Hurricane Season Medical Checklist

As the years pass, our bodies age. Everything must age with time, thats just the cycle of life, and its never too early to start thinking about proactive steps to plan for the future.According to the DailyMail we start to age as early as our mid-20s. From our brain, our sight, our muscles, and even our eyes. While we cant control the biology, we can control the environment we create. Weve vetted top five things you can do to make your home more accessible and aging-friendly, whether its for yourself or a loved one.Aging-in-Place on a budget Tip 1: Turn up the brightnessMost individuals with corrective lenses or not tend to have complications navigating in the dark. To avoid this, start to increase the lighting inside and outside your home, especially in stairways and hallways.Perhaps you are starting to see vision loss for yourself and/or for family members. By adding another light or using brighter bulbs (be sure to check allowable wattage on each fixture when increasing bulb size) in your stairways and even some outside, you are able to increase your chance of preventing falls that may have taken place in dim lighting.Aging-in-Place on a budget Tip 2: The wider the betterHave you ever stumbled coming through a door? Have you ever been on crutches or had a walker, and noticed just how small your walkway really was? If you or someone you live with has mobility challenges, you dont want to regret not being prepared, as these smaller doorways make it harder to enter and exit rooms. Especially troublesome can be door thresholds young and old may not be expecting them. An easy fix is an Amramp Adjustable Threshold Ramp provides an accessible solution for uneven thresholds and is available in 3 widths.According to the US Census Bureau approximately 19% of the population is mobility challenged, which is almost 2 out of every 10 people you come into contact with! Create accessible places in your home for all by beginning to think about expanding your doorways, walkways, and hallways. This is also something to consider for aging parents homes, being prepared in case of emergency is the best solution always.Aging-in-Place on a budget Tip 3: Give yourself a handAs you grow older, you experience muscle loss, and as your bone density decreases, your sense of balance does, too. Loss of balance can make falls more common when walking up and down stairs or getting up from a chair. Adding grab bars and railings in the bathroom, stairways, and even hallways can assist in preventing loss of balance.When you are older, injuries from a fall can take up to 10 years to fully heal; while individuals under the age of 30 can heal in a matter of months. This is why your safety is important to consider as you age. A simple grab bar or railing in the bathroom, where it is slippery, or stairs, or even outdoors can help prevent a life-altering fall.Aging-in-Place on a budget Tip 4: Safety RoutesDo you need a solution to getting around your home safely and efficiently? For individuals who utilize a wheelchair, cane, walker, or other mobility support systems, it can be challenging to get from one point of the home to the other, indoors and outdoors, in a timely and safe manner. That is why it is important to look into the benefits of using and installing products such as modular entrance ramps, vertical platforms, and electric stair lifts.For those with mobility concerns, it could be life-altering to install an entrance ramp with railings. The benefits of installing an entrance ramp are endless, they include:Getting indoors and outdoors easily and independentlyIncreased safety for those with mobility challenges in case of an emergency such as a fireNo-slip surface with Amramps modular unique open mesh modular ramp surfaceIn many cases, space is a big concern perhaps not enough room to install a wheelchair ramp. In these situations, a vertical platform lift or inclined platform lift provides access to raised entries to and/or inside your home. Platform lift installation is quick and easy.Residential and commercial vertical lifts and platform lifts are:Virtually maintenance-freeWeatherproof for indoor and outdoor useModels range from 4 to 14 feetBattery back-ups availableSimilarly to being able to get inside and outside, going up and down your staircase indoors or outdoors may be another accessibility challenge in your home. Installing a electric stair lift may be the solution to opening up the rest of your home to being fully accessible. This product provides a solution to an otherwise stressful everyday task. To be able to get to and from a destination in your own home should not be an obstacle to overcome each and every day.Aging-in-Place on a budget Tip 5: Opening doors yourselfAccessing doors can pose a problem for many people: From those with arthritis to those with accessibility needs, it can become a daunting task. It may even become a chore to try to hold all your items while simultaneously opening up the front door or any door for that matter. Installing an automatic door opener can relieve some of that stress.Automatic door openers can hold up in all weather, as well as still be locked with a key. The system does not require you to replace your door entirely but just adds an extra ability to your current door. This easy solution is friendly to all ages and accessibility challenges and can help your home become that much more aging-friendly.For accessibility solutions for your home or business, contact Amramps accessibility experts for more information. 

