Rebuilding Together is certainly very busy these days.  The organization just completed their The Fifty for Five project, where they planned to rebuild 50 homes in 5 days in New Orleans, between Tuesday August 24^th to Saturday August 28^th,, in honor of the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Rebuilding Together is a nonprofit organization that provides free home rehabilitation and vital repairs for low income Americans.  Being able to age in place is a staple of Rebuilding Together.  They believe that the aging population as well as those with disabilities should be able to live safely and comfortably in their homes as long as possible.  They strive to revitalize communities and work so their clients can have affordable homeownership.  They also provide free home modifications and repairs and work to make homes more accessible and energy efficient.

Rebuilding Together has several National initiatives, they include

• National Rebuilding Together Day:  Volunteers and local affiliate leaders work together to fix and restore homes while non-profit facilities help to revitalize communities.
• Safe at Home:  The goal of the program is to address home repair and maintenance issues that can limit access to the home or cause safety hazards.
• Disaster & Relief Recovery:  The goal is to rebuild houses of low-income homeowners during times of disaster.

Veterans Housing:  The goal is to help veterans with needed housing modifications and repair services. Green Housing: The goal is to provide energy efficient, money saving repairs that result in safer homes. To learn more about Rebuilding Together and how you can help, visit Rebuilding Together.

The ability to age in place is important to both baby boomers and seniors.  Key to aging in place is the ability to age safely and comfortably in one’s home.  Sometimes however, falls can prevent safely aging in place.

Tripping over items and falling on the stairs are the top two causes of falls in the home.  Also, as we age, we can develop arthritis and other conditions that make going up and down stairs more challenging.  This was the case for Karl Schwengel, a 79 year old retired business manager who lived in a two-story Capitol Hill townhouse.   As Karl got older, his health declined, resulting in difficulty getting up and down the 17 steps in his townhouse.  So two years ago, Karl decided to get a stair lift installed.

A survey by the National Association of Home Builders states that 79 percent of buyers 55 and older would prefer a one-story home.   However, census numbers indicate that most of the country’s homes are two or more stories.  So having to use stairs to access the home is common.  For some people in a two-story home, modifications can be made so that all necessities are on the main level.  However, this may not be an option for many people; in these cases people may have to consider the use of a stair lift or an elevator.

A stair lift that goes up one flight of stairs can cost anywhere between $3,000 to $10, 000 depending on if it’s a straight lift or if it has turns or needs further customization.  The plus to the lift is that it can be fairly reasonable to install. On the negative side,  some people consider stair lifts unattractive.  On the other hand, an elevator in the home can be more discrete but also more costly (a 3 stop elevator can cost between $20,000-$25,000).

If someone wants to age in their current home, planning ahead while you’re healthy is a crucial step in aging in place.  If you do have a two-or three story home, think ahead to what you may need to do to your home if you can’t access all floors.  Would a stair lift work for you, an elevator, or can you make modifications to the main level of your home that would allow you to live comfortably on that level if you had to?

Source:  The Washington Post

Picture Source:  ABCNews.com

Being active is an important part of aging and aging in place. Exercising improves health, strength, and reduces the likelihood of falls.  Case in point, Ernestine Shepherd, a 73 year old grandmother, who would give anyone half her age a run for their money.  Ernestine has been exercising for years and is a certified personal trainer.  She is also in the Guinness Book of World Records’ for being the oldest female bodybuilder.  She bench presses 150 pounds and runs about 80 miles a week.  All this while being 73 years young!

Ernestine wasn’t always active.  She says that 20 years ago, she never exercised. At 56 Ernestine decided to change her body when she was trying on bathing suites in a dressing room with her sister, Mildred. After that experience, she and Mildred decided to train to become the oldest living fitness competitors in the world.  They took aerobic classes and later a trainer suggested weight lifting.  Sadly, a little over a year into their training, Mildred died in 1992 of a brain aneurysm. After Mildred’s death, Ernestine stopped exercising, staying at home and suffering frompanic attacks and high blood pressure.  A friend encouraged her to leave her home and she started working out again, this time to keep her promise to her sister.

To date, Ernestine has completed 8 marathons and also wants to compete in the New York and Boston races.  So, don’t be surprised if she beats you to the finish line.  What a great role model and example of how anyone can change their life at any age.  Go Ernestine, go!

