Visiting Your Parents for the Holidays?

Millions of adult children will be visiting their parents during the holidays. For some, their last visit home may have been months ago and for others, routine visits might be common. Health experts advise that while visiting, in addition to enjoying the holiday’s many fun filled traditions, it’s important that children also take time to consider their aging parents’ health needs at home.

“Long Island has a rapidly growing senior population, but very few have homes that are safe for them to live in,” said Daniel Elliot, a Certified Aging in Place Professional and Licensed Occupational Therapist with Jukebox Health, a leading Tri-State healthcare company that works with families and seniors to develop home solutions for optimal independent living. “Knowing that most seniors want to remain living in their own homes as they age, it’s important that their homes be safe for them to live in. Caring for your parents’ health needs to start at home.”

Was mom recently hospitalized and now feeling somewhat weaker? Did dad have a recent fall? These are some of the questions to ask yourself when visiting your parents this holiday, according to Elliot. “Take a walk around the house to see how the lighting is in each room, especially those without windows like a basement, a stairwell or a closet. Are grab bars now needed in the bathroom or beside the bed to help dad stand up?” asserts Elliot.

“In addition to considering assisted living communities and nursing homes, families should also consider aging in place at home as a viable option for their senior family members,” continued Elliot. “Thankfully many products and services exist today to help seniors live safely at home, without compromising their home aesthetic.”

Jukebox Health offers personalized home safety assessments performed by certified aging in place professionals that include clinically driven home safety recommendations. Families work with Jukebox to design and install the home modifications, working with local licensed contractors. Examples of modifications recommended in an assessment might include:

• Improved lighting
• Smart technology
• Grab bars that come in decorative finishes
• Anti-slip mats
• Wheelchair accessible tabletops and countertops
• Accessible entries, exits and stairwells with handrails
• Zero step entries into showers
• Extra tall or powered toilet seats
• Bed rails that come in decorative finishes

Other behaviors to be observant of when visiting your parents include paying attention to their use of the various rooms in the house. Daniel Elliot explains, “Many times we see an avoidance of certain rooms used at home which usually signals an issue but can easily be remedied, restoring their freedom and full use of the house.”

“There is a large emotional dimension to aging in place. Seniors want choices about how and where they age” continued Elliot. “Remaining in their homes provides independence and familiarity, which many times, leads to living a longer, happier life.” For more information on Jukebox Health, visit their website at https://www.jukeboxhealth.com/.