Insomnia in Seniors: The Cause, the Cost, and a Cure

According to the National Institute of Health, the majority of seniors struggle with insomnia.  Insomnia can take several forms.  A senior might get into bed and toss and turn for more than 45 minutes before finally dozing off.  Or, they go to sleep quickly only to wake up a few hours later and not be able to get back to sleep.  Finally, they simply wake up several times a night.  They might get back to sleep, but sleep interrupted doesn’t give them the full benefit of a night’s rest.

Four Safer Bathroom Floors for Seniors

When a senior slips on the bathroom floor, consequences can be tragic. As we age, our bodies become more frail and a fall can set in motion an unwelcome chain of events:  broken bones, a trip to the emergency room, a move to an assisted living center, or even death. 

According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal, trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.

Since a fall often is triggered when a senior’s feet take on a life of their own on a slippery floor, I’ve compiled a list of bathroom flooring options that provide more grip.  And because of the wet environment, all recommendations are, of course, water resistant.

Bathroom Remodeling for Aging Eyes

I often blog about remodeling to make the bathroom safer for a senior who is not as mobile as they once were, but today I’m turning to another challenge that affects all seniors—aging eyes. 

What happens to aging eyes?

First, the pupil gets smaller. What does a smaller pupil mean to elderly people?

If you put a 20-year old and an 80-year-old in the same sun-splashed room in the middle of the day, the youngster’s eye will receive six times the amount of light.  It’s almost as if the senior is wearing sunglasses indoors.

It gets worse.  Now imagine the 20 year-old and 80-year-old person are up in the middle of the night navigating their way to the bathroom with little or no light. The young adult’s eyes are now receiving sixteen times as much light as the senior’s eyes.  No wonder seniors lose their confidence about driving at night, and getting around the home can be equally tricky.

Three Bathtub Replacements for Senior Safety

My goal is to modify bathrooms to make them safe and accessible for seniors.  So I love to see a spacious bathroom with a 60”x 60” turning radius for a senior who is, or may one day be, moving around in a wheel chair.  But most bathrooms are just not big enough.

I’ve noticed, however, that there’s usually a bath, about 60” x 30,” that seniors no longer use.  They’re legitimately scared to climb over the edge to get in and out of it, knowing that one misstep can lead to a life-changing fall. Seniors want to know what they can do with that space to make it usable.

Here are three practical ideas for bathtub replacements.
  
1. The Walk-In-Bathtub

Some walk-in bathtubs fit into the same 30” x 60” footprint squandered by the obsolete bathtub.  There are also narrower, shorter models, 28” x 48”, which use a panel to fill in the gap, keeping remodeling costs to a minimum.   Not only does the walk-in bath tub provide a warm, relaxing, and luxurious in-home-spa experience, it’s also safe, accessible, therapeutic, and health-promoting.

Top Products for Living a Long Life at Home: the Seated Shower

I’ve found another have-to-have product for a long, safe life at home—the American Standard Seated Shower.

When you see the Seated Shower, you wonder why no one has created anything like it before.  Why? Because it takes the all the thinking out of retrofitting a shower for a senior who wants to live a long, happy life at home.  It’s a simple, one piece solution that looks beautiful too.  And, you can enjoy it at any age.

9 Less Common Bathroom Modifications for Seniors

There are many changes you can make to a bathroom to make it more accessible for seniors, but today I’m going off the beaten track to talk about cool modifications you just don’t hear about every day.

1. Slide through Sliding Doors

If a senior has mobility issues and is using a power chair or wheelchair, access through doors can be tricky.  The wider the door opening, the easier it is.  One way to achieve more space is to install a sliding, or pocket, door. 

2. Jack Up the Connections
Most people don’t have a telephone in their bathroom.  And if a senior has a cell phone, they often don’t carry it with them wherever they go.  But what if Aunt Ethel slips and falls?  Without help she could be in trouble.  Install a telephone jack and make sure she’s connected.

Top Products to make a Long Life at Home Easier: The Bath Lift

According to the U.S. Census Bureau the majority of senior citizens have a disability.  So it’s challenging for many of them to take a bath.  This difficulty stems from neurological, orthopedic, and medical conditions.  It could be that arthritis has taken its toll on an elderly person’s hips and knees.  Maybe they’ve had a stroke and it’s not as easy as it once was to balance or coordinate movements.  Or perhaps motor skills have been impaired a condition such as multiple sclerosis. 

As a professional caregiver or occupational therapist you’re likely to recommend bath aids in these situations so a senior can continue to take care of their hygiene needs as independently as possible.

Top Products to Make a Long Life at Home Easier: Tub Cuts

The hunt continues for the top products to keep seniors living happy, healthy lives at home. 

To understand why I think today’s featured product is among the best, I want you to imagine it’s a steamy August day. You’re hot and sticky and ready to cool off in a refreshing shower. But you can’t. There’s a barricade between you and the shower. 

Or think about one of those days when your muscles are in knots and your bones feel creaky.  You long for a soothing, hot bath, but access is impossible.

This is how some seniors feel when they want to take a bath or shower. The side of the bath, while less than two-feet high, becomes a formidable barrier. And it’s something they absolutely should be concerned about because, as I’ve said before, almost 22 million injuries occur in the bathroom each year, and getting in and out of the bath tub is one of the most hazardous activities.