Three ways to help your loved one age in place
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | MAY 28-JUNE 3, 2021 23
In what seemed like an instant,
the COVID-19 pandemic
turned the world
upside down. In addition
to completely changing the
way we work, shop and interact
with others - just to name a
few - it’s also forcing seniors to
rethink their living arrangements
and plans for the future,
and changing the way we care
for our elderly parents.
Given the recommendations
around social distancing
and documented outbreaks
in nursing homes
and other care facilities,
more and more seniors are
opting to age in place or, in
other words, remain in their
homes. But that’s easier said
than done. Whether we’re in
a pandemic or not, adjustments
need to be made to ensure
they have the support
to do so safely.
Medication management
According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), nearly half of
Americans take at least one
prescription drug, and one
in four take three or more.
However, studies have consistently
shown that 20%
to 30% of prescriptions are
never filled and about 50%
of medications for chronic
disease are not taken as prescribed.
“Medication compliance
is one of the most frequent
reasons for decompensation
with chronic medical illnesses,”
said Mitchell Hyatt
McClure, M.D., Chief, Hospital
Medicine at Hartford
Hospital.
To help your loved one
stay on track with their
medication regimen, consider
an automatic medicine
dispenser like Pria™ by
BLACK+DECKER. Pria is
a smart pill dispenser and
home healthcare assistant
designed to empower seniors
to maintain their independence
at home. Not only does
it dispense the right dose at
the right time, but it also
allows caregivers to stay
connected through two-way
video calls, reminders and
check-ins.
When using Pria for more
than 90 days, users’ average
adherence rate was 82% - up
from 39% when used for fewer
than 45 days. Caregiver
presence also positively influences
medication adherence
when using Pria. Users
with one caregiver had an
average adherence rate of
79.4%, users with two caregivers
were at 80.9% and
users with three caregivers
were up to 88.2%.
“An electronic pill dispenser
like Pria can be
invaluable for patients in
promoting better health by
improving medication compliance
and reinforcing good
health habits. The ability to
additionally use Pria as a
tool to communicate is an
added benefit to combat social
isolation, a problem that
already existed in our elderly
patients, but has been
made increasingly worse by
the COVID pandemic,” said
McClure.
Remote monitoring
According to the National
Council on Aging (NCOA),
an older adult dies from a
fall every 19 minutes. In fact,
falls are the leading cause
of fatal injury and the most
common cause of nonfatal
trauma-related hospital admissions
among older adults.
Furthermore, falls - with or
without injury - can greatly
impact seniors’ quality of
life. A fear of falling creates
a sense of uneasiness that
often leads to a decrease in
activity, which can, in turn,
lead to physical decline, depression,
social isolation
and feelings of helplessness.
But caregivers can provide
active loved ones with
confident mobility simply by
investing in a remote monitoring
device.
Whether it’s a necklace
equipped with GPS, a smartwatch
that can detect a fall
and automatically alert
emergency services, an inhome
device that connects
directly to emergency response
operators or a combination
of the three, your
loved one will be able to age
in place with the peace of
mind that they have access
to help should they need it.
Home modifi cations
Most homes aren’t designed
for long-term care.
However, simple home modifications
can make it easier
- and safer - for seniors to age
in place. And when it comes
to home modifications, the
possibilities are endless.
When deciding which
modifications to make, walk
around the house with your
loved one and identify their
specific pain points. If they
fear slipping in the shower,
add a shower chair; if the
front steps lack support, install
railings; if their hardwood
floors are slippery, lay
down no-slip mats for traction.
There are a number of
options, both temporary and
permanent, that can help
your loved one stay in their
home safely and comfortably.
The coronavirus pandemic
has put our aging
population at great risk, so
it should come as no surprise
that many seniors
have opted to age in place.
While it may be uncomfortable
for family caregivers to
accept this decision, it can
be incredibly fulfilling and
liberating for seniors when
planned for properly. By
utilizing available technology
and making modifications
where necessary, most
seniors can remain happy,
healthy and independent in
their own homes.
— Courtesy of BPT
SENIOR LIVING
/QNS.COM
