It's Time To Catch Up On The Importance of Aging In Place
New open floor plan with new kitchen.
Published June 20, 2023
It has been awhile since our last update. We have been busy assisting families in making modifications that allows them to stay in their homes safer. Now is the time to tell you all that has been going on.
We have been busy making modifications to homes so our clients are more comfortable to stay there and feel safer. To tell you that each home is very different, and each clients needs are different, just goes without saying.
Our most recent modification was to add handrails on exterior stairs outside for both residents who are disabled. In addition, we added handrails on the interior stairs and grab bars in the bathroom.
In another home, a complete modification of the entire home was necessary for the clients (70 & 68 years old) to move back into their home with his 95 year old mother with Alzheimer's, and her live in aide. This entailed modifying her bathroom to make it handicap accessible with a roll in shower, opening up the main floor with a new kitchen (see picture above(. Now when they are preparing meals they are able to see his mother from any room. And while we were at it, we created a master bedroom suite so they can have some privacy and comfort with a new enlarged bathroom as well.
In another home we took a powder room and created a fully handicap accessible bathroom for a client with ALS. We did this by widening the doorway into the bathroom for wheelchair accessibility, installing a new wall mount sink so her wheelchair can fit beneath it, a new comfort height toilet with bidet seat with grab bars, and the piece de resistance was taking a small portion of the adjoining garage and adding a roll in shower with a handheld shower head. Life has become much easier for her care givers now.
Other projects are ongoing, and we will let you know when they are completed.
An important point I want to make. PLEASE plan and prepare for aging in place early. When we prepare a home in advance it allows our clients to feel safer, and less accidents happen. I hear too many stories from friends and networking partners that are heart breaking, and could have been avoided. Having an assessment done now does not mean that you have to do all of the recommendations at one time. It can be done in stages.
Partnering with other professionals in the senior care industry is what makes this work for our clients. We are opening the first chapter of ACAP (Adult Children of Aging Parents) for Bergen County. This is a non-profit organization for educating the children of aging parents. The educational series will be held monthly (location to be determined) in the evening. More information regarding ACAP will be sent out soon.
Setting The Stage LLC is also a member of Senior Blue Book, Geriatric Advisory Council, TASS (The Alliance for Senior Services of NJ), Women's Networking. For several of these groups we give presentations and panel discussions to educate families on how to help their loved ones navigate the difficulties they might be facing.
If you have any questions about Aging In Place you can schedule a free 30-minute free telephone consultation at https://calendly.com/linda-settingthestage/30min
If you have enjoyed the information that you have receive here, please share it with your family and friends. Educating families on the importance of preparing a home properly is very important to us.
UPCOMING EVENTS- Come Join Us
August 8th @ 12:15- Woman’s networking panel discussion at Wyckoff Senior center
August 16th @ 11 am- Alzheimer's Education Series- Neptune NJ
August 22nd @ 7 pm- Tass Panel Discussion- Paramus Public Library
September 20th @ 4:30-5:30- TASS Meet & Greet- CareOne at the Cupola in Paramus