Download these apps to find wheelchair accessible destinations in your neighborhood and all over the worldWheelmateWheelMate lets wheelchair users around the world locate wheelchair-accessible toilets and parking spaces. The WheelMate app currently has more than 30,000 locations across 45 countries and more are being added every day. Learn moreWheelmapWheelmap is based on OpenStreetMap and works similarly to Wikipedia everyone can contribute to improving the accumulated data. The app draws its information directly from the net. All data is always up to date.Access EarthAccording to an interview with the Huffington Post, Access Earth founder and creator Matt McCann started working on the app after he booked a stay at a hotel that had advertised itself as wheelchair accessible, only to find that it was not. Access Earth members give each other the specific information they need to try new restaurants, hotels and tourist attractions without worrying about accessibility.Wheely NYC Stairways to the subway and lack of signage are only a few of the many accessibility challenges wheelchair users can face while in New York City. Wheely features accessible subway maps licensed by the MTA, specific directions and maps to subway elevators, and reviews based on locally accessible places. Wheely was founded by Anthony Driscoll, a Parsons New School MFA Design and Technology candidate, who was inspired to create this app through his travels with his father who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.AXS MapAXS Map pulls destinationsrestaurants, attractionsfrom Google Maps for users to rate how accessible they are. The app encourages hands-on engagement with the Mapathon functionality. The concept of Mapathon is to host a community event to go out and rate accessibility in your neighborhood. If users prefer not to start their own Mapathon, they are also able to join Mapathons with the guidance of AXS maps. 

Nearly 90 percent of surveyed seniors over age 65 want to stay in their current residence for as long as possible, but many of those homes are not equipped to let them age in place. Mental, physical, and financial health are also key considerations in deciding the best living situation for an aging loved one. COVID-19 has now added other considerations about social distancing and confined living spaces to finding the best solutions.The four main factors that families should consider in this process are the individuals:physical and mental healthaccess to the communityenvironmental requirementsfinancial factorsThree solution models for independent and semi-independent living are:aging in placemulti-generational livingassisted living facilityAll three of these solutions have been complicated by COVID-19, which we will discuss later. Having an open and ongoing dialog with the loved one and others involved before there is a dramatic change in the individuals needs allows an opportunity to assess the needs calmly and clearly and develop a plan.By planning, you wont be making care and living arrangement decisions when you are in the middle of dealing with a health crisis. If you start planning now before any issues arise, you can space out any work and expenses over a period of time.Assessing Health ConditionsWhen assessing the mental and physical health of the individual, you should always be in regular contact with their healthcare professionals to provide factual information and expertise about the specifics of the individuals situation and how it is likely to evolve. That along with periodic monitoring of how the individual can perform and remember to perform the activities of daily living will help understand both the current level of assistance they need and anticipating the short, medium, and long term assistance needs.70 percent of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care services. These services include cooking and feeding a loved one, helping with personal care, bathing, and helping conduct daily tasks such as house cleaning and maintenance and running errands.Additional key statistics regarding long-term care:78% of adults receiving long-term care at home rely solely on family and friends for assistanceOn average, caregivers spend about 21 hours per week assisting their patient or family memberOver 90% of family caregivers alter their work schedule to care for a loved oneMore than 10% had to move to be closer to their family member in need of careCommunityConsidering what parts of the community are required, important, or enjoyed is integral to maintaining the independence and quality of life of the individual.medical appointments who do they need to see, for what reason, how often to they have to meet them, where are they located and how will they get therefamily, friends for care and companionshipreligious servicesgrocery stores, pharmacy and other retail locations for safe access to food, clothing, household supplies, and medicineThis could also be handled by online and in-home delivery optionsCaregiversCleaning services and other home maintenance servicesSecondary considerations should be given to what they enjoy doing, such as groups or organizations that they belong to, dining out with friends, or going to parks or other recreational activities.Addressing these in a prioritized manner will help when creating a comprehensive solution.EnvironmentalIdentifying risks in the individuals current living environment and removing or mitigating those risks is essential for them staying safe.Consult with the individuals doctor or occupational therapist to identify any health concerns, or locate a CAPS (Certified Aging In Place Specialist) professional to help identify possible problem areas in the home, and work with you on providing potential solutions. Typical risks in the home would be stairs interior and exterior, task areas such as the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and bedrooms, and other areas where sitting and standing transitions happen. For individuals who would like to stay in their homes, they should be addressing this with their contractor when making home modifications at any stage of their life but more importantly as they get older.FinancialProbably the most uncertain and complicated part of this decision is the financial aspect. Working with a trusted financial professional is always highly recommended. You will want to investigate long term care insurance benefits or state programs that the individual may qualify for to cover or help offset some of the costs related to home modifications, in-home