It’s December and there’s bound to be a holiday connection in our blog - gifts are always a favorite! Who doesn’t love getting a gift that shows the giver has invested a moment (or more!) of really getting to know you; picking out just the right thing to make you smile or fit a need.
Our title, “The Gift of Change,” might have brought about a reaction other than joy and celebration within you! For some of us, change is not always viewed as a gift! Change can be a disruption to a routine, an unbalancing of a familiar and comfortable balance. “Change” is typically an opposition to what we consider with the concept of aging-in-place! Aging-in-place is often accompanied by images of stability and consistency. Routines that are able to continue without disruption, or items that hold value, a favorite chair … a favorite lamp … a favorite throw rug…
The fact of the matter is that change does come along, invited or not. Even if the home remains the same, it’s inevitable that the people living in that home will experience change! As families grow and age, the activities within a home will certainly progress through changes! Even the person most resistant to the idea of change can often stop and think about changes in the past that have brought about beauty and growth; energy and accomplishment. “Change” is actually an agent that allows the familiar to continue!
The reactions to “change” are often encountered by many NeighborWorks Northeastern PA stakeholders in our efforts to keep individuals in their beloved and familiar homes and neighborhoods! Whether you are one of our occupational therapy practitioners, our Certified Age in Place Specialists (CAPS), a client, a caregiver or our construction staff - it is inevitable that you will face the rift of change. It is not always a comfortable topic. Why is it that some people seem to embrace change and some dig their heels in and resist? How can we better translate the excitement surrounding holiday gifts to the anticipation of changes within the physical environments of the home of our older adults? Is it possible that the “gift” we are packaging could be presented in a way that better fits the needs of the individual? Is it possible that the gift we are receiving might not be “wrong,” just possibly not the best fit for the current stage in the process?
If acceptance of change is a process, which studies show it is, then we have to accept the continuum that this process includes. It’s possible that the individual who you think will never change may just be in an earlier stage of the process than you have anticipated! If you have yet to begin thinking about changes to prepare your home for aging-in-place, it may be time to consider the gift of contemplation! The gift of knowledge, the gift of not having to say “hindsight is 20/20”! The gift of considering the fallout of falls:
Unintentional injury is the seventh leading cause of death among older adults. The most common cause of unintentional injury deaths is falls. One in four adults reported falling in 2023, according to the National Vital Statistics System.
- In 2019, 83% of hip fracture deaths and 88% of emergency department visits and hospitalizations for hip fractures were caused by falls.
- Each year, there are about 300,000 hip fracture-related hospitalizations due to older adult falls.
- Each year, there are about 3 million emergency department visits due to older people falls.
- Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries (TBI).
Maybe you’ve heard these facts before? Maybe you’ve already contemplated these facts and understand the importance of preparation but you don’t know where to start? Perhaps it is the gift of resources that would be a better fit for you! Consider the following resources to help you think about changes in order to keep things the same:
CDC’s STEADI Resources for Fall Prevention and Staying Strong
Pennsylvania’s PA CareKit Home Safety Worksheet
Pennsylvania’s Aging Our Way, PA Website
As you start looking around your home, are you ready but don’t know where to start? Are you ready for the gift of getting started with a checklist? The STEADI program’s checklist for safety does just that! Click HERE to download the checklist!
Changing your perspective on “change” might be just the gift you give to embrace the full experience! Gifts come in many different shapes and sizes, this holiday season may you embrace each and connect with the giver in a unique and special way! Happy holidays!
Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Older adult falls data. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/data-research/index.html
Kakara R, Bergen G, Burns E, Stevens M. Nonfatal and Fatal Falls Among Adults Aged ≥65 Years—United States, 2020–2021. MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2023;72:938–943. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm7235a1.
Moreland B, Legha J, Thomas K, Burns ER. Hip Fracture-related Emergency Department Visits, Hospitalizations, and Deaths by Mechanism of Injury Among Adults Aged 65 and Older, United States 2019. Journal of Aging and Health. 2023 Jun;35(5–6):345–355. DOI: 10.1177/08982643221132450.
Melanie Brock is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA/L) with 26 years of experience, including 15 years dedicated to working with older adults in both inpatient, outpatient and community settings. She currently works at Lackawanna College's Occupational Therapy Assistant program both teaching and as the Academic Fieldwork Coordinator. Her expertise centers supporting older adults and their caregivers in embracing change and adapting how they engage with daily tasks to ensure safety, independence, and quality of life. Melanie recently completed her Certified Live in Place Professional (CLIPP) certification, further enhancing her ability to recommend effective, evidence-based home modifications that allow the home to support successful aging in place. Melanie is committed to helping individuals remain in their homes and neighborhoods safely and comfortably for as long as possible.
