Adapt & Stay

08/12/2023

🏡 Creating a Safe and Accessible Home Environment 🏡

At Adapt & Stay, our primary focus is on helping individuals with mobility challenges maintain safety and independence within the comfort of their own homes.

Whether you're a concerned caregiver, a supportive family member, or someone seeking ways to enhance home accessibility, our latest blog post is tailor-made for you!

We understand the significance of home modifications in promoting safety and independence, and we're here to guide you through it.

https://adaptandstay.com/f/creating-a-safe-and-accessible-home-environment

🔑 Key Areas of Focus:

Entrance Solutions: Discover various modifications that ensure safe and easy access to the home. From ramps and handrails to effective lighting strategies, we'll provide invaluable insights to make the entrance secure and welcoming.

Accessible Bathrooms: Bathrooms can be challenging, especially for individuals with mobility issues. Learn about essential modifications that transform bathrooms into safe and accessible spaces, including grab bars, non-slip flooring, and other helpful adaptations.

Bedroom Comfort: A well-designed bedroom is crucial for restful sleep and personal rejuvenation. Explore strategies for adapting bedrooms to accommodate mobility challenges, including adjusting bed heights, installing bed rails, and ensuring easy access to personal belongings.

Inclusive Kitchens: The kitchen is the heart of the home. Discover modifications that make it an accessible and inclusive space, with lower counters, accessible storage solutions, and user-friendly kitchen appliances.

🔄 Universal Design: We'll also delve into the concept of universal design, an inclusive approach that benefits everyone, regardless of age or ability. Learn about open floor plans, wider doorways, and lever-style door handles, making homes welcoming for all.

Empower yourself with valuable insights by reading the full article on our website: AdaptandStay.com. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates and exclusive offers, and explore our wide range of home modification products.

Let's work together to create safe, accessible, and inclusive home environments, enabling individuals with mobility challenges to adapt and stay in the comfort of their own homes. 🌟

05/05/2023

May is ALS Awareness Month. Here is my latest blog for families and caregivers.

May is ALS Awareness Month, an annual event aimed at raising awareness about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The "Iron Horse" was a nickname given to Gehrig, a famous baseball pl...

04/16/2023

REDUCING THE RISK OF FALLS FOR THOSE WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE
The Red Tulip commemorates World Parkinson's Day and was named after Dr. James Parkinson, whose birthday was April 11. JWS Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist, who had Parkinson's Disease, developed a red and white tulip after Dr. Parkinson.
The Red Tulip commemorates World Parkinson's Day and was named after Dr. James Parkinson, whose birthday was April 11. JWS Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist, who had Parkinson's Disease, developed a red and white tulip after Dr. Parkinson.
As an Occupational Therapist with over 30 years of experience specializing in dementia care and home modifications, I have seen how important it is to understand the risks associated with Parkinson's disease and falls. Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination, and it can increase the risk of falls in those afflicted.
On April 11th, we observed World Parkinson's Day, and it is important to raise awareness of this issue and provide caregivers and families with solutions to mitigate the risk of falls.
Top 3 Reasons Parkinson's Increases the Risk of Falls
Motor Symptoms: Parkinson's disease affects motor control, balance, and coordination, which can make it difficult to perform everyday tasks such as walking, standing up from a chair, or climbing stairs. The symptoms of Parkinson's disease can also change from day to day, which can make it challenging to maintain balance and stability.
Cognitive Impairment: Parkinson's disease can cause cognitive impairment, which can affect a person's ability to perceive and respond to environmental cues. This can lead to misjudging distances, losing balance, and falling.
Medication Side Effects: Many medications used to treat Parkinson's disease can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, and confusion, which can increase the risk of falls.
Dementia vs. Parkinson's: How Are They Different?
While both dementia and Parkinson's disease can affect cognitive function and motor control, they are distinct disorders with different underlying causes and symptoms. Dementia is a general term that describes a decline in cognitive function that interferes with a person's ability to perform everyday activities. Parkinson's disease, on the other hand, is a specific neurological disorder that primarily affects motor control and coordination. While both disorders can increase the risk of falls, the causes and symptoms are different.
Solutions for Caregivers and Families
Home Modifications: Modifying the home environment can reduce the risk of falls for those with Parkinson's disease. This can include installing grab bars in the bathroom, removing clutter, and ensuring adequate lighting throughout the home. Adapt & Stay is a company that specializes in home modifications for individuals with Parkinson's disease and other mobility issues.
Exercise: Exercise is essential for maintaining strength, flexibility, and balance, which can reduce the risk of falls. A physical therapist or occupational therapist can work with individuals with Parkinson's disease to develop an exercise program that is safe and effective.
Medication Management: It is important to work closely with a physician to manage medications for Parkinson's disease. Some medications can cause dizziness and other side effects that can increase the risk of falls.
Caregiver Support: Caregivers of individuals with Parkinson's disease need support and resources to help manage the challenges of caregiving. Support groups, respite care, and professional caregivers can provide assistance and relieve some of the burdens of caregiving.
Occupational therapy can play a critical role in helping individuals with Parkinson's disease and their families to mitigate the risk of falls and improve their quality of life. The Skills2Care program is an evidence-based program that provides caregivers with the tools and resources they need to manage the challenges of caregiving. Adapt & Stay is a company specializing in home modifications for individuals with Parkinson's disease and other mobility issues, and can work with occupational therapists to develop customized solutions to reduce the risk of falls in the home.
On National Parkinson's Day, let us raise awareness of the risk of falls for those with Parkinson's disease and provide caregivers and families with the resources they need to ensure the safety and well-being of their loved ones.
For more information on how Adapt AndStay can help you or a loved one maintain independence, visit our website: www.adaptandstay.com

01/16/2023

Adapt & Stay is now proud to offer Dementia Care with a certified dementia practitioner from our company.

(Knoxville, TN) - Adapt & Stay, East Tennessee's leading aging-in-place company is now offering dementia care consultations. Martha Pack, Adapt & Stay founder and Occupational Therapist, recently earned the Certified De...

08/01/2020

(Knoxville) - The aging process is never easy. As one ages, there will be a need to change some aspect of your home in order to safely function. Now, with COVID-19 affecting so many nursing facilities, families are seeking alternatives that will keep their loved ones in their own homes.

Adapt & Stay can help. With decades of experience in Occupational Therapy to assess your functional strengths and weaknesses, home modification recommendations are made to make your home a safe place to navigate the daily activities of life.

As a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), an Executive Certification in Home Modifications (ECHM), and a member of Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance (HMOTA), the latest research is continually updated with trends in home modification practices throughout the country.

Sure, any well-intentioned remodeling company or contractor can install a grab bar in your shower...but can they look at your history and medical conditions, factor anticipated future issues and provide the exact spot, based on your specific measurements? Not as well as a therapist who has more than two decades of experience working with the elderly in home health, acute and long term care settings.

Making a few modifications to your home, with our expertise, can help keep you in your home and independent longer than you might think. There may come a time where skilled care is required, but until then, we can work together to adapt and stay safely at home.

For more information, check out our website at www.adaptandstay.com

Thank You!