Rubber Duck Rescue Reminds of Us the Need for Eldercare Safety Procedures

In June, the Contra Costa Times carried a story about a 90-year old Walnut Creek woman who was stuck in her bathtub for several days. She wasn't stuck in the sense of being bigger than the bath tub – she was stuck from being too weak to get out of the tub.

This story reminds me of how fragile and sensitive our bodies become as we age and the need for routines and safety procedures to ensure that our loved ones are safe and secure. I am learning of this first-hand as we moved my 83-year old father out here a couple of months ago.

It is alarming at times to see how my father, once so full of strength and energy, is moving slower, taking more naps and suffering from memory lapses. Keeping a cell phone with him at all times is a must as is having proper identification.

Here are some tips and things to consider when it comes time to adjust the living arrangements for parents or grandparents:

1. Ensure that all rooms have good lighting with convenient and easy to use switches.
2. Replace carpet, electircal cords, throw rugs and anything else that may contribute to tripping.
3. Use night lights near stairs and other night-time traffic paths.
4. Get furniture that easy on the bones and easy to get up from.
5. Start uncluttering the house and cabinets. Keep the memories but streamline the living process.
6. Get small appliances that turn off automatically.
7. Establish a regular call pattern and establish a good relationship with a neighbor that can keep an eye on things.
8. Have regular conversations about money, finances and any solicitations.

"The simple truth about elders is this: they want their lives to be validated, and they do not want to die alone," writes eldercare consultant Joy Loverde in her preface to the second edition of The Complete Eldercare Planner. While that desire is entirely valid and compelling, there is an equally real parallel reality: caring for elders is a formidable responsibility, a sometimes daunting maze of financial, medical, personal, legal, and logistical issues. Acutely aware of both truths, Loverde's goal is to provide the caregiver the support and efficient, practical guidance he or she needs to be able to enjoy the often-rewarding and moving experience of caring for an aging loved one. And in an era when the fastest growing segment of the population is those 80 and older (among those, the majority are women), it becomes increasingly important for caregivers, who are themselves one day going to need care, to be informed about eldercare facts.

Joanna Quan specializes in helping seniors to find the right-sized residence for their life style – 510-374-8240