care, and assisted living. However, most of the state programs have limits on the amount of income or assets, age requirements, medical diagnosis, or are a one time benefit, but they are available and quite helpful. For home modifications, a trusted contractor can sit and listen to your needs and help price out a scope of work to make those accommodations, including financing options.Aging in PlaceThe Age in Place model is where modifications are made to the individuals home allowing them to remain safe and independent in the home. This is a great solution for individuals who are aging but have limited or manageable health issues, can accomplish the activities of daily living with little assistance, and want to remain independent. The main concern around COVID 19 with this solution is with outside assistance coming into the home and limited oversight of the individuals behavior primarily around social distancing.This is typically done through home modifications and adaptive equipment being installed to remove or lessen risks of injury, like a wheelchair ramp, grab bars and safety railings, walk-in shower, first-floor bedroom, and bathroom, as well as increasing the ease of use of appliances and other task-oriented items like lever-style door and faucet handles, and even voice-activated smart technologies, to maintain the safety and independence.This is a long term approach and should be part of any home modification and especially those being looked at as the last big renovation to the home. When you are ready to start your project, look for a company with accessibilities experience that is familiar with the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as local zoning laws. Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) are trained by the National Association of Home Builders on the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations and training and experience on adapting homes for aging in place and special needs.Multi-Generational LivingThe Multi-generational Living model is when the loved one comes to live with a member of the family, for example, aging parents moving into the home of one of their adult children. This is a great solution for individuals who are aging but have some health issues that require more care and monitoring by family members rather than outside assistance, while also addressing the familys desire to have more visibility of the individuals behavior and activities.The main concern around COVID 19 with this solution is with outside factors especially activities of others living in the house such as those in the home who are going to work and grocery stores or other activities that have a risk.As with the aging in place model it would include adapting bathrooms, entryways, and other modifications or adaptive equipment added to the home depending on the individuals abilities.This model could also include the in-law apartment or modular cottages, which include separate living areas but are on the same property as the adult child. These are properly equipped and built with the same elements that would be included in home modifications. Assisted LivingThe Assisted Living model comes in various forms but is usually an organized group of residential living units, that provides various levels of supervision, skilled care, nutrition, and community activities. You can usually find assisted living or similar types of facilities in or around the individuals current community to maintain some level of access to family, friends, and other important aspects of the individuals life which will make the transition easier.This model may not be applicable if the individual has difficulty or cant accomplish certain activities of daily living, along with moderate, complicated, or chronic health issues that would be difficult or too risky to manage either with in-home care or by family members. In general, this model has had the most difficulty dealing with COVID 19, the main reason being the communal style of living at these facilities of individuals who are at a higher risk for the worst effects of COVID 19.Being well informed and understanding what services and resources are available will help you, the individual loved one, and others involved in the decision, make the proper choice. Preparation is key to staying safe, so remind your loved ones that although these are home modifications, theyre all safety solutions to help them stay in place longer.As mentioned before it is important to work with trusted professionals who can provide information and help guide you through these processes. You probably have done diligence when selecting a doctor, financial advisor, or other professionals who you plan to have a long-term relationship with. You should do that same diligence when selecting a contractor and look at it as a long-term relationship rather than a single project.At Amramp, we see this all too often. As a supplier of home accessibility equipment like wheelchair ramps and stair lifts, and home modifications, we regularly see situations where a well-meaning family member, friend, or contractor did something in the spirit of helping and make the situation better but didnt fully solve the problem or have a comprehensive approach to deal with this issue and have it be easily adaptable for future issues. You can avoid this by confirming your contractor is CAPS certified, and working with an equipment specialist like Amramp, click here to see our Aging in Place infographic.As you can see there are many variables to finding the right solution for your loved ones, and there is not a one size fits all solution. COVID 19 has had impacts on all of our lives and the decisions we make, and it is also changing how businesses operate now and in the future. Just like when solving most other problems, get informed, discuss it with the stakeholders, develop a plan, and continue this periodically to evolve the plan as the situation dictates.Whether a home needs an access ramp at one or more entrances, at thresholds for easy room-to-room access, a stairlift that connects to upper floors, or even safety rails and bars in the bathroom let us show you all the ways that your loved one can live independently and safely at home.Amramps accessibility experts are CAPS certified and can evaluate any home to determine what changes are needed to make the living space accessible. Amramp offers a free evaluation for your home to determine what changes are needed to provide a nurturing and accessible living space for your whole family.