Group items tagged

This organization meshes senior living with computer technology individualized for seniors. This is a cool idea and incorporates physical exercises in the system as well as social and cognitive stimulation. I believe it's a great innovative way to keep the aging mind stimulated and in touch with family and friends.

Reduced mobility has "profound social, psychological, and physical consequences." Some simple tests and questions can indicate a senior person's level of mobility.

This article is pretty amazing in that a senior in college used a 3-D printer to make herself a better splint for an injury that happened while playing softball.

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Stairs inside home are safe End of stairs is clearly marked (top and bottom) Handrails on both sides of stairs Hallways and doorways wide and obstruction free Fire extinguisher available Smoke detectors present Adequate lighting Throw rugs absent Area rugs secure and safe Adequate heat Adequate cooling Space heaters safe

this is a neat interactive tool that you can use with senior (or any age) clients to help educate them about what safety hazards to watch out for and avoid in their home. It is a fun, visual way to show and tell the client about what to look for in the different rooms (living room, kitchen, bathroom and bedroom) in order to reduce the risk of falling. Something different besides a checklist.

just click on the "hidden hazards house" link to help Harold find the 26 hazards

This is very interesting research that has been done on studying how many older adults using technology. Statistically 68% of adults age 75 and older are using internet.Well educated and financially stable seniors adapt internet faster that those with lower education and income. Seniors that not using internet find that they are missing a lot of valuable information. It finds that 35% of adult Internet users now have a profile on at least one social networking site.

This is a current (2013) piece by PBS that talks about how seniors can 'age in place' in their home by being in touch with programs that come together to help each other with ADLs and IADLs. For example, the Capital Hill Village is a group of seniors who work together to make sure they are all taken care of in their home. This means that someone can volunteer to count pills, garden, or even take them to the doctor. The most important benefit of this group seems to be the social relationships and connecting with people. As OTAs we need to educate oursleves on what type of community programs are available so we can educate the elderly on how to more safely and soically age in place. Also, at the end of the clip it talks about home assessments and how everyone needs a plan for aging!

This is a link to an awesome website for The Fontana Center.  The Fontana Center is a center for work rehabilitation.  It is owned and run by an OTR and also hires COTAs, massage therapy, and fitness experts.  This place is very holistic.  It offers seminars and workshops on ergonomics and preventing work place injury.  It also prescreens employees for companies to make sure their candidate can handle the physical aspects of the job that they are applying for…this saves the company lots of money in the long run.  The facility offers functional capacity evaluations and work hardening programs.  It also has fitness classes including water aerobics/therapy, yoga, and even classes for seniors.  This is great for fall prevention! I love this place…I wonder how many places like this exist in the US?

Certification for Cognitive Stimulation

This infographic can be helpful to caregivers and clinicians alike as it focuses on the psychosocial needs of the client (which can often be overlooked). For health practitioners it is frustrating to see clients not being compliant with their medication or maintaining a healthy lifestyle but sometimes there is more to this than just plain stubbornness. This infographic discusses possible reasons as to why client's are not making the progress we hope for them and it emphasizes the importance of client-centered care. Asking clients WHY and working with them to adjust and adapt their care to reach the best fit for them as individuals is very important.

From tongue-activated adaptive switches and powered wheelchairs to big button telephones and door knob extenders, products and devices for assistive living for the elderly help maintain independence while making daily activities less difficult. Assistive Devices and Products As our bodies age many people find that everyday tasks and activities become difficult and sometimes even impossible.

At my last fieldwork placement I got to watch a couple of driving assessments. Driving brings a person much freedom. Taking away the privilege can be devastating to some. This article gives some good tips on to talk with a loved one about their ability or non-ability to drive. I think the tips would apply to those of us who find ourselves working in situations where we would have to talk with client's about this subject.

This is a tough issue. I used to worry about my grandmother so much. She started having little fender benders. It is good for us to be aware as COTA's how significant driving or not driving can be to our clients.

The conversation regarding when someone should no longer drive could be quite hard. I found this website that gives advise on how to have this conversation. It discusses how to plan for it, how to bring it up, how to handle objections and the environment in which it should take place. It also talks about how to help the individual with the transition (finding other means of transportation, etc).

This wasn't what I was looking for, but this would be a wonderful resource for seniors in the Knoxville area.

a simple checklist of ADL and IADLs specifically geared toward seniors.

This article contains useful tips for those cooking with a disability. I believe it helps promote independent living; which is very important to a lot of seniors. It has simple strategies broken down that are easy to follow and information on helpful adaptive equipment.

I think we need to be aware of the warning signs that affect that impair driving.

I actually taught this program under a PT when I worked at Greenfield Senior Living. It focuses on strengthening, balance, and walking which decreases chance of falling with the aging adults. Studies have shown that falls are reduced by 35% by using this program.

As we age, our needs and interests evolve and change, so our choices of housing should be wide ranging, as should be the spectrum of activities and services. Most older adults wish to remain in their homes and communities as they age.

I chose this article because when I was at Keystone, an adult day program in Oak Ridge, I saw the benefit of this program in allowing seniors with physical and cognitive deficits to remain at home, or in assisted living, for longer periods of time. I liked this article's emphasis on integration of many programs to age in place successfully.