There’s an old tale about two villages in the jungle that traded goods with one another. The tigers that lived in those jungles started charging the villagers. They would sneak up on the person who was traveling from one location to the other and strike from behind. Sadly, hundreds of people had lost their lives because of these tiger attacks.
One day the assigned trader arrived at the second village ready to do business, but he was wearing a mask on his head backwards! The people were curious as to why he would wear this mask with the face on the backside of his head.
The merchant explained that if the tiger thought he was facing him; the tiger would not attack. If his back was toward the tiger the merchant was viewed as prey and would suffer as hundreds of other villagers already did. To this day, when the people of these villages travel to another village, they wear masks with the face displayed on the back of their heads and have stayed safe because of it.
How often in life has it felt like a villain crept up on us and we were completely unaware? Or perhaps we sensed something was about to change in our sphere and instead of looking at our options, we turned our back in fear and choose to look the other way? When we yield to the force of fears, we are giving it power over our lives. So why not address some of those concerns and seek solutions instead? Here are some common fears people experience today.
Fears of Falling
The fear of falling does not go unfounded. All it takes is one slip on the steps and the mere jolt to the body will strike at our self-confidence. Losing balance and taking a spill can send even the strongest person in a downward spiral. It’s not uncommon to then become a fearful person over even the smallest endeavors in the future. There are some precautions that people can take.
For example, it may not have been difficult navigating two or three steps into the front door for the past 30 years, but now those steps are a challenge! Handrails can be a very effective and inexpensive solution to remedy future accidents getting into the house.
If a family member feels wobbly inside the home, going from room to room handrails along the walls of dining areas, family rooms or even bedrooms can bring peace of mind.
If navigating a longer staircase is a daunting challenge, stair lifts may be less pricey than you think! Contact us for an obligation-free quote.
Since the bathroom is the most dangerous place in the house, fear of falling in the shower is a common concern! Non-slip coating can be an easy fix to a slippery shower scenario. Our technicians clean the tub or shower and then apply this no slip grip to any shower, bath or other flooring needed in your home. Combine this measure of safety with grab bars and your bathroom is no longer the most dangerous room in the house!
Fears of Losing Independence
We have some clients who may be in the throes of MS, ALS or some other progressive disease and in an effort to enjoy a sense of independence, they have chosen to install an overhead lift.
With this multi room overhead lift system, the user has regained or maintained their independence. This lift enables the user via remote control to go from bed to chair to toilet to shower and in fact can zoom throughout their entire home if they so desire!
Because we have licensed contractors and an in-house construction team, we are also able to remodel any room in the house. One of our clients wanted their kitchen redone so their wheelchair bound daughter could learn how to cook! Here we were able to design the kitchen so she could roll up to the stove touch a button and it would bring the stove top down to her level. When she was done cooking, she could hit the same button and it would raise the stove back to its original height. Even the dishwasher was no longer a heavy door opening but now was a drawer that she could access easily as well!
Fears of Being Invisible
It has been said, that when we approach a certain age, we can feel like no one notices us anymore. There are a few ways to remedy that situation and stay clear of those fears.
Decide to get active or stay active in the community. There are plenty of organizations that have weekly activities such as bus trips to wine tasting events, theatrical productions, casinos, baseball games and other sporting events. They have ongoing classes and opportunities to learn how to Zumba, dance or use a smartphone, Facebook, and other social media to stay connected with kids and grand kids who may be far away.
There are opportunities all around us, but we must make the effort to help connect our seniors to those programs. Sometimes folks just don’t know what’s available to them. If we are aware and compassionate enough to invite them, it could be a life-changing event for the senior and their entire family!
So in the long run, there is no fear that can overcome us unless we allow it to do so. There are solutions for us but sometimes we need to put on a mask of courage just to get us to the right spot where options are available to us. Once we get ourselves in an atmosphere with others who are seeking social connection and independence, we realize we’re not invisible at all! We have a community of people who care, we were just unaware.
Chances are we have all been in a situation at some point in our lives when we were physically disabled or put out of commission for a season. Perhaps it was a broken arm in grade school, a fractured leg from skiing, or a surgical procedure that made us feel like we were dependent on others and kept us in the hospital without access to the usual pleasures of our own home.
