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The National Association of Home Builders offers information on creating a safe, accessible home for those people wishing to age in place. As people get older many find it important to be in familiar surroundings. Included are questions the home owner should ask like what things are needed in the home in order to age safely. There is a checklist provided on how to choose a remodeler. Additional questions are included that the homeowner should consider asking in order to get exactly what they need. There are Certified Aging-in-Place specialists that are trained in this specific area.

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 great resource that is short and concise to help therapist incorporate their patients in the transfer process.  Safe transfers is about good positioning but it is also about have clear communication with the patient.  I like the sample phrases within this article aimed  at having better communication with the patient.  Communication that the patient can understand is crucial to the transfer process.

I thought this video was great for what has been being discussed in class between THP and safe transferring in/out of a vehicle. There are a few things mentioned in the video that I would have not considered for a THP, so I felt that others' may benefit from this as well. This video provides an example of how to educate a patient on the different precautions. I felt like this was important because OTA's are holistic and being able to transport safely from place to place is a very important factor.

I love this lady! She is an OTA who has a lower extremity amputation and allows the viewer to see the real life struggles in a first person point of view. She gives good advice for safe showering/bathing and points out different ways for different people. Lastly, this video will help home health OTA's to know what an amputee may need to make life easier (stand up shower vs. bathtub).

This is so funny! Love the cat! Good, practical info too.

This website from the American College of Rheumatology provides fast facts re: appropriate exercises for those who suffer from arthritis. What exercises are helpful and safe, who should exercise and which exercises are best, when to exercise and how to get started. Good info to know and share with potential clients in the future

Be approachable, open-minded and non-judgmental. This is a great checklist to read over before talking with your clients about sex. Included is how to provide an environment that the client feels safe speaking of sex, key areas that should be covered, some barriers that are faced by minority populations, and many reminders to be open minded, non-judgmental, and to keep your personal beliefs out of the discussion.

This is a tip sheet I discovered on the AOTA website.  It provides very useful tips for helping your older parent remain at home and age in place safely, as well as ways to approach the topic with them.  I really loved the idea of presenting home modifications as gifts. This tip sheet is of particular interest to me as my mother slowly descends into the world of Alzheimer's disease.

The nature of care-giving can place great physical stress on you as the caregiver. Practicing proper body mechanics will decrease the stress and strain and help to safely manage the mobility of the care-receiver. The primary rule is to maintain the normal lumbar curve at all times.

Thanks for sharing, I used this website in my Pearltrees about PD, it has very helpful info.

Body Mechanics Training. Body mechanics training is the application of proper body movement to prevent and correct poor posture, reduce stress on ligaments, joints and tendons and to enhance physical capabilities. Mechanics studies energy and forces and their affects on bodies. Mechanics derives from physics. Biomechanics is applying mechanics to biological systems, and it...

This articles looks at reasons why healthcare occupations have the highest rates of musculoskeletal injuries in our nation and what the healthcare industry is doing to prevent injuries in the workplace.

Information about transfers, how to sit safely, etc. I found this helpful.

Mission Statement: To increase access to community resources and services for Knoxville-Knox County residents who have no other means of transportation by providing safe, reasonably comfortable transportation. Provides limited transportation to people of all ages within Knox County who have no other means to get to medical appointments, shopping, employment, and other essential services.

Learn about the importance of exercise for rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis exercises can safely provide pain relief and build muscle strength.

Note- in order to view this article online, you must be a member of AOTA. This article talks about how different people may define the word "home" differently and how that definition can impact someone's ability to safely "age-in-place" and how a person's home environment can impact a person's engagement in meaningful occupations.

This article supports OT in aging in place. This article provides evidence that the I-HOPE is an effective tool when evaluating barriers that elderly individuals are faced with as they age in their homes. By using the I-HOPE evaluation, it ensure the ability for individual to make adjustments and remain in a safe home environment. Safety evaluations are (I think) a billable service.

Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in the Workplace Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect the muscles, nerves and tendons. Work related MSDs (including those of the neck, upper extremities and low back) are one of the leading causes of lost workday injury and illness.

This is a really great website that talks about ergonomics in the workplace. It specifically talks about how to prevent musculoskeletal disorders. One thing unique about this website is that it also address what the employers responsibilities are and what rights the worker has in regards to prevention, and a safe workplace. It gives multiple links to OSHA standards for a workplace, and also a list of some of the top careers that result in musculoskeletal disorders.

This website really helped me understand body mechanics more. Of course we all should know by now what the basic body mechanics are "lift with your knees, keep heavy loads close to your body etc." This website takes it one step further and actually describes in detail how to specifically perform each technique. It also mentions several techniques that I was not aware of. It is so important to take care of your body, and to stay safe. This is a great website to take a look at!

This short video shows simple, but effective ways to successfully protect one's hand joints. The ideas shown in this video could be helpful for anyone, however, while watching this video I specifically thought of people who have JRA/RA. These compensatory strategies could allow a person to have their independence longer. Furthermore, I always love to be educated on easier ways of doing activities and in the video it shows ideas for using a shelf liner. I believe this video is fantastic for supporting safe ways of doing one's ADL/IADL's.

This video gives a lot of good ideas for protecting your hand joints. I've noticed that going to the grocery store requires a lot of pushing, pulling, lifting, and manipulating with the wrists, hands, and fingers. My hands are really small, and I've started to pay more attention to what I'm asking them to do. Like, when opening a door, I use more of my body to push it open then just ramming my hand on the push bar.