formats

Barrier Free Bathrooms

Barrier Free Bathrooms

The bathroom has always been considered the most dangerous room in the house.  This is due to the inherent danger that a wet floor, and small bathmats cause, along with the need to step over the wall of a shower or an existing bathtub. A barrier-free bathroom will help reduce the risk of slips and falls getting in and out of your shower, and can even be used with a wheelchair if it ever becomes necessary. When equipped with things such as shower chairs and safety grab bars, your roll in shower will provide long-term comfort and peace of mind.

Whether you are first-time homeowners, empty nesters, or moving in an elderly parent, everyone in your household will benefit from the addition of a barrier-free shower. The size, shape, and style of these user-friendly showers are limited only by your imagination, budget, and available space. Envision airy and open wet rooms equipped with spa-like fittings, colorfully tiled walk-in showers for two, or prefabricated units dressed with a pretty shower curtain.

Bathe Safe Remodelers offers both durable fiberglass shower units and custom built barrier-free showers using your existing bathroom layout with your choice of materials(tile, room accents).

We offer accessible showers, shower pans and easy step showers for residential use and ADA showers for commercial projects.

Barrier-free showers are easily entered by people in a wheelchair or shower chair offering independence and comfort for adults and children with disabilities.

An Accessible Shower stall has the shower floor at the same level (or with a slight rise) with the bathroom floor allowing easier mobility for all users.

A barrier-free showers is versatile so the whole family can enjoy bathing in their roll-in and walk in shower.

formats

Aging in Place

Aging In Place

 

If you’re getting older and want to stay in your home, the one room you’ll have to adapt is your bathroom.

“You have to be able to bathe yourself, from a hygiene standpoint,” said David Asbridge, a certified aging-in-place specialist and owner of DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen, 1141 Deadwood Ave. in Rapid City.

But a modified bathroom doesn’t have to look like one you’d find in a hospital room.

“People say they don’t want it to look like a clinic or institutional,” Asbridge said.

Barrier-free showers, lowered sinks, open vanities, special fixtures and raised toilets are all available in the latest design elements and styles and allow for independence.

A more difficult hurdle to overcome, however, is stairs.

“The current stock of houses is not built for older adults. There are a lot of split-level homes and lots of stairs,” said Leacey Brown, a gerontology field specialist for South Dakota State University Extension. “As people grow older, it’s a lot more likely that they will have disabilities, and stairs will be a problem.”

Brown said in addition to an accessible bathroom, having a bedroom or a room that can be converted into a bedroom and laundry facilities on the main floor will allow you to stay in your home longer.

The time to consider modifying your home is sooner than you think.

“Humans are always in denial that they are aging until something happens in their life that restricts them from living how they lived,” Asbridge said.

He said young couples should be thinking about home design to accommodate aging or injuries when they purchase a home.

“It’s far less expensive to modify your home than it is to go in to nursing care. It’s unbelievable the costs per month. To modify your home, after the initial expense, you won’t have that anymore,” Asbridge said. “You could do it in phases. It’s not like you have to spend $100,000.”

And the alternative comes at a much higher price.

“If you are forced in to nursing care, studies have shown life expectancy drops,” he said.

Brown said that people should make the necessary changes to their homes while they are still working.

“We buy houses for people who are never going to grow old,” she said.

formats

Walk In Bathtubs Nassau County

Walk In Bathtubs Nassau County

Bathe Safe Walk In Bathtubs is proud to be a company located in Nassau county and services all of the tri-state area.  We pride ourselves on offering only the highest quality walk in bathtubs along with the best customer service and installers nationwide.  There is no company that provides our customer service and walk in tub quality anywhere.  Our tubs are built and jetted in the USA and are all tested before they are shipped.  Our installers then test it again.  Our tri-state and nassau county installers are the best installers we have.

 

 

Walk In Bathtubs Nassau County

formats

Home Automation For Seniors

Home Automation For Seniors

Home automation systems use technology in the home to help complete tasks automatically, making tasks easier for those that live there. It is technology you don’t see and it makes your home life better, easier or more safe.

For anyone that has followed the site very long, you know we focus heavily on the home. Many people may wonder, “Why would I care about using technology to handle stuff I can do?” We’re glad you asked.

