Age Navigation

Most seniors want to remain at home and “age in place”, but sometimes because of health concerns and personal safety, it’s just not feasible.   Our philosophy at Age Navigation is that the senior should take an active role in the decisions concerning their future needs as long as they are able.  Our first priority is [...]

Most older drivers will alter their driving habits accordingly when they detect a problem with their driving.  They may avoid highways, not drive at night, only drive close to home, etc.  However, what if they don’t alter their driving and you’re worried about them and the other drivers on the road? Here’s some information I’d [...]

Just like you replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and change the furnace filters once a year, we recommend that a home safety assessment be done of your older adult’s residence every year as well. Most accidents occur at home and can be prevented.  Likewise, many hazards are easy to overlook, but also easy [...]

The following are various scenarios commonly faced by family members that call us because they are concerned about the safety of elderly relatives. Geriatric Care Managers are dedicated professionals with extensive experience and training for assisting older adults and family caregivers in these and other difficult situations: When you live at a distance and are [...]

Everywhere I turn lately, I hear people talking about Spring Cleaning…. A good friend of mine’s 96 yr. old father recently passed away and she is now in the midst of major Spring Cleaning -  sorting and giving away years of accumulated household goods and mementos.  If you haven’t had to deal with this yet, you [...]

If you’ve noticed a change in cleanliness, it could be that the chores of general housekeeping are getting to be overwhelming – especially if your loved one has a physical condition, such as arthritis or some other condition that makes vacuuming, reaching or bending, difficult. It might be time to talk to them about getting [...]

The American Geriatric Society has updated its’ guidelines. See article. 

“Falls are one of the most common health problems experienced by older
adults and are a common cause of losing functional independence,” said
Dr. Mary Tinetti of Yale University School of Medicine.

The new recommendations for interventions focus on:

Well, it’s definitely winter!  And time to watch out for slips and falls!  Did you know that 30 to 35% of older adults will fall each year? And that one in every five falls results in serious injuries that require hospitalization?  So, here’s some reminders for you: 

- Wear shoes with non-skid soles (or with some type of traction on them.) You might want to investigate products that hook onto your shoes to give them extra traction – like Yaktrax or WinterTraks, available at Sporting Good or Home supply stores.

- Use handrails when available

Most accidents occur at home and can be prevented.  Here are some useful tips to make your house safer and prevent falls and accidents: Entrance to the home, doors, windows, garage, walkways: If steps to enter the home are difficult to manage, consider side rails or having a ramp installed if necessary. Ensure that steps [...]

Here’s a list of signs that may indicate a problem in the older adult’s driving abilities. It’s a good idea if several different people drive with your loved one so you can compare and assess their driving objectively. • Do they seem anxious or nervous when driving? • Do they have difficulty turning their head, [...]