Try: #if a cr is stumbling or falling at home evaluate the safety of the shoes and slippers the cr is wearing ##make sure all shoes and slippers worn have non-slip soles if the cr likes to wear socks around the house buy thick socks with skid-proof treads on them these are sold at many pharmacies and department stores ##if tripping over shoelaces is an issue consider replacing lace-up shoes with velcro-fastening shoes or replacing regular laces with elastic laces that don’t need to be untied and re-tied ##look for shoes that fit snugly and completely cover the foot flopping shoes can be hazardous #check the home for obstacles the cr might trip over such as throw rugs clutter electrical cords or furniture ##you may want to remove rugs or tape them down with carpet tape ##remove clutter from pathways and stairs ##move furniture against walls to create wider passages through rooms run electrical cords behind furniture and keep them away from main routes through the house #make sure lighting meets the cr’s needs and consider using white lampshades to make the most of a bulb’s brightness replace lampshades that started out white but turned beige or yellow due to sunlight or nicotine damage #put nightlights in hallways and in rooms with heavy nighttime traffic #if the cr is holding on to furniture or walls to move through the house discuss whether an assistive device such as a walker would be useful keep in mind that a walker shouldn’t be used to lean on when the cr rises from a seated position although it may be very helpful stabilizing the cr once he or she is standing or walking check the rubber tips and screws on the walker once a week

Materials: Closed shoes and slippers with non-skid soles bright light bulbs energy-efficient bulbs are available white lamp shades nightlights walker cane etc as needed

Categories: Medical Physical, Mobility, Mobile, Independence, No Supervision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #offer to help the cr with meal planning grocery shopping and meal preparation #explain that planning meals would be healthier than eating junk food and would help save money in the long run #find out the cr’s diet needs and restrictions based on his or her health conditions medications health risks and allergies #write down the foods that the cr likes and dislikes #find out what the cr’s monthly or weekly food budget is help develop a budget if the cr does not have one #instead of expecting the cr to change eating styles suddenly build a transition plan into the process make healthier home-cooked versions of the fast food the cr is used to for example over time refine the foods to match the cr’s nutritional needs #make meal plans for two weeks to a month in advance it is wiser to go to the grocery store with an understanding of what you’ll need for the next few weeks than to plan menus as you shop #plan snacks along with meals stock small pieces of fruit vegetables cheese crackers yogurt or pudding instead of cookies cakes or chips #keep meals simple healthy and affordable look in bookstores libraries and online for recipe collections that meet these objectives if you don’t have them on hand #use sticky notes to tag recipes that you are going to use in the near future #allow for leftovers in your meal plans you are likely to have leftovers if you are only cooking for one or two freezing the leftovers for future use is a great way to have a quick and healthy meal

Materials: Cookbooks and recipes pen and paper sticky notes

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #put rubber bands on the prescription bottles to designate the number of times a day the medication should be taken the rubber bands should be spaced accordingly for example ##place one rubber band around the middle of the prescription bottle if the medication is taken once a day ##place two rubber bands around the upper and lower part of the prescription bottle if the medication is taken twice a day ##place three rubber bands around the top middle and bottom of the prescription bottle if the medication is taken three times a day #use the makers to color the tops of the prescription bottles according to when the prescription should be taken for example ##yellow is taken in the morning ##red is taken in the middle of the day ##black is taken in the evening #modify the approach according to the cr’s specific circumstances

Materials: Rubber bands yellow red and black felt tip markers small self-adhesive labels for the top of the prescription bottles

Categories: Medical Physical, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Vision, Poor Vision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #look for light exercises that can be done while the cr is seated in a chair #sit in a chair facing the cr and hold a water bottle filled halfway with rice or beans in each of your hands give the cr the other two bottles to hold in his or her hands #turn on the music and try doing a regular exercise routine with a set number of arm or leg raises to the beat

