I do not have a caregiver because I can get around pretty well myself. My family lives far away. They call, but are of no help here at home. I am starting to worry about showering alone, have some dizziness. My food is delivered from the grocery near by. Things are not going to get better, so I want suggestions about keeping hair and body clean, safely! Also, how to grow older 'gracefully' with some sense of dignity. I have a friend, we live miles apart, but she has many of the same concerns, We cannot live together (it's too complicated to explain). She is in her early 80's. The humor group on here may be of some help! :) A pick me up!
Here is my advice (though not everyone folows it):
1. Make the changes you WILL need BEFORE you need it. Get a fall detection button with GPS to work wherever you are. Renovate your bathroom to have a zero entry shower. Be mindful that appliances grow old and break and can be expensive to replace and challenging to relearn - plan ahead for these changes, too.
2. Talk with your family and set up a team of support. Make sure you have medical directives clear. Assign financial and medical powers of attorney. Agree on a support team including: a family practice attorney to keep your legal documents up to date, a CPA to do your taxes, and a Fanancial Advisor/fiduciary to manage investments. Ensure your Geriatric Dr and local hospital have the papers they need on file.
3. Learn about the technology that can help your family support you. These things may include:
Smart doorbells that someone in any location can monitor and answer.
Dusk to dawn lightbulbs inside and out to keep your home well lit for your safety and security.
An Alexa device that can be programmed to remind you of medication, and calendar your events.
A tracker on your phone so it (or you) can be found if you are lost.
Smoke alarms - new standards have a 10 year life without changing the battery, and can even talk to each other so if an alarm goes off in one part of the house (like the basement) the smoke alarm on the 2nd floor goes off to tell you there's a problem.
Be mindful that your technology can and should be integrated into your aging plan to turn over to a family member to manage. For example, I manage my mom's calendar which is connected to both my phone, her phone, and her alexa. She gets reminders before appointments or activities which really helps her memory. I also manage her smart thermostat so I can adjust the temperature from my phone if she can't do it herself, and I can see if the system is running inefficiently or needs the filter changed.
4. In my experience, it can be difficult for people to age in the home they have lived in for years. Suburbs that may have been great to raise a family may not have the medical care needed for older people, and communities of young working families can be very isolating during the day when no one is home in the neighborhood.
Make a plan for where you can age in place with safety, health and social factors all in mind. Plan this with your family so they know what you want and when you want it. Be mindful that age really is just a number and health can change rapidly. So, when to make a change cannot be determined by a number, but by physical and cogntive abilities. This is one reason to use a Geriatric Specialist for primary care because they are very skilled at assessing more than just basic physical health.
5. Do not make a plan to rely on paid care givers. House keepers, gardeners, hair stylists, yes. But, I trust the people who provide these services to my mom, and I still make sure they see me and know I am watching over her. I have personally witnessed family members be conned by that "oh so friendly" chuch member or "handyman" next door neighbor. Even good in-home caregivers get sick or need time off, so relying on them cannot be a long-term plan. Be mindful that in home care becomes very expensive and is not the cost savings people first think it is.
6. Consider that your quality of life is most important. I have had family members refuse to leave their home at the expense of their safety, security, and physical/mental/emotional health. A home does not make someone happy. Being around people, feeling safe and secure, living as healthily as possible does make people happy.
Make sure you have sturdy grab bars to hang on to getting in and out of shower. Any hardware store has them and any handyman can install them. Make sure your living area is free of hazards. Safety is THE most important concern if you plan to continue living independently.
Get yourself an alert button and get in the habit of wearing it every single day with recharge unit next to bed so it is near you as you sleep. I highly recommend Great Call 5star unit. You can go anywhere with it on. Your family could look online to see where you are if you aren't answering the phone. If you fall or need any kind of help AT ALL, they answer very quickly when you push the button. You can get the unit at Walmart, online, etc. If you happen to fall, you can get help right away. Too many people fall and lay on a cold floor for long time and their chance of recovery goes down the longer they lay there.
You and the friend can help each other by calling several times a day to make sure things are ok. AM call at usual wake up time, maybe around lunch, and for sure at bed time to let each other know you've made it to bedroom and ready for bed. I always did am and pm with my mom to be sure things were ok. And I got her the alert button.
