Age in Place by Lynda Shrager OTR MSW

Author:Lynda Shrager OTR, MSW [G.shrager, Lynda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-945188-18-3
Publisher: Bull Publishing Company
Published: 2018-04-20T04:00:00+00:00

Organizing the linen closet is gratifying but challenging, because there is so much folding involved. Folding, however, is a great exercise for my patients, as it requires them to move all the joints of their arms but with little resistance. Put mom in front of the table with a pile of towels and sheets and let her go to work. Separators that adhere to the shelf are wonderful to keep the piles of folded towels and linens from falling over. This is also a good time to dispose of sheets and towels that have seen better days. Suggest mom and dad treat themselves to some new linens with high thread count and soft, absorbent cotton towels.

Organize medicines by gathering all the expired ones and throwing away any that are past their prime. Prescription medicines have expiration dates on the labels; dates for over-the-counter meds are stamped on the bottles and boxes. Be sure to follow the specific disposal guidelines on the bottle or patient information sheet. Don’t flush prescription drugs down the toilet unless directed to do so. Check for hazardous waste collection sites and “take back” programs that allow you to bring in unused drugs for proper disposal. If in doubt about what to crush, flush, or throw away, you can always ask the pharmacist for advice. Remove identifying information from the prescription label before disposing to help maintain your parents’ privacy and protect personal health information. You don’t need the world to know they have acid reflux, are diabetic, or need a little something to take the edge off of that depression.

Items that may need to be moved out of the way include the bathroom scale—there’s no rule that it must be in the bathroom—and the wastebasket and clothes hamper. Keep a set of cleaning supplies as well as a toilet bowl brush and plunger in all bathrooms to eliminate the need to transport them from room to room. Use long handles for mops, brooms, and dustpans to avoid bending. For bathtub cleaning, mom or dad should stand outside the tub with a long mop rather than sitting and leaning over the side while scrubbing with a sponge.

Regarding access and safety, grab bars are not just for tubs and showers. I have recommended that patients place suction grab bars on the countertop next to the sink so they can hold on to something while brushing their teeth, shaving, or washing up. Remember not to adhere them to a surface that is bumpy or has breaks or grout lines, as they simply will not attach. Regular grab bars can also be installed on the wall just inside the doorway, as shown in this photo, which is especially handy when a walker must be parked outside the room.

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