use toilets and sinks, and maneuver over wet floor surfaces. For this reason, it is extremely important that the bathroom be updated for an elderly person or person with limited mobility. If you can only afford to make a few home improvements, bathrooms are the best place to start. The most basic improvements are fairly inexpensive and provide enhanced safety.

• If possible, doors should not open into the bathroom, so that the person has ample space to maneuver when inside the bathroom while the door is open.
• Ideally, there should be at least 30” x 48” of open space in front of countertops, sinks, toilets, bathtubs and showers to provide proper and safe access to these fixtures.
• Mirrors should be hung lengthwise and placed on the back of doors or directly above the sink instead of at standing eye level, so people confined to wheelchairs are able to use them.
• Grab bars should be installed parallel to the floor or at a slight diagonal (with the slope facing the person in the sitting position) in the following places:
  • Alongside the toilet
  • In the tub/shower areas
• Grab bars can also be installed vertically in the shower area as well to provide stability walking in and out of the shower.
• Besides aiding in balance and stability, grab bars also help people maintain strength, in that they encourage pushing and pulling or supporting one’s weight when they are used, and work muscles that may otherwise not enjoy the exercise.

Bathroom Cabinets and Countertops

The ultimate solution for a fully accessible bathroom for the elderly employs lifts, or mechanical devices that lower and raise different portions of a bathroom’s cabinets and counter top spaces to adjust to the user’s desired height. While expensive, the result allows anyone, no matter their physical limitation, to access bathroom storage and products easily and is a wonderful home improvement for all ages. If lifts are not a feasible option, there are other considerations for standard cabinets that are helpful to implement for improved safety.

• Having varying heights of countertop surfaces greatly enhances a bathroom’s usability as people age and become mobility challenged, whether they are confined to a wheelchair, need walking and standing aids, or are unable to stoop or bend easily. The normal height for a countertop is 36”. Lower counters that are between 28” and 34” are easier to user by people in wheelchairs or by people who need to sit while performing everyday tasks. There should be at least 29” of clearance (from the floor up) under the counter to allow people in wheelchairs and with walking devices to get close enough to the counter to comfortable use it.
• Because a person in a wheelchair might bring their legs or lower part of their body in contact with the plumbing below the sink, it’s important that you insulate the pipes, particularly the hot water and drainage pipes, to prevent any burns from the hot water moving through them while the sink is in use.
• Lower bathroom cabinets by 3” to 5” from standard heights to make more of the shelves accessible to most people, so items are easier to access and move.
• Remove older medicines, over the counter medicines and other harmful items from medicine cabinets so that a person doesn’t get confused and mistakenly take wrong or outdated pills or ingest harmful products.

Toilets and Bidets

The ability to sit and stand is taken for granted by most adults, but for those with strength, balance or mobility issues, it can be a very difficult task. Creating a safe and secure environment for the elderly around toilets and bidets can not only prevent injury, but also can help preserve an individual’s dignity by extending their ability to function independently.

• Toilet seats and bidet seats should be at least 17” in height to allow for easy sitting and standing. Seat extenders are available to retrofit toilets that are shorter.
• Make sure toilets and bidets are not placed in small alcoves or are not too close to vanities, shower stalls or other fixtures in the bathroom. There should be plenty of space around the toilet or bidet to maneuver with wheelchairs or walking aids.
• Toilet seat lights help provide light in darker rooms or at night and can help an elderly person find the fixture in the middle of the night, help with depth perception, and illuminate the area to prevent trips and falls.
• Toilet and bidet handles should be large, easy to grip and easy to use.

Bathtubs

Walk-In Tubs like American Standard’s Safety Tubs® ST6032 model are designed to help make bathing a safer, independent experience for many seniors. The most thoughtful tubs are designed with therapeutic hydrotherapy systems as well. (ST 6032 photo copyright© American Standard)

Bathtubs should be easy to enter and exit and one of the best solutions is a walk-in tub, which are tubs with doors that allow you to enter the tub over a low threshold, close the door behind you, and then either fill the tub for a bath or take a shower. Most walk-in tubs come with molded seats that are part of the tub itself, and some brands of walk-in tubs come with therapeutic options like hydrotherapy and aromatherapy that can significantly reduce the pain or discomfort of many common ailments. Some, like the Safety Tub® from American Standard, also include comfort options like water pumps that drain water out of the tub faster and include an ADA compliant seat and leak-proof door guarantee. Low profile bathtubs are better than regular height bathtubs, but they still require a person to step over and into them and they do not usually include molded seats, nor are they easy to sit or lie down in.

Walk-In Tubs

• The most thoughtfully designed walk-in tubs have large, oversized doors that open fully for easy exit/entry.
• Any tub designed for the elderly should include anti-scald controls, or offer them as an option.
• Walk-in tub doors should employ watertight door seals to avoid leaks that may potentially cause slips and falls when exiting.
• Controls should be ergonomic, large, intuitive and easy to use.
• The space inside the tub should be spacious enough to accommodate larger adults comfortably.
• Molded chair-height seats should comply with 17” chair height requirements from the ADA.
• The tub should incorporate grab bars for safety when entering/exiting the tub and to aid with sitting and standing.
• The floor of the tub should be a non-slip surface to ensure good footing when entering or exiting the tub, or while standing in the tub during a bath or shower.
• Look for convenience options like hand held showers that allow users to stay seated while bathing and fast draining pumps that allow people to exit the tub faster to keep their comfort level at a maximum.

Other Tubs

• If a bathtub doesn’t come with a seat already molded into its structure, add a separate seat or bench to the tub so users can sit while bathing, reducing the chance for slip and falls. Benches and seats should be positioned at least 2” from the sides of the tubs on either side to make sure the seat feet are stable and on flat surfaces, or be secured to walls with bolts to prevent it from moving or tipping over.
• Bathtubs should have non-slip floors and surfaces to prevent slips and falls

Showers

Safety Tubs® Seated Safety Shower from American Standard provides numerous safety features and a unique, ADA height compliant seat, making it an attractive choice for seniors looking for alternatives to bathtubs. (Seated Safety Shower ® photo copyright © American Standard)

Showers should be wide, and paired with a set of wide shower doors or an easy to move curtain so they are easy to enter and exit. The threshold to enter them should be as low as possible, to make it easy to step into and out of the stall, and to lessen the likelihood of trips or falls. The best all around shower option is the Seated Safety Shower^TM from American Standard. It has many thoughtful safety features integrated into its design including a wide door, wide seat and wrap around grab bar.

• Look for extremely wide openings (like the width of a standard tub) to allow for very easy access by mobility-impaired people.
• Built-in grab bars will provide ultimate safety while the user is standing or sitting, entering or exiting the shower stall.
• Like a bathtub, it’s imperative a shower have a non-slip floor to keep slips and falls to a minimum.
• Showers usually have fairly low thresholds for easy access, so be sure to find one that’s as low as possible. Also, be sure the threshold is not deeper than normal so it’s easy to step over.
• The inclusion of a wide, contoured, full-sized seating area will make it much easier for people to sit and stand and will provide a more comfortable shower experience.
• If a shower doesn’t come with a seat already molded into its structure, then it should contain separate but sturdy seats or benches for sitting while bathing to lessen the opportunity for slips and falls. Benches and seats should be extremely sturdy and stable with all four feet evenly supporting the weight of the bather on a flat surface, or they can be secured to the wall to be sure they do not move or tip over.

(Continued in Part 2 of 3)