Shower is wet, creates even more fall risk than other rooms in the house. Get a shower bench that extends over edge of tub a little. You sit from outside and then put feet over edge of tub to get in. Safer than a bath chair where you have to step in to sit down - more risk of a slip. Later on, you might consider changing a bathtub out for a shower stall only to eliminate trying to get legs over a tub edge.
If you have trouble getting around - get the walker/rollator w/seat Don't be a stubborn old fool who doesn't want people to think they are 'disabled'. Get over it. When you fall and break something, they won't think you're disabled - they'll know you are. And don't limit getting out of the house because you know you can't walk as far as you used to when a rollator could afford you the ability to get around, sit a while, and roll again. Avoiding using things to keep you moving is a crazy sort of vanity.
If you've been one of those people who climbs on the roof to clean the gutters - it's time to stop. (I could write a book on things my grandmother's neighbors would tell us she was doing). You may well be able to climb the ladder or drag the hose up there with you, but there may come a day that you come down the ladder much faster than you went up. Instead of proving to the world you can still do it, prove to them that you plan to avoid falls so you can live longer with all your bones intact.
If you aren't doing any kind of strength exercises - start. If you're going to hang around into old(er) age, you might as well do it in the strongest body you can build. Have fun doing whatever it is you enjoy doing. And, my biggest suggestion is get a pet! Even an older senior dog who has been dumped in a shelter would appreciate a little kindness in the years they have left.
I am 86 and hubby 88. So here is some ideas.
Exercise! keep your strength up. This includes lifting weights.
Have grab bars all over the bathroom.
Have a place at eye level to store shampoo and stuff. So you don't bend over and straighten up.
When the time comes, use a shower chair.
Don't be too proud to use cane, walker, rollator, whatever. (I have a real problem with this).
I am not there yet, but I have a box for my rollator that I can put dirty clothes in when I take them to the washing machine.
Get a personal safety device (help I have fallen down and can't get up). You can wear it in the shower.
If you try to cut corners and hurry, Remember, do you want some good looking firefighter seeing you buck naked? So, take your time.
I am sure others have some very good ideas.
I have a shower chair I can use if I feel weak or dizzy, but most of the time it serves as a "shelf" for my shampoo and soap. I just leave it in the shower.
When I am not feeling dizzy, I often forget my vestibular exercises, so thanks for reminding me to do them today. I am also in my late 70's and living alone, so I understand your awareness of problem areas.
if you're ingesting anything that you've been faithfully using your entire life, you'll need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how those drugs fail to operate as they did years ago.
If you find you're having lots of dizziness, please consult your doctor, who can can evaluate if your over the counter OTC drugs and/or Prescription Rx meds aren the source of dizziness.
An appointment with your General Practitioner GP, is 100% needed, who might refer you to a neurologist, for an evaluation.
Aging in place means you must be in contact with your regular doctor. Stay away from "essential oils," and other ongoing fads.
Obviously all of these things cost money but if you are a veteran you may be able to get some veterans benefits, or contacting local offices (like county or municipal) for the aging may help. Despite the high cost of an eldercare lawyer they can save you tons of money in the end. Your doctor may be able to help you get the assistance you need. Make sure your doctor’s office knows you have a number of concerns to discuss with him or her so they will give you enough time. Be sure to write down the doctors responses or better still bring someone along to write things down. You don’t want a quick in and out appointment to have your blood pressure checked, and a quick listening to of lung and abdominal sounds.
I wish you much health and happiness.
Rosemary S Marcus, MS/OT
I am 72, like my 92 year old Mom says, getting older aint for sissies!
A lot of older people think they can bathe less often since they sweat less, but body microorganisms continue to grow and thrive on the skin. They need to be cleansed off regularly. Same goes for cleaning the hair. Use mild soaps or body washes DAILY (I use St. Ives Oatmeal with Shea) since they don't dry the skin out as much. Wash hair 2-3 times a week with mild shampoo and don't forget conditioner. After drying off, apply a mild body lotion to keep your skin soft and supple.
If you find you are having a lot of dizziness episodes, please consult your doctor. He/she can make sure your medications are not causing problems or address anything other condition that may be causing this.
Care facilities typically only bathe the residents twice a week.
I installed grab bars and have a shower seat. I keep lots of nutrition shakes on hand in case I don’t feel up to cooking. I wash hair once a week, and with the pandemic, not getting out means sponge baths instead of showering sometimes.