Home automation is a natural fit

Aging in place home automation

Aging in place home automation

Automation was conceived to make people’s lives easier, their home more functional and to enhance the enjoyment of their home. The home automation technology available today takes that a step further and allows people to live more safely in their home. It can be used to provide relief or assistance for tasks, safety and make your home easier to live as you grow older. And, it can do that for you now, too … regardless of your age.

That is what aging in place is all about, isn’t it? Being safe at home and maintaining your quality of life as you age.

Through the use of the different kinds of devices, you can create a system that not only controls many things in your home, but also helps keep you and your home safe. This includes devices you might have already heard of or seen, such as automated lighting, thermostats, doors and others. For aging in place, you can increase the level of safety in the home by adding more automated lighting, sensors to track certain activities, video at entrances, automated drop-down shelves and more.

Home automation systems are here to stay

Home automation systems technology is advancing at an incredible rate and it is just getting easier to use. There have been so many new products that have hit the market in just the last six months and what we’re seeing is amazing. One very important thing to note is that in the past you’ve had to rely on professional installers and could expect not only installation fees but monthly bills for service as well. With the technology available now, you don’t have to. Obviously, there may be services you want to pay for, such as fire or emergency monitoring. But, today, you can setup a home automation system, own the equipment and have it be designed around your lifestyle with less, or no, ongoing fees. (We’re going to be covering more on these types of systems soon.)

We’re excited about what home automation can do right now for people and are committed to not only covering it, but also being involved in the growing home technology community. Check out our new home automation section and some of our recent posts (links below). If you know of anyone in the home technology market that has interest in aging in place, point them our way. If you are, get in touch… we’d love to talk with you.

formats

Aging in Place

Aging In Place

 

OTTAWA — Developers and real estate professionals frequently cite baby boomers entering retirement as evidence the demand for condominium units will continue to grow. This large empty nester demographic, often afflicted with the travel bug but facing the inevitable consequences of aging, are seeking a more manageable urban apartment lifestyle.

Or so the argument goes.

The problem, however, is the evidence doesn’t support this assumed wisdom. Studies by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. as well as countless other research indicate baby boomers overwhelmingly want to age in place. They simply prefer to stay put in their existing homes, gardens and neighbourhoods.

This may seem a rather peculiar observation to begin a review of a very striking Modernist custom house designed for a youthful professional couple and their two boys not yet 10. But a home that supports both the evolving needs of a family as it matures and the couple’s desire to remain comfortably in their home well into their later years was exactly what Robert Stacey and Jolanda Turley sought.

“We wanted to never want a different house again … this was going to be our last house, and it had to be designed in such a way that Jolanda and I could get old in it and the kids could grow up in it with comfort,” says Stacey.

With this starting point, they carefully plotted out exactly what else they wanted in a new house. The list included staying in the Hintonburg community they love but away from the negatives of the century-old home they inhabited: poor energy efficiency, choppy rooms and heavy on repairs.

They also wanted an environmentally sustainable house with open, flowing space that eschewed little-used rooms such as a formal dining room. Bedrooms could be relatively small but communal spaces would be larger and awash with lots of natural light.

To round out the home’s core priorities, the couple had different, but not conflicting, wants. Stacey wanted a modern design as he “detests” faux-traditional styles.

“My view is that a house ought to reflect its time and place,” he argues.

Turley did not disagree, but placed her emphasis on flow and utility.

“We wanted a modern-looking (but cosy) green home, with all the necessary space partitioned in such a way as to balance privacy with sociability and to minimize the buildup of mess and clutter we experienced in our last house,” says Stacey.

It had to fit on a skinny 30- by 130-foot lot on Bayswater Avenue with rear lane access, but they realized they had “no idea how these spaces would be arranged,” says Stacey.

After interviewing a raft of architects and designers and one false start, they chose designer and Carleton architecture professor Paul Kariouk. They liked the way he spent considerable time with them exploring exactly what they wanted. And they were impressed with both the beauty and variety of expression in his work. Their house, they felt, could be both modern yet unique.

formats

Stay Safe in Your Home

Stay Safe In Your Home

The 85-and-older population is expected to more than triple between 2008 and 2050 in the United States alone. This staggering statistic not only proves the growing need for elderly home care, but also the fact that thousands of families are facing the same critical decision as you. You are absolutely not alone.