Source:  ABCNews.com

Picture Source:  Arthritis Supplies.com

People with limited grasps, such as people with arthritis, can struggle with everyday activities such as turning on a light switch.  Lamp Switch enlargers can fit over most lamp switches and can make it easier to turn lamps on.  They can be purchased online through stores such as Jansen Medical Supply and Arthritis Supplies.com They cost about $6.00.

The Aging Suite strives to provide people with information to help them age in place safely at home.  In keeping with our previous discussions on fall prevention, this week we’re highlighting various fall A Matter of Balance, a unique and effective fall prevention program.

A Matter of Balance is a nationally recognized fall prevention program developed by the Roybal Center at Boston University.  The program was designed with several purposes including: helping to reduce the fear of falling, stopping the fear of falling cycle, and improving the activity levels of older adults living in the community.  The program consists of eight classes, each 2 hours long, that are run by trained coaches.  Class size may range from 8-12 people.  Strategies incorporated into their sessions include group discussions, problem solving, exercises to improve strength, coordination, and balance, and a home safety evaluation.

A Matter of Balance also has good outcomes supporting their program.  After completing the program, participants demonstrated improvements with areas including their levels of fall control and fall management.  A Matter of Balance research indicates that after completing the classes:

• 98% of participants would recommend the program to others
• 97% felt they were more comfortable discussing the fear of falling
• 99% planned to continue exercising

To learn more about A Matter of Balance and states/organizations that currently offer this program click here.

The following information is brought to you by The Arthritis Foundation

The Arthritis Foundation offers an entire range of exercise programs to help you get started. You can choose from all-around gentle exercises that increase joint flexibility, range of motion and muscle strength or aquatics that allow you to exercise without putting excess strain on your joints and muscles. There are also tai chi classes designed specifically for people with arthritis and a Walk with Ease program helping you take the first step toward developing a healthy walking habit. Find out more on exercise programs in your area.

How to Move and How Much to Move

When it comes to moving, the goal is to do it on a regular basis. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults do a minimum of 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (brisk walking, gardening) a week or 1 hour and 15 minutes each week of vigorous aerobic physical activity (jogging, aerobic dancing). Whether your activity is moderate or vigorous, keep moving.

There are many different goals for exercise. You want to keep your weight down in order to lessen impact and pressure on joints. You also want to strengthen the muscles around certain joints. And you want to increase your range of motion. So, how do you do it all? Just make sure your workout is well-rounded!

The best way to do that is to slowly incorporate aerobic fitness, muscular fitness and flexibility into your routine.

Aerobic fitness – Getting your heart pounding and your lungs filled with oxygen rewards you with improved metabolism, a better mood, more energy, increased stamina and decreased inflammation. Try aquatics, walking, swimming and cycling.

Muscular fitness – Strength training makes your joints more stable and strong muscles keep your bones positioned properly, increasing bone density and decreasing your risk for osteoporosis and fractures. Try light resistant bands or tubing.

Flexibility – Stretching decreases daily joint stiffness, improves range of motion and minimizes muscle soreness after exercise. Try yoga and tai chi and other gentle stretches.

Remember, when beginning an exercise program, you should always consult with your doctor before starting out.

Movement Tools

Now that you know how important it is to exercise and how often you should do it, here are some tools to help you stay motivated to move.

• Set your exercise goals and get moving with the Let’s Move Together movement tracker.
• Get up and go with motivational podcasts that will psych you up to move.
• Follow along at home with exercise videos you can watch online.
  • Stay flexible with tai chi, yoga and stretching.
  • Work on muscular fitness with weight-bearing exercises.

Keep an exercise log to track your progress.

The following information is brought to you by The Arthritis Foundation

Want to fight your osteoarthritis? Get off the couch! Moving is the best medicine to fight osteoarthritis pain.

Regular, moderate exercise offers a whole host of benefits to people with arthritis. Mainly, exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, builds strong muscle around the joints, and increases flexibility and endurance. It reduces inflammation from arthritis and related conditions and lowers the risk of other chronic conditions. It also helps promote overall health and fitness by giving you more energy, helping you sleep better, controlling your weight, decreasing depression, and giving you more self-esteem. Furthermore, exercise can help stave off other health problems such as osteoporosis and heart disease.