Materials: Music the cr likes that has a moderate beat four small plastic water bottles filled halfway with rice or small dry beans two sturdy chairs

Categories: Medical Physical, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: This cue walker right leg left leg walker right leg left leg #from a seated position the cr rises to stand and then grasps the walker with both hands keeping most of his or her weight on the ‘good’ leg and on both arms #the cr then picks up the walker and moves it forward about the distance of an arm’s length all four corners of the walker are brought down to the ground at the same time so the walker doesn’t tip or tilt #the right leg is then brought forward without weight being put on it the cr next pushes forcefully on the walkers hand grips to keep pressure off the right leg #the left leg is then brought forward so it is even with the right leg these walking steps are continued if the left leg was broken the directions regarding legs in steps four and five are reversed #if the cr’s balance is good or improves significantly a physical therapist or doctor may suggest use of a wheeled walker which will not need to be lifted as the cr walks try

Materials: #it is common for crs recovering from broken hips to use walkers that don’t have wheels while they are beginning to walk again these walkers require that users pick them up to move them forward between steps if the cr needs a reminder

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #compensate for balance problems by putting more thought and time into the simple acts of rising and moving #to promote better balance when rising from a chair encourage the cr to scoot to the front of the chair seat feet should be back knees slightly bent and the feet should be about shoulders’ width apart #next the cr places his or her hands on the arms of the chair bends forward so nose is over toes and from that position pushes forward and upward to stand upright #once standing the cr takes a moment to make sure balance is assured and to reach for a cane or walker if one is used #if a walker is used the walker is grasped only after the cr is fully upright it is unsafe to attempt to use the walker as a prop when pulling oneself up from a chair

Materials: Chair with sturdy arms

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Some Supervision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Page turners are u-shaped clamp-like devices that attach to the palm of the hand and allow people to use the whole hand rather than just the fingers to turn pages using a page turner can restore a cr cr’s ability to enjoy a good novel study or follow a recipe in a cookbook look for page turners at bookstores that also carry reading supplies such as book holders magnifiers etc and in catalogs carrying independent living supplies

Materials: Page turner

Categories: Medical Physical, Social, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Some Supervision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #select a few shirts dresses sweatshirts etc that are necessary to wear but hard to put on and that the cr doesn’t mind not being able to wear after the current condition has improved it is helpful if these clothes are a bit on the large side #cut the items up the back and attach velcro strips on either side of the cut when the sides are brought together the velcro will hold the clothing in place; however some width of fabric will be lost in the overlapping of the velcro

Materials: Several shirts sweatshirts dresses nightgowns not favorites velcro thread heavy needle thimble seamstress

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #talking books and magazines large print magazines free loans of cassette players and free mailing of related materials are available through the national library service for the blind and physically handicapped a program of the library of congress #eligible people with vision loss or blindness receive materials through designated libraries to find the library serving your area call 1 888 657-7323 #you can also apply to participate in the program online download an application to the program or fill the application out online at the homepage of the national library service for the blind and physically handicapped #applicants are asked to provide some supporting documentation from a professional vision specialist and should be able to demonstrate difficulty reading caused by a vision impairment or physical disability

Materials: Telephone assistant to help complete application form

Categories: Medical Physical, Social, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Some Supervision, Vision, Poor Vision

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: #wheelchair cushion alarms or alarms on strings that run between a cr’s clothing and wheelchair are designed to go off when a cr starts to fall or rise from the chair alerting caregivers to movement #purchase a wheelchair cushion alarm at a medical supply store the alarm is placed under the cr’s cushion #optionally a string alarm can be bought it has two pieces one of which fastens to the cr’s clothing and the other to his his or her wheelchair when the cr leans too far forward or starts to rise the two pieces separate triggering an alarm #both kinds of alarms usually come with adjustable volume settings

Materials: Alarm for under wheelchair cushion or back of chair ‘string alarm’ to clip onto cr’s clothing

Categories: Medical Physical

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*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed