I'm fine how are things out there it's not a problem
really I look I know it's a big house but I took care of it even when Frank
was alive listen I was just on my way out the door we'll talk again soon okay
bye retirement villa indeed
hello I'm Gene Janssen you know there are many good options for someone who
wants a simpler lifestyle a retirement condo and assisted living apartment or
even just a smaller house but making a change like that is not always an easy
choice well fortunately it's not always necessary either it'll be many years I
hope before I face that in my own life but I have noticed a few aches and pains
that were never there before I admit I can now imagine a time when I'll become
a little more dependent on people need something more convenient in a place to
live for now I'm taking it step by step you know solving one problem at a time
I'll try to make my present surroundings more user-friendly as the computer people
say a few gadgets also known as assistive technology and a few changes in
the home in the professional literature that's called home modification can make
a huge difference in everyday life but even minor physical adjustments in the
home environment may require an attitude adjustment by the homeowner if you know
what I mean what are those bars in the bathroom by the toilet mm-hmm just grab
bars dear but in decorator colors Oh Mary work you did my son's an architect he
coordinated the color and he figured out how to help us put them in we have them in the
bathtub too the grandchildren love them well you know how they jump in and out of the tub
there's no way to tell what's going to happen this way I feel much better no matter who's in
there I have this friend who has a little trouble walking and her husband has put railings in the
hallway and by her front door he must be very handy isn't she the lucky one oh he's very clever
with tools but isn't that little awkward looking I mean doesn't make the house look I don't know
institutional it's like a lot of those gadgets you hear about well we've been using one of those
gadgets all morning Mary my sister-in-law struggles with things in the kitchen you know
how she opens those baking mix boxes she chops them with her meat cleaver we have a neighbor
who has a terrible time opening those childproof medicine bottles arthritis yes what does she
ever do she waits for her grandchildren to visit and has them open the bottles for her
you know they've come out with a new easy open medicine bottle oh that looks easy let me try
that oh great well ladies who's going to shuffle next I think I will
we all face limitations of one kind or another as we age the body changes throughout life and
that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with us the thing to do is to make your environment
adapt to you that could mean getting a card shuffler installing a grab bar where you need it
or even building a lower counter in the kitchen whatever the solution the first step is recognizing
a problem
so
are we late
oh finally a decent meal watch it buddy how's this how you doing hi Jan
so Jan we're gonna have a little uh dinner music tonight yeah if I can get enough practice time in
oh well I better leave you to it actually I need to go say hi to mom yes she's looking for you
sorry we're late mom hi Barb I'll help the kids hi grandma hi hon why don't I help you with that
oh thank you do you need an assistant thank you dear but management has everything under control
why don't you go on in and see your cousins okay grandma
hi mom mom everything under control oh Jim I didn't know oh yes everything's fine just fine
did you hear that what mom couldn't even hold on to the roasting pan I couldn't believe it
it's happened before her hands are bothering her plus she's just not as strong as she used to be
I wonder about her hearing look at this can't go on indefinitely we can't keep letting her
do all this work for these big dinners plus she'll expect us all back for the holidays
you know how important that is to her yeah well how about
why can't you get her some help you really think this is all up to me don't you know how to talk
to her well why don't you try it for once I mean you know how important it is for her to be in
charge I mean it's just not right unless she does all the work in her own way in her own kitchen
I've tried I don't care how stubborn she wants to be we've got to simplify things
look for a smaller place something more convenient for her or for us
what is that supposed to mean for her
all right everyone wash up for dinner
this one will be next okay girls sweetheart could I use the ladder sure great honey your mother put a
wonderful dinner on the table the other night don't you think yeah she really did you know she can't
keep up that pace by herself probably not well why don't you and your sister talk to her it's not
well why don't you and your sister talk to her it's not that simple sweetheart well then maybe
we should think about some other plans for the holidays to take the pressure off of your mother
oh or get her some help that's an idea I don't know I I'll get so complicated
you know it doesn't have to be so complicated look at my dad he's 75 years old he's what about
your dad look I know he's had a tough time since your mom died but well actually he's doing much
better he's he's more like his old self he putters around he thinks ahead he just finds a way to get
things done more easily you know he even seems to be enjoying the house again yeah I bet he
really enjoys his storm windows as a matter of fact he does he had a contractor install those
um combination windows now that is a great idea I always did worry about him using that rickety
ladder me too he also got one of those special tools for changing light bulbs so he doesn't
need to climb a ladder then either
and just how does he take care of the lawn
he delegates
think you missed a spot young fella
okay what about this winter when there's two feet of snow in the driveway
and the neighborhood kids are all on school well I think maybe that's where you come in honey
hey joe how about a cool drink you must be tired and thirsty
I think maybe I should have a little talk with your father I think so and your mother
and my mother enjoyed watching something else proud of you it looks great and I was only kidding
and I was only kidding about you missing a spot over there
did you hear what happened I know she's at the hospital I'm here now
and I don't think anyone brought her she must have driven herself
well don't leave let me find out what happened first uh-huh oh wait wait wait she's she's right
