One out of three seniors will fall this year, but less than half will tell family or physicians. Falls are the number one cause of injuries in older adults, resulting in hip fractures, cuts, and even serious head and brain injuries that can be fatal. And even when there’s no serious injury, a fall can still be so frightening that seniors may avoid certain activities because they’re afraid they’ll fall again.
We're not saying that you need to completely remodel your home or downsize to prevent falls. but you can make your home safe from falls with just a few basic changes. Here are just a few ways:

1. Clean up clutter. Keep your home neat and tidy. Remove all clutter, such as stacks of old newspapers and magazines. If you're not able to do it yourself, enlist the help of a housekeeper or adult child. 
2. Avoid tripping hazards. Sometimes home fixtures can contribute to falls, which can then lead to back pain and other injuries. Examine every room and hallway, looking for items such as loose carpet, slippery throw rugs, or wood floorboards that stick up. Then repair, remove, or replace those items for more effective fall prevention.
3. Install assistive devices. These safety devices are crucial for going up and down stairs, getting on and off the toilet, and stepping in and out of the bathtub without injuring yourself. Have a handyman or family member help with this.
4. Take the loose clothing out of closet. We all want to feel comfortable at home, but baggy clothes can sometimes make you more likely to fall. Find better-fitting and properly hemmed clothing that doesn’t drag on the ground.
5. Light up the house. Don't worry about those electric bills, falling is a bigger deal. Install brighter light bulbs where needed, usually in stairways and narrow hallways. You could also add night-lights in bedrooms and bathrooms for better guidance at night.
6. Wear shoes. We all know socks are more comfy, but they are more of a slipping risk. Preventing falls at home can be as simple as wearing shoes. You can also purchase non-slip socks that have grips on the soles of the feet if shoes are too uncomfortable.
7. Get nonslip. Bathtubs and showers, as well as floors in kitchens, bathrooms, and porches, can become extremely dangerous when wet. To prevent falls on slick surfaces, we recommend nonslip mats.
8. One level. Even with precautions like guardrails, stairs can present a significant falling hazard. If it’s not possible to live on one level, try to limit the trips you take up and down the stairs.
9. Move more carefully. Many people fall at home by moving too quickly from a sitting to a standing position and vice versa. Preventing falls like this is as easy as taking your time. All you have to do is pause after going from lying down to sitting and from sitting to standing. Also take a pause before using the railing on stairs, whether going up or down.
10. Therapy and exercise. We lose muscle mass more and more as we age and it's important that we are exercising daily in whatever capacity we are capable. See also if you are able to get an order for in patient or out patient therapy like we have here at Aurora on France.
    For more information about Fall Prevention or to schedule a visit to Aurora on France, CONTACT US TODAY!

• Speak slowly and clearly.  Don’t rush the person.  Pause for response.
  
• Offer a guess if you are not sure what the person is saying.
  
• Limit distractions. 
  
• Look for the FEELINGS underlying the person’s communication, and validate them. (see other side)
  
• Encourage unspoken communication. Use gestures, visual prompts, sensory cues.
  
• Provide a solution rather than a question. 
  
• Instead of using “it” or “that”, name the object or place, specifically.  Example: Instead of “Here it is”, say “Here’s your hat.”
  
• Avoid saying “NO”! 
  
• Avoid asking questions they can’t answer.
  
• Encourage the use of the person’s remaining skills and strengths.
  

WAYS TO VALIDATE A PERSON’S FEELINGS

• AGREE:   “That sounds awful.  I can see why you’re upset.”
  
• COMISSERATE:  “I’d be angry too, if I were you.”
  
• SAY IT BACK:  “You’re sad.  I can see that.”
  

If the person wants something you can’t give them:

• “Oh, I wish I could!”
  
• “What a great idea!”
  
• “Maybe we can plan something, another time!”
  

Say this often:
“Well, of course you_________________”

1. Well of course you want to get out of here!  You’re feeling cooped up!
   
2. Well of course you’re crying!  I can see the tears.  You must be so sad!
   
3. Well of course you’re frustrated!  I would be too, if I couldn’t find my wallet!
   

Then…provide REASSURANCE, COMFORT, and DISTRACTION.

1. Let’s go for a walk. I always feel better when I walk. Do you?
   
2. I’m here, if you want to talk about it. Would you like some water?
   
3. I’ll help you look for it.  I’m good at finding things.
   
   

If you have ever surfed websites of senior housing options, I bet you have frequently run into the term “person-centered care” which we owe to Dr. Thomas Kitwood, a British physician who focused on the importance of remembering that a person with dementia is first and foremost a PERSON with particular needs, challenges, strengths and preferences. 

​Cannot expect persons with dementia to think like we do
It is also due to Dr. Kitwood’s brilliant work that nurses are no longer trained to try to orient persons with dementia to reality, e.g., “No, no, Mrs. Jones, it’s 2017 now – actually your mother is dead, and the farm has been sold!” Thank goodness for Tom Kitwood! He helped us understand that we cannot expect persons with dementia to think like we do. As I’ve heard nursing home operator and author Megan Carnarius say, “We need to cross to their side of the street.” People with dementia simply cannot come over to ours. We need to give them responses that make sense with the way in which they understand the world. 