People all over the world are searching for the top ten Mother’s Day gift ideas. They are wondering what to get Mom and how fast can Amazon deliver? For those who did not plan, here are some ideas:
1 – Book a Day at the Spa
Moms work hard caring for their families and it’s never easy. Allowing her the pleasure of pulling away from the stress to enjoy a massage and rejuvenate is a spectacular idea!
2 – Give the Gift of Pampering
A mani-pedi or a facial is a wonderful treat for Mom to feel good and come out looking prettier than ever!
3 – Lotions and Potions
What’s her favorite scent? If she’s a citrus lover, maybe a nice orange bergamot hand crème would do the trick. If she prefers flowers, then lilac, gardenia, or honeysuckle body butter could make her day!
4 – The Gift of Time
Watches have made a comeback, but the real offering here is what time can do for Mom on Mother’s Day. Time with her children as they celebrate her does wonders for her heart. Know that time is a gift we can never get back and choosing to give mom your time and attention will always be the perfect choice. Time alone so Mom can read, nap, or soak in the tub uninterrupted would also be medicine for her soul.
5 – Candles
Light up her life with candles in her favorite colors. Select aromas that give her a sense of calm. Be the light in your community and make her proud!
6 – Words
For Mother’s Day, select books or audios that will brighten and encourage her to continue to be the woman she was destined to be all along. Sometimes life can make one weary, so why not fuel her heart with strength and inspiration?
7 – Music
Concert ticket are always nice, but if it’s too late or just not in the budget why not treat her to a home cooked meal (or her favorite takeout) and have candlelight and music fill the house. Maybe the musicians she admires are from an era you know nothing about. Letting her revel in the tunes from her day could spark some entertaining stories she has kept in her memory all these years.
8 – Flowers
Fresh flowers are lovely, but what about planting Mom’s favorites in her yard for her so she can enjoy them for months to come? If not the yard, then potted plants on her patio or balcony will also deliver joy!
9 – Memory Maker
Sometimes life can feel like a whirlwind and if Mom’s memory is not so great, make the time to share special moments that she created for you throughout your life. Tell her how those times made you feel. Explain the emotions attached to the perfume she used to wear or how your childhood was impacted by her cooking, her advice or her hugs.
10 – Maid for a Day
I have never met a Mom who wouldn’t want someone to clean her house! Having the chance to skip housework for once would be an absolute treat! Let her go have fun and take care of the chores so she can come home to a sparkly house. Nothing says, “Mom we love you”, more than taking the load off of her when she least expects it!
Centenarians—we know they exist, we may personally have met one in our own lifetime, but what is it that gives them the drive to thrive for 100 years or more?
We’ve met many stroke patients throughout the years; perhaps you have too. Or maybe you have come through the scary experience yourself! Even though there are different types of strokes with equally haunting names, the stroke does not discriminate in the people it chooses.
Patients of all ages and ethnicity have endured this experience and have come out on the other side with a new name: “Stroke Survivor.” Having met with many survivors, we discovered that many say the same things about their journey. Hopefully these six steps will help you or someone you love as well.
Jerry had spent most of his adult life as a firefighter, rescuing people, pets, and property. He loved what he did, and he was good at it! He found fulfillment in helping people in crisis—but he never expected to become one of those people.
After being diagnosed with ALS, Larry chose to prepare his home to accommodate his FUTURE accessibility needs. The key word is FUTURE. Learning of the diagnosis was not easy, yet he has accepted it, and with acceptance comes change. He has taken multiple steps to achieve a wheelchair accessible home, to plan for the when:
When he needs a power chair
When he needs access into his home
When he needs a bathroom that will fit a power chair
When he needs to get downstairs
When he needs to go outside to enjoy the outdoors
When he needs support from loved ones
Larry is a very special man, husband, father, grandfather and friend. We invite you to meet him to learn how he has chosen to plan for his FUTURE, for WHEN he will need a wheelchair accessible home.
Seventy-five years ago, it was very common for families in America to house several generations under one roof. It was typical for Dad to be the breadwinner, Mom to be the homemaker, and the children to be surrounded by an aunt, grandparent, or even great-grandparent.
At some point, due to age or disability, you or a loved one may be faced with the prospect of having to use a wheelchair to assist in your primary mobility at home. Whether it be a temporary fixture to your home or something that will be more permanent, there are a number of simple modifications that can help improve accessibility and make life easier.
If you are like most people, you live in a home that was not designed to accommodate wheelchairs. Below are some simple ideas on how to make sure that you will be able to stay in your home despite the necessity of a wheelchair.
