Late May 2009, I had one of those family emergencies that changes daily life… for a very longtime. Since that discovery, I have been helping that elderly relative regain her home by providing accessible space to assist in her rehabilitation and navigating various caregivers and the professional medical community. Without a doubt I can surmise that caring for an elder in the family is much more stressful than caring for a child.
Things that I learned:
Changing appliances out for new ones causes stress in an elder’s routine. It might be user friendly but relearning buttons and programs is trouble with a capital T. Have you ever heard term “Can’t teach and old dog new tricks”.
Bathrooms have to be considered very carefully….even if you design tons of them for a living. I was so proud at putting in emergency call buttons and grab bars only to be told by a PT to put in a transfer bench and elder in question wanted another grab bar I had not considered. Humbling.
American Medical Alarms Co. barely cover the scenarios in which I needed their help. Please note it is a ONE-WAY SYSTEM. And if elder presses button and announces it was a false alarm, the company DOES NOT CALL YOU….even if you request it.
And everything you do will change the natural habitat of the elder and will cause anger and frustration…at first…for a while…If you are caring or designing for an elder who is a pack rat you will change that space for safety and cause the whole house to NOT FEEL LIKE THEIRS.
Companion Care 24/7 averages about $13,000 a month. Can I repeat that. BREATHE TAKING…this does not include the household maintenance bills. Organizing for another to live as independently as possible can take from two to six hours a day. And the days you have nothing going on ….all is well. And the days you need to concentrate on say…a design project, a meeting, a daughter’s birthday….forget about it. It is very hindering to a profitable life.
Synopsis: realize that specifications and ergonomics are not the only thing affected…the other factors are immeasurable and should be noted with frequency in all design guides/classes for Aging in Place.