So, it’s obviously a no-brainer. You’ve got to move. But sometimes it’s not so easy to get started. When you’re achy and sore, the last thing you want to do is exercise.

Getting Started

Starting an exercise program can seem like a daunting proposition. The important thing to remember is to start slow and make it fun. It is always good to start with flexibility exercises, which are basically stretching exercises that will improve your range of motion and help you perform daily activities. (Watch these stretching exercise videos to get started.) Once you feel comfortable you can move on to weight training and endurance exercises such as bicycling.

Videos brought to you by Arthritis Today.

You may be reluctant to exercise because you are in such pain. If this is the case you may want to start with a water exercise program. In the water, your body’s buoyancy reduces stress on your hips, knees, and spine while building strength and increasing range of motion. There are many aquatic programs and exercises that are great for people with arthritis. Try water walking, for example. Water provides 12 times the resistance of air, so you’re getting a great workout without the wear and tear on your joints.

Join us next week as we talk about How to Move and How Much to Move

Last week we talked about fall statistics and the intrinsic and environmental factors related to falls.  This week, we’ll be talking about the importance of medication management in fall prevention.  We’ll also discuss things you can do around your home to make it safer.  Medication Management

Taking multiple medications can cause dizziness and fainting.  Studies have shown that there is a link between medications used to treat depression in the elderly and the incidence of falls with subsequent fractures. Research has also indicated that taking the following increase fall risks:

• Cardiac drugs
• Digoxin
• Diuretics
• Psychotropic medications

Because many seniors take more than one medication and have more than one medical issue, it is really important that they have their medications reviewed by a healthcare professional to ensure medications don’t cause or contribute to falls.  Other simple things you can do around your home include:

In the Bathroom

• Use of ADA approved grab bars
• Use of a shower bench/tub
• Use of a hand held shower
• Use of a bathmat inside and outside the tub/shower

In the Kitchen

• Remove throw rugs
• Clear walking paths and doorways throughout the entire home
• Clean up spills immediately
• Don’t wax floors

On stairs

• Install lighting at top and bottom of stairs
• Make sure stairs are level
• Install handrails on both sides
• Remove items from steps

Source:  Center for Health and Long Term Care Research

Home safety is vital to aging in place.  Aging in Place is defined by the National Aging in place Council as the ability to continue to live in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level.  Being able to live safely at home can contribute to our sense of self worth, being part of a community and provides us as well as our family members with peace of mind.  Because of its importance in aging in place, The Aging Suite will be doing a series this month on Home Safety.

Home safety encompasses a wide variety of areas.  Our series will focus on the various aspects of fall prevention.

Fall Statistics:

• Falls occur more often among women who have one or more medical condition and live alone
• Falls are the leading cause of Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• In adults 65 and older, falls are the cause of an estimated 60.7% of TBIs
• Direct medical costs related to falls in the population age 65 and older  is over $16.4 billion annually
• The CDC projects that by 2020, annual spending as a result of falls is expected to reach $54.9 billion
• 77% of falls occur in the home

Risk Factors for falls:

Include those that occur inside the body like,

• arthritis
• muscle weakness
• hearing and vision impairments
• high/low blood pressure
• balance problems
• dizziness

Issues that are due to environmental factors include:

• home safety hazards
• poor lighting
• loose fitting clothing
• cluttered walking paths
• placing items on stairs

Simple things you can do to prevent falls include:

• Having a health care professional check your medications
• Exercising regularly to maintain agility by using techniques such as Tai Chi
• Getting your eyes checked
• Getting a thorough home assessment performed by a trained professional

Join us next week as we continue our discussion on home safety.

Sources:  The Effect of Tai Chi on Health Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Conditions A Systematic Review

Fight arthritis pain.org, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy, and ABT Associates CDC

It’s the middle of the night and you have to go to the bathroom.  You’re up and on your way and suddenly, oh no, you’ve fallen.  What happened?  You feel around on the floor and realize you tripped over a shoe that you left in front of your doorway.  Don’t let this be you.  Be safe, clear walking paths of clutter and use night lights around your home.