here hang on mom are you all right well yes dear it's really no big thing well you're right
you want to talk to jan certainly hi jan oh you heard about it don't worry it's not even broken
I just sprained it look I'll call you later okay bye how do you hang this up here jan yeah
no I'll take care of everything okay I'll talk to you later bye-bye mom why didn't you call me
sooner I don't like to bother you you're both so busy mom you aren't bothering me I did call
well if you'd called first then I could come and pick you up that's the kind of thing we're
talking about how does it feel well it aches but it'll be better before you know it
I suppose you want to drive yourself home now
I guess I could use some help I don't know how to mom mom it'll be okay
well we'll figure these things out somehow
figuring things out starts with conversation with friends and family to develop some ideas and
creative approaches this particular home is a great example it was designed from the ground
up as a comprehensive adaptation to a person confined to a wheelchair but some of the design
ideas here could benefit almost anyone like lower light switches and open shelves for easy storage
there's wide access to the bath area and walk-in shower
this bathtub safety rail is portable and there's an automatic faucet
it your own solutions will depend on your own needs what you want to do at home your budget
and your creativity we talked with a number of older adults who have found solutions that worked
for them well it was getting a little hard for me running the stairs up and down to the laundry all
the time and I was afraid of falling all of a sudden I just decided this is it I have to do it
if I want to stay here so I had my brother he was here for a weekend and we sat down
and we drew up the plan the dryer the washer the laundry tub and this is the walk-in shower
well it was a rose bed between the house and the garage before I closed it in to bring up the
laundry and put in a full bath I can stay in my own home and take care of myself I don't come up
with many ideas she just gives me an idea and I got to build it he's a pretty good builder though
I put bars in the hallway so she has a bar on each side of the hall I can still get up and I can walk
a little bit in the kitchen I use a secretary's chair in there so it rolls and then I uh it turns
that's the main thing that it turns and rolls and I can control it so that works out pretty good
this is the hand is the most handy thing that I've got no matter what's wrong you can always find
something but you might have to have help you know we all reach a stage when you can't help
yourself well enough then you've got to have help it's a comfort to me I really had to have this
gadget to walk with and I'd say God bless it I have lived by myself since April of 1984 when my
husband died within six months after he was dead I was totally blind but my friends are my support
and they're really nice boys I'm really happy that they live by me makes me feel that I'm
able to live by myself yet and stay in my home when my husband was alive he marked the 350
uh point and the 400 point on my oven with this high mark and so that enables me to know what
where to set the dial for my oven temperature press this little button so I know what time it is
11 a.m. I do some creative writing and I have this guide with slots on the front cover
so that I can keep my lines separated makes me feel good I got two canes just in case I need them
and then I got this here my pal got a nice grip handle on it you know it's a shovel handle is
what it is you know the d-handle and a shovel I just cut the old rusted part off and threw it
out and made a cane out of it I've got a three-wheel walker see what I mean turn on a dime see you
manpower and they take I love pruning I don't know why I like to prune trees to see how messy
the air at first and then clean them up get all the dead stuff out I like to get
get the exercise I should have been a pruner I guess instead of a post office clerk that's my
biggest wish that I can still be by myself and do for myself and cook for myself
well it's been a lifesaver for me since I've had it this is sure as I brag about it I might spill it
helps you to be a more independent person that's what it does well I did all my life I did a lot
of cooking I like to bake pies any kind of pies good booyah chicken booyah if I take this thing
that's just one two three and I'm around the potato and it was just hanging in my hand see
I don't have to squeeze nothing works so nice it's really easy I'm kind of proud that I'm
almost 86 and I can still do my own work but I'm hoping that I can hang in till 100 like charge
burns some of these folks worked with family to find solutions some with friends or professionals
all gained a measure of independence and confidence
I've just gotten to the point where well I've got to do something
well that's been rather obvious to some of us Mary I just don't know what to do I think my
kids are mad at me I know someone that I think might be able to help you she's an occupational
therapist right here in town and she worked with our son on the house she really helped us
good you know I like things to be attractive attractive sure this girl is style you should
see her home out of house beautiful I'm telling you this item is what I would recommend is a
temporary modification but this in fact fits over a doorknob you can see that just goes over
some kitchen items there's always a concern with with your condition that you have larger grips
on utensils these items you can see don't you try this do you have to special order these items or
do you have to get them through a catalog or where do you get them they're available through
chain department stores an occupational therapist is one of many kinds of professionals in your
community who can help fit your home to you and your needs that's great it's wonderful but your
most important resource may be your friends and family talk to them give them a chance to help you
and start fixing what needs to be fixed a home that adapts to you is going to be a home to your
friends and family too see if this works any better mom
oh jim that's perfect should have had that done years ago
where's the flower oh i'll get it grandma let me get by here first
oh thank you may i send help grandma oh i guess so okay especially hello
show you a couple oh hi i'm using this gadget no she's here doing fine hold on one second mom telephone
it's uncle george hold on
oh hi george oh everything's fine thank you no it feels much better
i'm getting plenty of kitchen help now
we're having a wonderful time there's no place like home definitely it's still home
so
you