JFS Care, provider of in-home care services in Los Angeles and nearby areas, recommends assistive devices to reduce senior disability.Think about the various tools you use every single day – your phone, toothbrush, hairbrush – simple items, but ones you can’t envision living without. For many seniors, there are basic assistive devices available that might mean the difference between living at home and moving to assisted living. Nonetheless nearly half of seniors living at home aren’t using these handy tools – even though costs are minimal.
A recently available National Health and Aging Trends Study estimated the ability of seniors to perform tasks such as rising unassisted from a seated position and walking, and discovered that thousands of the participants could benefit from assistive devices.
Not only that, but the danger of older adult falls from the lack of simple assistive devices is increased, leading to hospitalizations, serious injury, and disability that could easily have been prevented. In fact, once these devices were made available to older adults, based on research, disability rates for seniors fell by 50%, along with a decrease in pain levels and an increase in the ability to independently perform activities of daily living.
According to study author Dr. Kenneth Lam, “It’s a technical problem which, unlike so much of aging, is actually solvable. In the hospital, I can order an M.R.I. and charge the system thousands of dollars. But down the road, that won’t help patients not fall. What happens when they get home?”
A program at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore is looking to change this by introducing inexpensive assistive tools to seniors. Through a few in-home visits from an occupational therapist, repair specialist and nurse, needs are identified and resolved. That could mean installing grab bars in the bathroom, removing fall hazards, or adding a shower chair or raised toilet seat. Small changes such as these may make a substantial difference in a senior’s capacity to manage activities of daily living safely and independently.
At JFS Care, we are pleased to offer in-home evaluations to recommend modifications to the home environment that enhance safety and help seniors remain independent as well as in control. We can also help improve a senior’s safety, comfort, and independence through services such as:
- Providing accompanied transportation for medical appointments, errands, and fun outings
- Preparing nutritious meals and ensuring adequate hydration for older adults
- Providing help and support as needed with personal care needs for safe bathing, getting dressed, etc.
- Maintaining a clean and organized home
- And much more
Contact us online or give us a call at 213-383-2273 to schedule your assessment today and to learn more about home care services from Jewish Family Services in Los Angeles, CA and the surrounding area. See our website for our full service area.