 

formats

VA and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations

<h2>VA and Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA)</h2>

Under the Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) program, Veterans with service-connected disabilities or Veterans with non-service-connected disabilities may receive assistance for any home improvement necessary for the continuation of treatment or for disability access to the home and essential lavatory and sanitary facilities.

A HISA grant is available to Veterans who have received a medical determination indicating that improvements and structural alterations are necessary or appropriate for the effective and economical treatment of his/her disability. A Veteran may receive both a HISA grant and either a Special Home Adaptation (SHA) grant or a Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant.

 

Applying for a HISA Grant

In order to receive a HISA grant, the Veteran must first have a prescription from a VA or fee-basis physician.  This must include:

  • Specific items required
  • The diagnosis with medical justification
  • The Veteran’s name, address, SSN, and phone number(s)

To apply, the Veteran must first provide:

  • A completed VA Form 10-0103, VETERANS APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE In Acquiring Home Improvement and Structural Alterations
    • If a leased or rented property, written permission from the owner
    • Quotes from at least 3 licensed contractors (if required by state law), to include:
      • The contractors name, address, telephone, and Federal tax ID number or social security number
      • The Veteran’s name, address, and telephone number
      • Plans and drawings
      • An itemized list of estimated materials, cost, and labor cost
      • All permits required (it is the contractors responsibility to obtain these)
    • A picture of the work site prior to construction

Examples of what HISA will pay for include:

  • Allowing entrance or exit from Veteran’s home
  • Improving access for use of essential lavatory and sanitary facilities
  • Improving access to kitchen and bathroom counters
  • Handrails
  • Lowered electrical outlets and switches
  • Improving paths or driveways
  • Improving plumbing/electrical work for dialysis patients

HISA will not pay for:

  • Walkways to exterior buildings
  • Widening of driveways (in excess of a 7ft x 6ft area)
  • Spa, hot tub, or Jacuzzi
  • Exterior decking (in excess of 8ft x 8ft)

Limits on HISA Grants

The HISA program is available for both service-connected Veterans and non-service-connected Veterans.  On May 5, 2010 the President signed the Caregiver and Veterans Omnibus Health Service Act of 2010, increasing the amounts available under the HISA grant:

  • Home improvement benefits up to $6,800 may be provided for a:
    • service-connected condition
    • non-service-connected condition of a Veteran rated 50 percent or more service-connected
  • Home improvement benefits up to $2,000 may be provided to all other Veterans registered in the VA health care system
 http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/hisa2.asp
formats

20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home

20 Warning Signs Your Parent Needs Help at Home

 

Maybe you’ve noticed that dad’s unopened mail is piling up. Or mom, once meticulous about her appearance, is wearing wrinkled clothes and not doing her hair. Perhaps there are bruises on your aging parent’s arms. When you bring up the subject, you hear, “Everything is fine. There’s no need to worry.”

Admitting they need help would mean they can’t take care of themselves anymore, and no one wants to lose their independence. “Denial is the unrealistic hope that a problem is not really happening and will go away by itself. Admitting they need help and accepting assistance is not easy for people as they age. It represents a loss of independence. Denial plays a major role – and signs get ignored,” says Paul Hogan, Founder and Chairman of Home Instead Senior Care.

The burden often falls on the family to recognize the signs that an aging parent might need help with daily living tasks.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that your loved one has to go to assisted living or a nursing home, but they may need some extra help in their home. If they’re not willing to admit it, how do you know if your elderly parent needs home care?

Here are signs that may indicate your parent needs help at home:

  • Spoiled food that doesn’t get thrown away
  • Missing important appointments
  • Unexplained bruising
  • Trouble getting up from a seated position
  • Difficulty with walking, balance and mobility
  • Uncertainty and confusion when performing once-familiar tasks
  • Forgetfulness
  • Unpleasant body odor
  • Infrequent showering and bathing
  • Strong smell of urine in the house
  • Noticeable decline in grooming habits and personal care
  • Dirty house, extreme clutter and dirty laundry piling up
  • Stacks of unopened mail or an overflowing mailbox
  • Late payment notices, bounced checks and calls from bill collectors
  • Poor diet or weight loss
  • Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
  • Changes in mood or extreme mood swings
  • Forgetting to take medications – or taking more than the prescribed dosage
  • Diagnosis of dementia or early onset Alzheimer’s
  • Unexplained dents and scratches on a car
 http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/paying-for-home-care-services-143228.htm
formats

My Elderly Parent Has Dementia: What Activities Can We Do?