Having a cuff-type blood pressure monitor on hand is helpful, as I check blood pressure now and then, especially if I’m dizzy. Sure enough, it’s too low when dizziness starts. Drinking water and eating something salty (helps retain fluid when fluid is needed) usually brings my blood pressure back up.
if you have to walk to a mailbox, ask your doctor to write a note that indicates you’re a fall risk. Take it to the post office and they’ll deliver your mail to your door (you’ll need a mail receptacle mounted near door, but you won’t have to risk falling - especially if you get ice and snow - to go out for mail.
If possible, arrange with a neighbor some type of daily visible signal that conveys you’re up and around (as raising a window shade, turn on outdoor light, etc). Ask neighbor to check on you when signal isn’t given.
Also, keep your cell phone within reach when showering and in a pocket while you’re walking around your house. I have an I-phone and my Apple I-watch detects movement indicating a possible fall. It’ll call 911 if you don’t respond to the phone’s text. Make sure your phone plan includes your watch’s capability to call out.
If you you can afford it, a move to a continuous care community will greatly assist you. You’re at the average age to start off with independent living in such a community.
Chair height toilets
Toilet safety rails - this is free standing, goes around the toilet (looks like a walker with no wheels). It also helps in the shower around a shower chair
Life Alert necklace with a fall sensor
Dry shampoo and body wipes or foaming cleaner - for between showers
I put chairs in spots that they would get winded, so they could stop and sit for a few minutes
Recliner/lift chairs
Being alone, do you have a group of friends or family members who could phone you every day at a certain time? My friend has a "round-robin" sort of telephone system in place with a group of friends who check on each other daily.
Obviously, maintaining good health is the best way to age gracefully but alot of these suggestions are also helpful for anyone facing surgery or recovering from an illness.
Best wishes!
You should deffiently have a Call button installed in the bathroom and wear a First Alert in case you do fall you'll have a button to push for help.
As far as your dizziness goes, you should check with your Dr first as it could be just water or ear wax that is the culprit.
You should also be taking a one a day vitamin as my Dr just told me because my blood test showed I was low in iron and I was having dizziness. Also drink plenty of fluids, like 8 glasses but it can include milk, coffee, tea, ect as I find it hard to drink that much water.
Also, dremamimine, the pills you take fir sea sickness can help with the dizziness.
Juse get a check up first to see if there is an underlying problem.
I just bought a nice wood shower chair but there are less ecoensive plastic molded ones for sell at Walmart or any medical supply place.
If things get so bad you may want to sell your house and use those proceeds to help with assisted living facility.
and a pet(dog or cat) and keep a network of friends and people who can do things for you. People who can help you. Get your hair done, smell good, feel good.
Age is just a number. Yoga and pool exercising is great to lift your spirits to want
to take care of yourself more plus you socialize.
Growing old gracefully. in my mind; means doing exactly what you are doing -- making choices about what you can and can't do and making changes in our life before they are forced on us.
You don't mention what your health issues are. Have you talked with your doctor about the dizziness? There are senior apartment communities and there is always assisted living. The senior apartment communities are not so ridiculously priced like assisted living is, but with either of those, you would have more opportunity for socialization and friendships. Friends in the same boat tend to look out for one another and that is always helpful. Both of those living situations are typically set up with widened doorways to accommodate the width of wheelchairs and walkers. They are also built with grab bars in the bathrooms/showers....etc. I think the key is to not keep yourself isolated. Declutter your home...get rid of all the excess so that you have less to clean and less stuff to maneuver around which could be a tripping hazard. See if there is a senior community center near by. Many of those centers can arrange transportation. Having somewhere to go and something to do gives you purpose and a schedule and I always find that helpful.
Take care Winniebe.
I would add... Get a good fall detection bracklet or necklace. Phillips worked well for my mom. She fell and it alerted 911 and I was just in the yard a few minutes. And it alerted me inside, when she fell getting her mail. She would not have told me.
Just Push button.. .. No. You have to be able to push for help. Fall detection is worth it for your independence and safety.
And don't get the suction cup grab bars. They are not strong enough. There's no point having a grab bar that won't hold your weight.
One thing my dad had that made him feel better was an emergency button. He lived in a facility that provided the button. But i think you can get a service to provide this at home. Then if you fall you can call for help.
Join a church, group or organization. Take a class in something you like. Make new friends. Live like never before. Network do online things. Volunteer to help others. Make the best of each day.