Living Well Blog

‘Aging in Place’ Posts

Costs for Adapting a Home for Senior Living, Disabilities or an Illness

Monday, January 9th, 2012

By Marc Mendelhson, Sageing in Place

Statistics show that most people would do almost anything reasonable to avoid moving from the comfort of their home yet in many cases their homes are not adapted to accommodate their current and changing needs. The question arises as to what is necessary and the associated costs to make the modifications to enable an individual to continue living safely and as independently as possible in their homes. Read more

Eldercare Robots Ready to Help Tend to Needs of Aging Population

Friday, June 3rd, 2011

James Vlahos/The Daily

In an article in The Daily by James Vlahos, we learn that the elder-friendly robots are here to engage and to help burnout caregivers. Vlahos says: “…Robots may be our best option to pick up the slack — or so say the pioneers of eldercare robotics, which is being pursued by corporations from Toyota to NEC as well as university robotic labs worldwide…”

Read Part 1

Read Part 2

Keeping People Aging in Place: Safe at Home

Tuesday, May 31st, 2011

Health MonitoringIf you have an elderly parent, chances are you’ve spent more than one sleepless night worrying about such things. Thankfully, the past few years have seen a boom in technical innovations that can prolong their independence and help you to be a more effective caregiver, even from afar.

They include automatic activity sensors, smart pillboxes, and communicators that share health data with you or a medical pro. These gizmos (and the monitoring services that typically come with them) can be pricey, ranging from a few hundred dollars to several thousand a year – and neither Medicare nor most private health insurers typically cover them (though some will if they’re prescribed by a doctor).

Read more

GrandCare Systems Aging in Place Webinars

Saturday, May 14th, 2011

GrandCare SystemsLiving Well partner GrandCare Systems is a complete communication and monitoring system for active, independent seniors and those who care for them. View a tour of the interactive system here.

GrandCare Systems hosts aging/technology webinars on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month:

2 pm EST · 1pm CST

12pm MST · 11am PST

http://grandcaresystems.webex.com

How to Help Retirees Stay in Their Homes

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

Helping people stay in their homes as they age has been a formal, if poorly understood, goal of U.S. aging policy for some time. Experts say it’s far cheaper than housing seniors in nursing homes and other institutions. And public surveys find that it’s also the overwhelming preference of 9 out of 10 seniors.

As much as we want to age in our own homes, however, the network of government, volunteer, and family caregiving resources needed to support older Americans is able to meet only a fraction of the elder population’s needs. And with soaring numbers of older Americans, coupled with stressed government and philanthropic budgets, the scale of unmet needs is likely to rise sharply.
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The Home Care Environment for Clients With Advanced ALS: Home Care of a Person With ALS

Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

What makes physical care so challenging in advanced ALS is the absence of other indicators of change — the verbal and physical response to care. The physical changes are much more subtle, and the nurse is more likely to detect changes when there is a connection with the patient that allows a rhythm to unfold. Daily inspections included in the assessment are crucial if potential problems are to be avoided. Particular challenges of patients with ALS who are locked-in follow. It is important to provide a blueprint for supplies in establishing and maintaining a safe home care environment.
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“IF I ever need to go to a nursing home, kill me first”

Saturday, April 2nd, 2011
You do not need to leave your home

Aging in Place: You do not need to leave your home!

Given that 89% of people do not want to leave their homes, this statement featured on the article The Technology for Monitoring Elderly Relatives on The New York Times (July 28, 2010) about new technologies to help people stay at their home, makes total sense.

The purpose of many of these technologies is to provide enough supervision to make it possible for elderly people to stay in their homes rather than move to an assisted-living facility or nursing home — a goal almost universally embraced as both emotionally and financially desirable.

Read More about it…