Relationship-based care
Dementia expert Elion Caspi encourages us to also think about dementia care as “relationship-based care.”  If we do not maintain relationship and genuine connection with persons with dementia, trust wears thin. As a result, it becomes challenging for persons with dementia to accept the care they need.
Lost in the grief
It is completely understandable that care partners are exhausted. They often get caught up in the grief of losing the precise relationship they had with their loved one before dementia was part of the picture. All too often, people become angry and bitter, even to the point of saying things such as “Alzheimer’s is worse than death.” That is a direct quote from the despondent husband of a wonderfully clever woman; let’s call her “Pam,” with whom I worked for some years. What a heartbreaking pronouncement from her husband! At this point, Pam still loved to share opinions and insight, sing Broadway tunes, reminisce, walk, dance, and hold hands.

A person is NOT their Alzheimer's disease any more than a person who has cancer is their cancer!
Those of us who have had family members with dementia or other progressive diseases do understand from whence that sentiment arises.  However, it is ultimately not a helpful one.  Nor is it accurate. It implies that we might as well give up on a person who is still very much alive. This could not be further from the truth. A person is NOT their Alzheimer’s disease any more than a person who has cancer IS their cancer. The person, an intact spiritual being, is still there, though many of their needs have changed dramatically. We do our loved ones a disservice if we refuse to rise to the occasion of their increased needs. 

Maintain connections along the way
There are many gifts to be gained by accepting where the person is at, through each and every phase of their dementia experience. There is connection to maintain all along the way. How we connect will vary with different types and different phases of dementia, but in general, smiling, eye contact, gentle touch and approach, curiosity, acceptance of where the person is, conversation about things that are meaningful to the person, sharing laughter, singing, enjoying simple pleasures, giving compliments, promoting calm, validating the person’s feelings, doing things just the way the person likes, making things easier for them, reminiscing, having fun together, sparking creativity, enjoying humor….well, the list of what can be done to maintain a healthy, nurturing relationship goes on and on.

Responding to the world from an earlier developmental time
In short, we can treat the person like a PERSON, and remember that even though this person is losing skills, even though this person may enjoy and indeed benefit from things that children like, this person is still an adult who is simply responding to the world from an earlier developmental time. This person still has strengths and skills we must actively encourage and appreciate in order for them to have a meaningful life.     

Language is powerful
Did you notice that I’ve been using the term “care partner” rather than “caregiver?”  Language is powerful. When the relationship between a person with dementia and someone caring for them is viewed more as a partnership, what’s implied is that both persons have something to give. Think about it…What might persons with dementia still have to offer us, their care partners?

Some bonds remain unbreakable
They can give valuable input as to what they like and what they don’t like. They can lend us wisdom from past experience; they can share memories of olden days, with humor and perspective. They can inspire us with their courage and resilience. They can give us love. In this process, we may be surprised at how flexible our own capacity to love may become. Even in the late stage of their dementia, our loved one may remind us how some bonds remain unbreakable. Caring for persons with dementia may give us more patience and more appreciation for wordless communication and for life than we’ve ever known.
​ 
We are in this together
Thinking about our relationship as a partnership will help make us more open to a person’s participation and input. We just might respect, value and love this person all the more.  We are not the same as this person, and we have each been impacted by dementia and changed forever in vastly different ways, but surely we are in this together.      

So you’ve decided to consider an Assisted Living community. Here in Minnesota, you’ve got some great choices. You’re probably trying to decide where you want to live, determining the amenities you want, and which community can best meet your needs. But let’s face it, the biggest concern you have is: “How am I going to pay for this?”
With the average cost of assisted living falling between $2000-5000 per month, and the average Social Security benefit paying roughly $1300 per month, you’ve probably realized Social Security probably won’t cover the whole cost. Here are seven of the most common ways people pay for senior living.
1. Long Term Care Insurance
Do you have long-term care insurance? Most policies cover assisted living. Whether you've got an employer sponsored plan, or a plan you purchased on your own,  find out which care settings are eligible for coverage and what costs your policy covers. You could save a bundle! Call your agent to find out more.
2. Veterans Benefits
Did you or your spouse serve during wartime? You may be eligible for benefits. Some assisted living communities even offer special programs for vets. Contact your county veteran's office for more information.
3. Savings, Checking Accounts, CDs, Bonds and Other Investments
These assets may generate interest, gains, and dividends that you can spend on your expenses. Or you may need to use your savings and sell your investments to pay for your living expenses.
4. Pensions
If you receive a pension from a former place of employment, union, or other membership organizations, this monthly income can be used for assisted living.
5.  Life Insurance Policies
Do you have money invested in life insurance? You can use your life insurance policy as a source of cash if you have a change in your health status or living situation.  Cash surrender, death benefit loans, accelerated death benefits and life or viatical settlements are all options for converting your policy to cash--depending on the type of policy you have and how long you've owned the policy. Contact  your insurance agent to find out more.  
6. Annuity
An Annuity allows you to pay a sum to an insurance company in exchange for regular payments over time. This is a great solution if you have assets like cash, stocks, bonds, and other investments, but are worried about outliving your resources. 
7. Your Home
You can sell your home and use the money for your assisted living expenses. Or you can get a Reverse Mortgage, which will generate cash, but still allow your spouse to remain in your home.

These are just a few of the many ways to finance your stay in an assisted living or memory care community.

At Aurora on France, we know that everyone's finances are different, and so are their needs. Please explore these funding sources with an estate planner, financial advisor, attorney, or other qualified person as you consider your move.
​
Remember, we are here to help! Feel free to call us to walk through other resources available as you think through options.