Pelton's Home Health Care

Many people are aware of the need for safety in the bathroom, but the bedroom is another area of the house where safety is important. Here are a few areas to consider examining:

· Is the bed at a height where entering and exiting is comfortable?

· Is the pathway to and from the bed clear? How about the path to and from the bathroom?

· Is there 36” to 60” on each side of the bed that is clear for maneuvering for health aides, other care givers and/or necessary equipment?

· Is a bedside rail needed? If so, does the person need assistance getting in and out of bed or help staying in the bed?

Have other questions or concerns? Stop by and ask us. We can help!

No matter what a person’s age, bathroom safety is important to keep in mind. The National Safety Council declared the bathroom as the most dangerous room in a house. But when one considers that 75 percent of slip-fall deaths occur to people 65 years of age or older, older Americans should be even more concerned. How does a person stay safe in a room with hard, smooth, and continually wet surfaces? A recent study conducted by the University of Michigan identified two key areas for preventing bathroom falls. Researchers found that people often made two mistakes. First, a person with sliding glass shower doors was likely to use the doors for stability and/or balance. However, shower doors are not intended to bear weight.

The other common mistake was not knowing the difference between a grab bar and a towel bar. About 70 percent of participants in the study used a towel bar instead of a grab bar for weight-bearing purposes. While these items might look similar they could not be more different.

It is important to know that grab bars (which can be purchased at Pelton’s) are designed specifically for weight bearing while a towel bar—(which are purchased in department stores) are not designed to hold a person’s weight or provide balance.

A nurse or occupational therapist can evaluate your bathroom’s safety, as well as an Aging in Place Specialist. At Pelton’s we are here to answer any questions you might have and we offer a variety of products to fit any bathroom design and personal need.

Women are told to do monthly breast exams by their doctors. But only about 10 percent of women do self exams. And of those 10 percent many are using improper techniques.

A new product called the LIV has been specifically designed by a doctor to address these issues. Dr. Ernie Bodai invented the LIV after deciding a self-breast exam was the most important, and underutilized, tool to help women catch breast cancer early.

According to the product’s website, the LIV works by “molding to the skin and providing a smooth surface for the fingers to easily glide over breast tissue.”

The power of the LIV resides in its ability to help women become more familiar with their bodies and at the same time become more adept at understanding the difference between a normal lump and unusual changes in one’s breast.

Some other great aspects of the LIV are its inexpensive price and it only needs to be purchased one time. The LIV can be used over and over.