Lynda G. Shrager - Age in Place: A Guide to Modifying, Organizing and Decluttering Mom and Dads Home

Praise for Age in Place

With both wit and wisdom, Lynda imparts invaluable strategies and tips to help seniors safely remain in their homes.

Michael Leonard Wolff, MD, FACP, Program Director, Geriatric Medicine Fellowship, Albany Medical College; Professor, Ringel Institute of Gerontology; Chief Physician, Continuing Care, St. Peters Health Partners, Albany, New York

Age in Place is a godsend for family caregivers wondering if their aging parents are safe in their home. Filled with practical tips and easily implemented strategies, Lynda Shragers engaging book is a pleasure to read. Give this book to every person you know who has an aging parent!

Amy S. DAprix, MSW, PhD, Life Transition Expert, Internationally renowned expert on lifestyle issues related to aging

Lynda Shrager shares her extensive knowledge, pragmatic know-how, and empathic perspective about one of the most challenging questions many adult children need to ask themselves when it comes to their aging parents What do we do now? When a parents health fails them but their resistance to move doesnt, Lynda helps the reader understand his or her parents perspective. She also skillfully assists her readers to manage this challenging and often emotionally draining issue, while making sure the aging parent continues to feel loved, respected, and safe. Its a must-read for anyone facing this overwhelming, yet very common, situation.

Dr. Robi Ludwig, TV host/personality, author, and psychotherapist

Copyright 2018 Lynda G. Shrager

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Published by Bull Publishing Company
P.O. Box 1377
Boulder, CO, USA 80306
www.bullpub.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Shrager, Lynda G., author.

Title: Age in place : a guide to modifying, organizing and decluttering mom and dads home keep them safe, keep you sane / Lynda G. Shrager, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, aka The Organized Caregiver.

Description: Boulder, CO : Bull Publishing Company, [2018] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017057144 | ISBN 9781945188183 (alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: Older people--Dwellings--Safety measures. | Barrier-free design for older people.

Classification: LCC NA7195.A4 S57 2018 | DDC 720/.47--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017057144

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Interior design and project management: Dovetail Publishing Services

Cover design and production: Shannon Bodie, BookWise Design

To my husband, Steven, who has read every single word I have put down on the page and helped me to rework it until we got it right.

There were so many times I wanted to throw in the towel, and without your constant support and encouragement this book would never have come to fruition. I love you for always seeing the positive and never letting me give up my determination to complete this project.

In preparation for aging in place with you, I have already researched walkers that traverse the sand and an all-terrain beach buggy that goes right into the ocean. We will be ready.

This book is as accurate as its publisher and authors can make it, but we cannot guarantee that it will work for you in every case. The authors and publisher disclaim any and all liability for any claims or injuries that you may believe arose from following the recommendations set forth in this book. This book is only a guide; your common sense, good judgment, and partnership with health professionals are also needed.

Thank you:

To my parents, Joan and Donald Goldstein. You both died so young but thankfully never had to leave the home you held so dear. You were and always will be an inspiration to me.

To my patients for the opportunity to come into your homes and share my expertise with you. Helping you to safely navigate while achieving your independence has given me the unique perspective to write this book. Sharing your insights and techniques for making it work as you age in your home has been truly enlightening for me. I may have been your therapist, but so many times you were the teachers and I was the student.

To the families of my patients who have incorporated my recommendations into your repertoire of strategies to deal with mom and dad and who have shared your ideas and best practices with me. You have indeed become organized caregivers.

To Barbara Lombardo, editor extraordinaire. Your expertise in your field is amazing. Thank you so much for formulating my first draft into a polished manuscript before I ever handed it in.

To Jim Bull for having faith in me and knowing when to reject my early submissions and let me down easy while simultaneously giving me the encouragement and knowledge I needed to finally get it right.

To Emily SewellYour unwavering patience and ability to facilitate the back and forth between the cover designer and me was appreciated. Because we all know, you can and will judge a book by its cover.

To Claire CameronSince 2011 when we first made contact you opened the door to making this entire project a reality. Your constant calming presence, unwavering support, and quick response time to my endless questions is appreciated more than youll ever know.

To Jon Fordthe best copyeditor ever. Your ability to point out mistakes and make gentle corrections while not making the writer feel inadequate is a gift.

To Jon PeckYour ability to turn thousands of words on a computer into a beautifully finished real book is amazing.

To Diane Cohenmy physical therapy friend, partner in crime, and story sharer. You are my witness to the fact that you cant make this stuff up.

And last but certainly not least to my beautiful daughters Leslie and Samantha. Thank you for letting me roll ideas off your backs, providing feedback as this book evolved and being there as my first line cheerleaders. I love you both so much.

By the waydad and I will be aging at the beach.

Im just warning you, the only way I am leaving this house is horizontally.

My new 92-year-old, 95-pound patient stood guarding her front doorway with her walker. I had just introduced myself as the occupational therapist from the agency assigned to her case. Josie was angry at her kids for insisting she have home care after her hospitalization for a hip fracture that resulted from a fall.

I dont blame you, I said. This is a great house. How long have you lived here?

Her demeanor softened a bit and she allowed me through the entrance. My husband built it over sixty years ago. The children were born and raised here. John died three years ago and Ive managed just fine since then.

So what happened?

I had a little fall in the bathroom. To tell you the truth I dont remember what happened. One minute I was up and the next I was down. The kids are mad that I didnt press the Lifeline, but it was very late and I didnt want to bother anyone. So I lay there all night. My daughter found me in the morning. Now they are throwing ideas around about assisted living or me going to live with one of them. Over my dead body!

After more than thirty-seven years working in the field of geriatrics, thirteen of them in direct home care, I have experienced hundreds of versions of that conversation. The actors are different; the script is the same. Mom and/or dad have lived in their home for a long time. They are starting to have difficulty getting around and managing the daily requirements of maintaining a house. The decline is often so slow that every minuscule loss of function just becomes the new norm, and they adapt well enough so it doesnt cause a problem. That is until a fall or a new health issue sends them spiraling and exacerbates their functional losses, and before anyone knows what hit them they have a crisis on their hands.