When my mom moved in with me. I discovered I'm the mom now. So I need a good site to visit where I can get ideas on how to kid/mom proof my home, so she doesn't go tumbling down the stairs since gates etc are out of the question. So what I need is ideas as well as where to purchase these products since I have my hands full and don't have a lot of time to spend on the internet searching for those products. And I'm sure I'm not the only person out there that is going through this. Or already went through this so any help with be welcomed.
2007-05-24 07:14:09 · 3 answers · asked by AnnG 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Senior Citizens
Why would you say a stair-top gate is out of the question? Do you want to make your home safe or not? You certainly do need a gate at the top of any stairs, and the bottom too wouldn't hurt.
We have four gates in our house, including one in the hall, since she gets lost when she goes into the hall alone, and starts crying. The others are the stairs, and the kitchen. She's afraid when might go in there and slip on the floor.
No loose rugs in the house. If you have any throw rugs, throw them away. In the bathroom, you might want to consider foam rugs if you need something in there.
Put lots of night lights in every room. We have the LED light sensitive ones. They come automatically when there isn't another light source, and go off automatically when there is.
Make sure the TV is not on a TV stand that can tip over. Either secure it to the wall with elbow bolts, or put the TV on a standard table. Several people have actually been killed when the Tv fell over on them. My Mom got her hand broken.
Make sure anything anyone can lean on when walking by is well secured. Do not leave any chairs our where they can be tripped over. The less furniture you have, the better.
Secure any tall shelves. If in doubt, pull of the shelf hard to make sure it won't fall. Try to keep anything she will be using within easy reach so she won't take any dangerous chances like standing on a stool. Get her a long reach tool (see link) so she won't feel helpless. My Mom plays with hers like it was a toy.
Depending on the level of need: keep very good records of her medications, when she needs them, when she takes them (we keep a medication diary), and if necessary, keep all medications and such out of her reach. (My mom thinks they're candy).
We have a neighbor on Social Security who like the extra income of "visiting" Mom (momsitting) whenever we need to run errands. She even does the housesitting/momsitting for the occasional long weekends we take. We pay $10 an hour, plus food, or $100/day for overnight.
2007-05-24 08:07:53 · answer #1 · answered by Yarnlady_needsyarn 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I too like Y!arnlady's response. It shows the care and attention that some kids can give their parents.
I too, took care of both my Mom and Dad when they got old. I did a lot of geriatric nursing when I was younger, and I promised myself that MY parents would never be subjected to a "nursing home". Neither one of my parents got as bad as Y!arnlady's mom, though.
If you don't want to use safety gates, might I suggest buying screen doors instead? The kind that are made of wood or plastic that looks like wood. You would need to frame in the wall at the top of the stairs to allow you to attach the door safely, but that wouldn't be hard. You could even buy locks for the doors if it becomes an issue.
My mom was dying of inoperable cancers that had spread throughout her body. The body was failing her, but her mind was sharp and there until just two days before she died. She didn't like the fact that I was now responsible for keeping her clean and fed and changing her "diapers". I just told her that I knew it was embarrassing for her, but that I considered those things "acts of love", and that I didn't mind or resent doing them at all. It made her happier to know this, and easier for her to live those last few months at home when she needed 24 hour care.
I also got her a battery run doorbell. The chimer went into my room, and we velcroed the call buttons to her rolling table and her bedside table. They were in easy reach no matter where she happened to be.
Unfortunately, Mum only lived 4 months beyond her diagnosis. I would gladly do the dirtiest chores for YEARS just to have her available to talk to again.
2007-05-28 06:54:36 · answer #2 · answered by Susie Q 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yellow pages under duragible medical equipment. She needs a shower chair, bars on the wall in the tub area for sure.
2007-05-24 07:23:28 · answer #3 · answered by SALSA 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What a good response from the above.
2007-05-24 20:57:16 · answer #4 · answered by Iain 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