Tips for Aging at Home – Doing What Matters to You
With today’s busy lifestyles, this 63-page book is chock full of tips for aging at home.
Study after study shows that most people prefer to age in their own homes. So, it makes sense to prepare in advance, whether for ourselves or our parents and other loved ones.
How do we prepare?
Four authors, Professors Laura N. Gitlin, PhD and Sarah L. Szanton, PhD, CRNP, Program Developer, Jill Roth, RN, BSN, and Senior Clinician, Allyson Evelyn-Gustave, OTR/L base these seemingly simple tips on their diverse wealth of experience in this easy-to-read book.
Tips for Aging at Home will help one accomplish everyday activities safely and in manageable pieces, while decreasing the risk of falling.
Everyday activities include
- Preparing Meals
- Dressing and Grooming
- Using the Toilet and Bathing
As we age, we struggle with certain activities. The authors include tips for poor eyesight, weak legs, arms, and hands – in addition to lever-door handles, tips include key turners and jar openers.
There are tips for conserving energy so you have enough to do the things you need and want to do throughout the day. Many of these tips are reminders as they are common sense. For example, rest before doing exhausting activities and rest when you need to. Yet, how many of us are guilty of not resting and driving hard until we fall or worse?
Prevent falls by preventing dehydration, which may cause lightheadedness.
“Exercise and activity improve mood by decreasing pain and helping you get better sleep.”
How often do we hold onto something while trying to do something else? The authors remind us to “Keep one hand free when carrying items to brace [ourselves] if [we] lose [our] balance.”
These tips offer a solid start for busy caregivers and elders wanting to age in place. Made simple by four authors with a wealth of experience, this book fits perfectly among today’s busy lives. Short, sweet, and pointed for building your own plan for aging at home by doing what matters to you.
