|
 |
|
|
|
Get by with a little help
Growing older can mean that certain tasks may become more difficult to perform. Even such simple activities as writing letters and getting dressed require a level of manual dexterity that can make them frustrating -- if not impossible -- for people with arthritis or mobility problems. Luckily, numerous handy devices exist that provide the extra help that can make the difference between dependence and independence. In addition to their therapeutic benefits, these little helpers can help decrease the duties performed by at-home caregivers. As one study indicated, the ability to independently perform the tasks of daily living speeded the recovery of stroke patients and helped them to retain the gains made by physical therapy.
|
|
|
|
|
Friendly Advice for Caregivers
Remember to care for yourself. The role of caregiver can be so demanding that you may forget to make time for yourself. This can lead to anger, depression, and resentment. Your loved one will be better served if you are well rested and have a positive attitude. Give yourself some time off by doing one of the following:- Ask family and friends to assume caretaking duties for a day or even an afternoon.
- Consider taking part in a regular exercise class. This will reduce stress, keep you in shape, and give you something to look forward to.
- Join a support group. Other caregivers will understand exactly what you are going through and will be able to provide encouragement and advice.
- Exercise together. Perhaps your loved one would enjoy or benefit from regular physical activity. Find an activity like swimming or walking that the two of you can do together.
If You Are the One Being Cared For
Losing the ability to perform everyday tasks due to age or injury can be a frustrating and painful experience. Learning to rely on someone else for the things that were once performed independently can be difficult. Keep the following things in mind if you find yourself in this situation:- Be patient with your caregiver. In most cases, caring for someone with special needs requires a great deal of adjustment, both to a new schedule and to a new way of life.
- Good communication is important to minimize frustration and improve the quality of the time you spend with your caregiver. If there are activities or tasks that you wish to perform unaided, let the person know. Also, if you need assistance with a task that your caregiver assumes you can manage on your own, tell him or her you need a little help.
- Encourage your caregiver to occasionally take time off. It will make the time you do spend together all the nicer.
|
|
|
|
|
Appropriate Uses
Bedpans: used by those who, due to injury or mobility problems, cannot easily use a toilet. Constructed of plastic or metal with different sized openings, they are shaped for comfort and ease of emptying.
Button aid: a wooden or molded plastic handle used to help people with poor dexterity or only one hand to fasten buttons by themselves. Some models have large, easily gripped handles.
Foam tubes: help reduce fatigue caused by the pressure writing exerts on the hand. They slide easily over pencils and pens.
Jar opener: minimizes the effort required to open jar lids. These devices can be made from metal or plastic and accommodate a range of different jar sizes.
Pillbox: provides a daily reminder to take medication. They can be either plastic or metal, have flip-top openings, and come in a variety of sizes.
Reach extender: adds height or distance to the reach of people with mobility problems or who are confined to a wheelchair. Features can include variable length, a folding handle, a magnetic tip for picking up coins or pins, and clips that attach it to the side of a wheelchair or walker.
Sock aid: eases the process of putting on socks by decreasing the amount of stooping or bending necessary. Features include long straps for easy reaching, a smooth inner surface that is gentle on bare heels, a pebbled outer surface to minimize wear and tear on socks, collapsibility, and terry cloth covers.
The A-B-Cs of Easy Does It
Assisted-living products and their uses vary widely. Follow package instructions for proper use. However, the following tips apply to some of the most common devices:- To use a button aid, slip the loop (made from wire or plastic) through the buttonhole of a garment. Then maneuver the loop around the button and pull it back through the buttonhole.
- Foam tubes have multiple uses. They can be slipped over the ends of writing instruments to ease pain caused by pressure, or they can be used to cushion the handles of eating utensils, kitchen implements, and toothbrushes.
- To use a sock aid, simply slide the sock or stocking over the plastic body of the device. Unfold the sides to stretch the sock open and insert the foot.
- Pillboxes are a convenient reminder to take medications. To use a pillbox, just remember to place your daily medications in each compartment.
|
|
|
|
|
A Word of Caution
Most assisted living devices are expressly designed to be safe. However, some safety considerations of which to be aware include the following:- If you use a reach extender, make sure you can support the weight of the item for which you are reaching. If you lack gripping strength and reach for heavy things above the level of your head, you expose yourself to the risk of head injury if the item should fall.
- Some assisted living devices have sharp parts. Keep them out of the reach of children.
- When using a pillbox, be sure to place medications in properly marked compartments. Don't put multiple doses of medicine that should only be taken once per day into a single compartment. This could result in an accidental overdose. Get the right box for your specific medication needs.
|
|
|
|
|
Websites, Organizations & Manufacturers
Sources & Further Reading
Books
1. Baum, B.J. "Alterations in Oral Function." Principles of Geriatric Medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1985.
2. Dunne, Jemima, ed. Caregiver's Handbook: A Complete Guide to Home Health Care. New York: DK Publishing, 1998.
3. Ellis, Nancy B. "Aging, Functional Change, and Adaptation." Occupational Therapy and the Older Adult. Aspen Publishers, 1991.
Find more books on health and wellness at  barnesandnoble.com.
Articles
1. Sonn U., Grimby G. "Assistive Devices in an Elderly Population Studied at 70 and 76 Years of Age." Disability Rehabilitation 1994, Apr-Jun 16:2, 85-92.
2. Chiou, I., C.N. Burnett. "Values of Activities of Daily Living. A Survey of Stroke Patients and Their Home Therapists." Physical Therapy, 1985 Jun 65:6, 901-6.
| |
|