 

My Elderly Parent Has Dementia: What Activities Can We Do?

Caregivers for the elderly with dementia often find that coming up with activities for the elder can require much thought and effort. But they are vital to your parent’s health and well-being. Creating activities can really be quite simple if you follow some general guidelines.

Create Meaningful Activities

  • Consider their interests
    Depending on how severe your parent’s dementia is or their stage of Alzheimer’s, activities can vary; however, designing activities that involve their past interests are of the utmost importance. For example, if they love to garden, foster that passion with stimulating gardening activities.What if your parent does not have either the physical or cognitive capability to engage in activities they once loved? Beth Kallmyer, Director of Family and Information Services for the Alzheimer’s Association, recommends adjusting activities to fit their abilities. If your parent loved gardening but no longer has the mental ability to engage in it independently, consider assisting them or simplifying the activity. You can go outside with them and do planting and gardening together, or you can bring a few pots with seeds inside the house for your parent to water daily.

    Try to make activities meaningful, rather than ones aimed at simply passing time. Even though your parent may not remember different activities they do, he or she will simply enjoy the moment. It contributes to their general happiness.

  • Reestablish old routines
    It is very common for seniors to feel as if they have lost their sense of purpose. Design activities that you and your parent can do together and that will make them feel needed and useful. Many things people do are habitual – for example, washing dishes, folding laundry or taking out the trash. Your parent’s ability may not be what it once was, but giving them a small task that they are able to accomplish independently or helping you with a more complicated task will create a safe sense of purpose for them.
formats

Grab Bar Safety Tips

Grab Bar Safety Tips

Bathroom safety is paramount for elderly parents, as most accidents and falls happen in the bathroom. Here are six tips for grab bar placement and safety for you or your elderly parent’s home.

Grab Bar Height

There is no standard height requirement for residential installation of grab bars, and everyone’s needs are different. But as a rule of thumb, in ADA-compliant bathrooms, grab bars are installed 33-inches to 36-inches off the finished floor.

Grab Bar Length

Grab bars should cover as much of the shower wall as possible. If you have a large shower, have a bar for each wall to ensure safety.

Attach to Studs

Your grab bars will be rock-solid if you anchor them to studs. Find the studs near your proposed grab bar location using a stud sensor.

Test Strength

You’re not done until you yank-test. Give the bars a good solid yank to test their holding power. With a helper standing by in case the bar comes loose, pull with all your strength. Now’s the time to make sure the bar will hold up when it’s really needed.

Proper Placement

Even a solidly anchored grab bar is useless if it’s in the wrong place. What location is best depends on the situation. If you’re installing the bars for a person with a disability or injury, have this person help you decide which location will be most helpful. Aphysical therapist or an occupational therapist also can help with this decision.

Placement Suggestions

Here are some locations where grab bars are helpful:

Outside of the Shower or Tub. Having a small grab bar placed vertically outside of the shower or tub entry is great for assistance stepping to and from a wet surface.

Tub Deck. Soaking tubs are all the rage in bathroom design. However, trouble can come quickly if someone is unable to exit the tub. Install a grab bar on the wall behind the tub and/or a small grab bar on the tub deck. Be sure the grab bar is in a place where a foot cannot trip on it while entering or exiting a tub.

Towel Bars with Strength. Let’s face it, when you are about to fall you’ll grab on to anything close by – including a towel bar. Why not make towel bars safer by replacing them with grab bars?

Toilet Paper Holder. For those who have a hard time getting up from a seated position, there are some grab bars that can also be used as a toilet paper holder, while still maintaining its strength of supporting 250 pounds of force.

 

http://www.agingcare.com/Articles/tips-for-grab-bar-safety-for-elderly-parents-139130.htm