Senior notes

by Cora Flood

Columbus Day is here again!

You know how you get piles of junk mail, catalogues, circulars and the like. Usually I just dump them directly into the recycle bin, but one day last week I had a few minutes to spare and actually flicked through. I came across a publication from D’Youville Foundation that contained some very practical tips and useful words of encouragement for caregivers. Over the next two weeks I will share with you some of these pointers; perhaps they will make our readers lives a little easier. The focus is on children/ spouses/ siblings who are moving into more prominent care giving roles.

“Home Safety Tips –that won’t cost a fortune”

In the kitchen

· Add suction cups to the bottom of the cutting board to prevent it from moving whilst in use

· Use the sinks sprayer hose to fill pots with water on the counter to avoid having to lift a heavy pot out of the sink.

· Keep scissors nearby for everything from cutting open bags to trimming lettuce or parsley.

· Keep food and other objects most often used at a level you can reach easily without a step-stool.

In the bathroom

· Add non slip strips to the tub or shower floor and make sure your mats are non skid also.

· Remove throw rugs and any clutter that may cause a fall “think of newly walking baby”

· Clearly label taps/faucets as hot and cold and set the water heater to 120F or lower to avoid scalding.

· Increase the wattage of light bulbs for better visibility.

Other tips

· Add handrails to all staircases.

· Wear non skid soled shoes. Slippers and sandals can be slippery.

· Have your vision checked regularly. The chance of falling increases dramatically when eyesight decreases.

· Lifeline or other kind of emergency response system is ideal for those living alone and/ or for those who want extra peace of mind.

Source “In step with Seniors”- D’Youville Foundation.

Thanks to Margo Steinberg from Caritas Good Samaritan Hospice who spoke so eloquently about the difficult subjects of death and grieving at last weeks Cara Club in Brighton. Margo is currently running a bereavement group “Coping with Loss” on Tuesdays at their Brighton location. Call Margo at 617 566 6242 for more specifics.

We had a lot of fun over in Quincy on Wednesday with Kieran Jordan, Seán Nós dancer in the house. Kieran spoke about the production of her debut DVD:”The Secrets of Sole”. She shared excerpts from it but really wowed the crowd with her hornpipes and reels. An impromptu moment had the crowd really jumping out of their seats to see the “brush dance”. We wrapped up the morning with a happy birthday rendition to Orla Crosse who reached her first birthday and to Rose Cleary whose birthday milestone we are not permitted to publish. Congratulations all round. Have a wonderful fall week…. Cora