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Aging in Place in Your State: Wyoming and Wisconsin When a family faces the health crisis or age-related physical challenge of a loved one, they enter a confusing wilderness of possibilities and decisions. The goal is often to keep that loved one at home and as healthy as possible, even if the home needs modifications to make that possible. Meeting that goal involves a great deal of action requiring a strong working knowledge of government options, local benefits, and available contractors—as well as the skills to bring them all together. That’s knowledge most families just don’t have. “This industry is very confusing, with many moving parts,” said Spike Cheever, director of business development for Evolve. For example, he said, the same benefits can be named different things—home modifications, environmental modifications, accessibility adaptations—and administered either by a person’s home state or through contracts with private managed-care companies. Evolve’s familiarity with how your state can help you with home modifications—we stay on top of any changes to those benefits—can help families navigating these difficult waters, including determining how your benefits can help meet your needs and helping you find contractors who are familiar with home modifications for aging patients. Read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/gHwgrCC4 Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Adapting a Home to Age in Place: A Checklist As a loved one ages or grows more infirm, families often focus first, and understandably, on helping that person with medical care and other pressing health issues. It’s easy to forget that, over time, a person’s home — no matter how beloved — may no longer meet their needs. At some point, family members may look around and realize there are many issues that may prevent their loved one from living a secure and happy life at home. But where to start? Visit our website to learn more at: https://lnkd.in/gQGeDjZh

Greater Need to Allow Aging in Place Americans who want to stay in their homes as they age have reason to be optimistic but do face some significant challenges, according to a new national housing report. The study, “Housing America’s Older Adults 2019” (https://lnkd.in/dkFE35N), was prepared by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies and released this fall. Among other findings, it notes good income growth for American householders 65 and older as compared to other groups, but warns that most of that growth occurred in the highest-income households in that age range. The report also documents issues Iike growing long-term debt among the aging sector of the population — for example, 35 percent of these households now carry credit card debt — as well as increasing inequities in income and housing security among minority groups, renters, and other sub-groups of the aging population Please visit our website to read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/gdt47z85

ADA at Home: Why it can help. The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) is nearly three decades old now, and you can see its impact in nearly every public space, from the ramps providing access to buildings to the beeping street-crossing lights and sloped curbs at many U.S. street corners. In many circumstances, ADA guidelines do not apply to private residences, but they are a useful reference when families need to undertake home modifications for a loved one with disability- or age-related challenges. For example, let’s consider wheelchair ramps. Visit our website to read more: https://lnkd.in/gyj3UWvq

Fall Prevention: Calling for Help! If you, or a loved one, does fall and is injured, here are a few ideas to help call for help.  Keep phones in low, easy to reach locations and post emergency numbers next to the phone. Consider using a cordless or cell phone that can be carried with you or putting extra handsets in each room. If you or someone you care for has a high risk of falling, consider a personal medical alert system. These are buttons worn around the neck or wrist, In an emergency, pushing the button will send a phone call for help. Look in your phone book or the internet under "Medical Alarm". https://lnkd.in/gpY6C9qe

Fall Prevention Series: Steps and Ladders The following are a few ideas to help prevent falls and avoid using stools and ladders. Keep items that are used regularly in easily reached locations. If you must use a step stool, use one that has a handle that can be held while on the top step. Only use step stools when another person is at home. Ask others to help with household chores so you don’t need to leave the ground. https://lnkd.in/gTwphV4u

Fall Prevention Series: Bathroom Explore practical tips and strategies to prevent falls in the bathroom. Below are some ideas to make the bathroom safer and help prevent falls. Place a non-slip mat in the shower or tub. Install grab bars in the shower, tub, and nest to the toilet. If a person's balance isn't reliable, a shower bench with non-skid tips can be used in the shower or tub. A raised toilet seat is helpful for people who have trouble getting up and down from a regular toilet. https://lnkd.in/gJTXZwR2

Fall Prevention Series: Stairs Our Fall Prevention Series focuses on practical tips and modifications to make stairs safer for aging in place. Below are some ideas about how to make stairs safe within the home to help prevent falls. Be sure all handrails are firmly attached and run the entire length of the stairway. Replace broken handrails immediately. If the stairway is carpeted, be sure the carpet is firmly secured to all steps.  Consider adding a reflective strip to the top and bottom of stairways.  Check out this article! The National Association of Realtors also provides a list of nine ideas to help make stairs safe. 

Fall Prevention Series: Lighting Fall Prevention Week is dedicated to raising awareness about the risks of falls, especially among older adults who are aging in place. Learn about strategies and tips to prevent falls and promote safety in the home. Improve Lighting in the Home Below are ways to improve lighting within the home to help prevent falls. Brighter lights can help a person see better and may prevent a fall. Have a lamp or night light near the bed. Even if the room is familiar, always turn on a light before walking into a dark area. Consider using motion-, voice-, or clap-activated switches. Proper lighting on stairways is especially important. Step edges should be clearly visible. Fall Prevention, Aging in Place

Fall Prevention Series In honor of National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, we will be doing a post every day this week to bring awareness so that you and your loved ones can stay safe. Falls are a common cause of injury and death for older adults. Broken hips are just one possible result of falling. Plus, the fear of falling may cause a person to limit his or her mobility. You can do a lot to reduce the chances that you or someone you care for will fall. During this new series, we will help explore possible tips that can help prevent falls in your home, or the home of a loved one. Look around the house for items that may cause someone to trip and fall. Make sure all rugs and mats are skid proof or secured with carpet tape or removed. Remove electrical cords from pathways. Keep floors and stairways free from clutter. Pick up papers, books, clothes and shoes. Roll up hoses and pick up tools in the yard. Install grab bars and handrails. Enhance dark areas with increased lighting. #NationalFallsPreventionAwarenessDay #HomeModifications #Evolve