Grandma holding her great great grandson for the 1st time.
I was lucky to have a role model in my grandmother. Even in her early 90’s she was fiercely independent. Not stubborn – but proud of her ability to come to my house to celebrate birthdays and holidays. Then at 96, she stopped coming…and for the next two years…lived everyday in the fear of falling. As many years as we’d had together – I wasn’t prepared for it to end the way it did.
This doesn’t have to happen to you. You see, just a few adjustments gives you…and your family…the freedom to live fully and see each other as often as you want, for as long as possible.
Let me explain.
A Vibrant Relationship with a Special Woman.
From my earliest memory, Grandma was outstanding and her magnetic personality drew people in. Rather than sit around to be waited on, she loved to help. From child care to washing dishes, her participation was welcome.
For 15 years, she and Grandpa came over every first Monday of the month to spend time with me and my boys. The kids loved her as much as I did. Her vivacity pulled her through Grandpa’s death, keeping her active and healthy in to her 90’s. Believe me; I knew how lucky I was to have her.
Until Things Changed And The Fear Crept In…
At 96, she stopped coming over. Needless to say, age was taking its toll. Unable to drive, she depended on others for transportation, putting her on their time schedules. Even getting into and out of the car took more effort and she needed a walker to maintain her balance.
But the visits stopped due to obstacles in my house. Our high step entry was tough for her to lift her walker over, let alone lift her feet. Our guest bathroom was small and narrow, making turning around with a walker more difficult. But it was the low toilet seat that challenged her balance the most.* It required too much strength for her to stand back up.
This fear of losing her balance ended her visits. Even in her own home, this fear grew in her last couple of years. Often she told me she didn’t want to leave her home to go into a “nursing home and be left to die”. Sadly, it was a fall that took her away from her house before she was ready.
I Needed To Remove The Barriers.
She’s one of the reasons why, in my 50’s, I decided to go back to school to pursue interior design. You see, in spite of having so many years together, it didn’t have to end the way it did. The value of my training not only prolongs life, but enhances its quality.
Small steps – like a comfort height toilet*, and adjustments to our front step would have meant more family celebrations. Most of us don’t realize how adjustments like these minimize the fear of falling. Yes, she lived more years than most, but the last ones were hard to enjoy.
Reap Huge Dividends With A Proactive Approach.
If you have loved ones who don’t visit the way they used to, it’s time to evaluate your home.
And it’s easy.
I do home safety assessments that help people identify where they, or their guests, can get hurt. The bonus is how often these features actually improve the décor! Think about throwing the party everyone wants to attend because your home is so beautiful. Imagine being confident that all your houseguests, regardless of age, feel safe without having to think about it. Save money by avoiding unnecessary medical bills because your home is easy to move around and live in.
These advantages give you the comfort to relax and truly enjoy your home every moment you’re there.
The time to evaluate your home is now. Make your home the “go to” place for friends and family (or even just for yourself), by doing a home assessment with me. This way, no matter how long you and your favorite loved ones live, everyone enjoys the highest quality of life – for as long as possible.
Live fully,
~Jeanette
*For more information on the importance of comfort height toilets, go to Are your comfortable when you poop?