rss1. CHANGE IS HARD! Making recommendations to older adults who may have lived with safety hazards their whole life is not always well received. My parents are a perfect example. Recovering from hip surgery at age 89, my Mom’s Physical Therapist had suggested that the scatter rugs be removed from her pathways so that she could navigate safety with her walker. Of course, that could not be done because “those rugs have been there for 64 years”.
2. COMPROMISE MIGHT BE THE ANSWER! The rugs had to stay, but we were able to place double-sided sticky tape underneath to secure them to the floor. Think creatively!
3. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE TO FAIL! OF course, we never want them to fail by getting injured. There really is a fine balance here. Allowing an older adult to make their own decisions, even those decisions we may not fully agree with, may be the only way to go. Time and time again, I have found that they will eventually arrive at that same conclusion we did– only this time it is their idea.
Recommendations:
Be patient.
Be innovative.
Be understanding.
Be there for them.
