Helen Dennis – Orlando Sentinel

Get your balance right: Essential tips to help prevent falls by older adults

Helen Dennis — Tue, 14 Nov 2023 20:35:28 +0000

Last week, we provided some facts to validate H.K.’s concern about her 89-year-old father who has balance problems yet refuses any help. Despite his refusal, we know there are things we can do to mitigate the risks by creating a living environment that is as risk-free as possible.

The National Institute on Aging provides some tips useful for everyone, regardless of age.

Floors, stairway and hallways: Handrails on both sides are ideal. If the handrail is only on one side – use it and carry what you need in the free hand. If needed, make a second trip. Also, no small throw rugs, even if they are heirlooms, worth a lot of money or add just the perfect touch to your floor or hallway. Carpets need to be fixed firmly to the floor.

Bathrooms: This is one of the most dangerous rooms. According to the National Institute on Aging, 80 percent of older adult falls happen in the bathroom due to slippery floors and surfaces. Here are some tips: Place a non-slip mat inside and outside the tub. Plug in nightlights in and around the bathroom. Clean up puddles on the floor. Install grab bars by the toilet or near the shower and tub and keep shampoo, soap and other bath products high on a shelf to avoid bending over.

Bedrooms: Darkness is a hazard. Place nightlights and switches close to your bed and keep a flashlight close by in case of a power outage, particularly if you need to make a bathroom stop. Also, keep a well-charged phone or landline near your bed.

Kitchen: Place pots, pans and utensils in a place that is easy to reach. That may involve rearranging your kitchen. Clean up spills immediately; they are falls waiting to happen. Be cautious of waxed floors; if possible, do without. Consider a non-slip mat in areas near common spills or water.

Outdoor spaces: Make sure steps leading to your home are not broken. When visiting others, be aware that some older homes have concrete steps that are not deep which can affect one’s balance. If leaving your home during the day and plan to return when dark, turn on an outdoor light when leaving or have a programmed outdoor light. Also, consider a grab bar near your front door for balance as you lock the door.

Other living areas: One may think, “Just this one time, I’ll stand on the chair to reach something high. Don’t. That one time could be the last time. Use a reach-stick or ask for help. If you use a step stool, make sure it’s steady and has a handrail on top. If you have a pet, know where it is when you are standing or walking. Keep electrical cords near walls and aways from walking paths. Make sure your sofas and chairs are the right height for you to get in and out easily. Finally, keep a list of emergency numbers in large print near your phone and save them under “favorites” on your mobile phone.

Here are few other tips: Get eyes checked once a year and update eyeglasses as needed. Review medications periodically to check for side effects such as drowsiness or dizziness which could increase the risk for falling. And get your hearing checked since hearing plays an important role in balance. A Johns Hopkins study found that falls increase threefold with even a mild hearing loss.

Fall prevention is not just about our environment; it’s about one’s level of fitness. To prevent or minimize injury from a fall, consider exercise. Regardless of one’s life stage, there are fitness programs that can suit each individual’s level for optimum functioning. Such exercises typically are designed to maintain or enhance strength, balance and flexibility. For example, consider tai chi, yoga or join a fitness class.

“When we fall, we are consumed with embarrassment,” writes author Dani Shapiro in the New York Times article (“My Fall Made Me Feel Ashamed,” November 4, 2023).” She continues, “A fall is different from an accident or an act of violence. It’s not something done to you, but something you have done. I had been an agent of my own near catastrophe. My trust in myself had been broken along with my jaw.” Shapiro continues, “When injured we are separated from the herd of the healthy.” She offers a lesson learned: “If we could all acknowledge our shared fragility (with age), shame would disappear.”

Let’s also remember that exercise can push becoming fragile out to our latest year.

H.K., Thank you for your important question. Your father is fortunate to have you as a caring daughter. Stay well and know small acts of kindness count.

Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on facebook.com/SuccessfulAgingCommunity

Does having a pet help those with Alzheimer’s disease? Let’s take a look

Helen Dennis — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 19:47:28 +0000

Q. My wife is in the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, her memory continues to decline and she slowly is becoming isolated. She relies on others for conversation, speaking very little and cannot be left alone. Would having a dog be a comfort to her or even lessen some of her symptoms? Many thanks. D.J.

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia is demanding and often consuming of one’s time and energy. This disease is progressive with no agreed-upon cause or cure. Yet we have some encouragement with a newly approved drug that slows its progression but just for a period of time. The cure cannot come fast enough as an estimated 6.7 million Americans age 65 and older are reported to have this brain disease in 2023.

So, what can we do in the meantime? Having a pet seems to help. The Alzheimer’s Association reports that animal therapy can help people navigate dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association cites several studies that evaluate the impact of regular engagements with both living and robotic animals. Mood was found to improve as well as interaction with others. Engagement with the pet had a calming effect on dementia-related behaviors and also helped to increase physical activity.

Furthermore, pets can provide a feeling of unconditional love as well as a source for support and comfort. Then there is the feeling of companionship, friendship and a sense of purpose – just caring for another living entity. There’s more. It can improve self-esteem and confidence while promoting independence by playing a role in the pet’s feeding, walking and grooming.

So, the short answer is yes, having a pet such as a dog has the strong potential to have a positive influence on those with Alzheimer’s disease.

However, there are some considerations in making that decision as suggested by the UK Alzheimer’s Association.

Does the person have the capacity and judgment to decide whether he or she wants a pet?
Does the person interact well with animals? If the individual didn’t care for dogs prior to dementia, it’s unlikely that will change.
Give some serious thought to the type of pet. If it is a dog, consider breeds such as a pug, schnauzer, cocker spaniel, chihuahua or Boston Terrier as recommended by SuperCarers. Also, do your own investigation.
Consider the amount of work and effort required to take care of a dog. Is the dog calm and does it require minimal maintenance?
Beware of the risk for falls. Is the person suffering from dementia likely to trip or fall over the animal?

Here are two important caveats. Does the individual with Alzheimer’s disease have visual limitations, such as poor sight, glaucoma or other eye infirmities? If so, tripping or falling over the animal, its leash or watering bowl is a big risk.

The second pertains to the family care provider. Does that person have any limitations in vision, balance or energy that would interfere with the maintenance of the dog or place an added strain or even jeopardize existing caregiving responsibilities? Think about flea problems, trips to the veterinarian, dog walking or doggie accidents in the house.

If these two areas of risk are relevant consider a robotic dog. There are many on the market. I became acquainted with one at an age and technology conference from a company called TomBot. Their Jennie is an interactive emotional support robotic dog, designed by Jim Henson’s Creature Future shop.

The co-founder and owner Tom Stevens came to this project with 30-plus years as a high-tech executive and developed the company TomBot in response to his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease. Since she could no longer personally care for her puppy, he created Jennie as a substitute. This realistic robotic dog is covered with sensors and responds to different kinds of touches and its name. If renamed, it also will respond. It sleeps when it is dark and wakes at daylight. When I touched Jennie’s face with my hand, her fur felt real as she snuggled her face into my palm. When I looked into Jennie’s eyes, I felt she was looking back at me. There are others on the market; this is just one I have experienced.

So best wishes D.J. in supporting your wife on this journey. Wishing you and your wife continued strength and good health. And thank you for your good question.

As a friendly reminder, take a moment to be kind to yourself and others.