Assemble a Falls Prevention Team and Put Your Best Foot Forward
Falling is so common among older adults that many people think it is a normal part of aging and can only be avoided by staying at home. Fortunately, both are myths. With some preparation, we can stay safely on our feet as we age, living active and independent lives in the communities we love.
More than one in four older adults fall each year, but it is not an inevitable part of aging and can be prevented. For older adults beginning to feel vulnerable, that can seem like an overwhelming task. It’s important to remember that it’s not a one-person job. Falls prevention is best approached as a team sport. Doctors can monitor health to ensure safe movement. Occupational therapists can adjust assistive devices for best fit. And pharmacists can explain medication side effects that can impair movement.
Easy Home Modifications
(Above) Grab bars in the bathroom of Keezletown Farmhouse beside the toilet and in the roll-in shower.
Some of the most important aspects of falls prevention, however, can take place right in our homes with the support of friends and family. Here are five easy home modifications to consider making right now:
Secure the bathrooms – Buy a shower seat, install grab bars, and switch to adjustable height, handheld shower heads.
Let there be light – When bulbs burn out, replace them with bright, non-glare bulbs.
Clear the clutter – Don’t put items on stairs. Remove clutter and throw rugs that can slip.
Organize the go-to’s – Place frequently used items between waist and shoulder height.
Put a bell on Buckley – Consider putting a small bell on dog or cat collars if pets are frequently underfoot. They can be a trip hazard so knowing where they are is helpful.
Control the cords – If possible, keep cords out of the way by running them along a wall or behind furniture. If that’s not possible, tape the entire cord to the floor.
Repair any loose brick or pavement on outdoor walkways and steps.
Upcoming Best Foot Forward Falls Prevention Open Houses
In addition to health care providers and family, community experts in aging are trained to help prevent falls. Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) is offering Best Foot Forward Falls Prevention Open Houses in September for older adults and caregivers.
In Harrisonburg, Best Foot Forward will be held on Wednesday Sept. 25 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Simms Center Auditorium. Bring along a friend or family member for personalized falls risk assessments, Tai Chi and assistive technology demonstrations, door prizes, refreshments and more.
In Waynesboro, join the Best Foot Forward Fair on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Waynesboro Senior Services. There will be personalized fall risks assessments, gait testing, refreshments, demos, and door prizes. The Augusta Health Mobile Clinic will be on site from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
For more information about falls prevention open houses, visit vpas.info/education, or call 1-800-868-VPAS.
Contributed by: Leigh-Anne Lees, VPAS Community Relations Director
On September 6th from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a First Fridays Gallery Opening at The Depot featuring artist Charlotte Shristi (she/her)! Join us to welcome Charlotte and view her gallery entitled “The Elephant in the Room”, and to enjoy refreshments and community. RSVP for this event on Facebook here and get to know Charlotte more in her biography below!
*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility needs. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.
Bio:
Charlotte grew up in rural Iowa and studied at Goshen College, IN, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Art and a B.A. in Psychology in 2000. In addition to her studio work as a visual artist, she has taught as an elementary and private art instructor and served as director of a nonprofit arts organization. She explored using art-making as a healing process in different settings, including with unhoused people in D.C. and with survivors of war and other trauma in Colombia and Nepal where she worked in the peacebuilding field for a number of years. Currently, Charlotte lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband and two children, working out of her home art studio. Since 2018 she has also worked as a practitioner and teacher of a traditional Native American hot stone massage method called Stone Medicine. Her private practice is called Wild Poppy Healing Arts.
Artist Statement:
Charlotte grew up in rural Iowa and studied at Goshen College, IN, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Art and a B.A. in Psychology in 2000. In addition to her studio work as a visual artist, she has taught as an elementary and private art instructor and served as director of a nonprofit arts organization. She explored using art-making as a healing process in different settings, including with unhoused people in D.C. and with survivors of war and other trauma in Colombia and Nepal where she worked in the peacebuilding field for a number of years. Currently, Charlotte lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband and two children, working out of her home art studio. Since 2018 she has also worked as a practitioner and teacher of a traditional Native American hot stone massage method called Stone Medicine. Her private practice is called Wild Poppy Healing Arts.
Brief Description of Work:
My art-making involves various forms of layering. I layer acrylic paint, collage materials and mark-making, using graphite, charcoal, marker, etc. I sometimes sketch onto a painted surface or let marks bleed through the paint from below. The spontaneous marks of children inspire me, and I sometimes incorporate the marks of my own children in my work. I also love to layer abstract brushstrokes with realistic or representational imagery. Inspiration from the natural world includes birds, animals, trees, stones and bones, as well as the human form and face. For me, artistic creation has always been a way to process the world. It’s healing, play, prayer and storytelling. Sometimes I know the story I want to tell, but often the story chooses me, revealing itself in the making or after the work is complete. Much of my work has come out of my struggle to understand our place as humans on this blue planet.
“The Elephant in the Room” Sneak Peek
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This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!
Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!
Our clients approached us to find the most efficient way to add space to their modern vacation cottage. The cottage had two modest bedrooms and one bath, with a kitchen that allowed for one person at a time to prepare food. There was not space for sitting down with a larger group to share a meal together. The building site had challenges with only a small space for expansion. The list of challenges to achieve the goals was long but achievable.
We worked through a few design options to set the priorities vs the budget. The biggest challenge with any renovation project is balancing what has to be done to achieve the goals with what could be done in addition to the goals. Changing out some of the windows and part of the siding allowed for the functional parts of the house to be finished. A phase 2 will upgrade the remaining parts of the modern cottage in the future.
The end results are clear – it is a beautiful and restful destination. The kitchen now feels very large with the vaulted ceiling, has space for gathering, and multiple people can work at the same time. The exposed beams bring the warmth of wood into the space while the white cabinets reflect the light, making it a bright space to be in. The large primary suite added a new luxury bathroom and sitting area. This space connects to a closet and laundry room. The exterior blends into the landscape and the rear deck will be used as an expansion of living space during the warm months.
Planning an addition and renovation has many questions that we have learned to ask to help prioritize the goals. We know how to balance budget, design goals, and functional requirements. This project is a great example of how to amplify a small footprint project to make it beautiful and functional for the life our clients want to live in this place.
Over the years, we have been grateful to learn more about dementia and dementia-friendly design through our clients, personal experiences, and dementia-friendly business trainings with Valley Program for Aging Services (VPAS) – we would highly recommend their Dementia Friends Training! Through this training, we are proud to have received the certification of “Dementia Friendly Business.” We are motivated to create a business that is dementia-friendly, continue learning, and integrate these important design considerations into our projects.
If you or your loved ones are interested in learning more about dementia-friendly design, don’t hesitate to reach out to us and we would love to talk with you.
Below, check out the Dementia Friendly Design Guide that we have developed (resource design by Annie Frazier). Download this guide for free at the button below.
Dementia Friendly Design Guide Download
Further explanation from VPAS’s Dementia Education Page:
“There is a national movement underway to ensure that people living with dementia have the resources and support they need to live independently and well for as long as possible.
VPAS offers many educational opportunities regarding dementia, and those who participate, help their localities achieve the official designation of a Dementia Friendly Community.
We also offer activities for persons with dementia and those that care for them.”
On August 2nd, from 5:00pm-7:00pm, we are thrilled to host a First Fridays Gallery Opening at The Depot featuring artist Aaron Moyer! Join us to welcome Aaron and view his photography exhibition entitled An Ode to the Unnoticed, and to enjoy refreshments and community. RSVP for this event on Facebook here and get to know him more in his biography below!
*Accessibility Note: This building was previously restored from a fire. The elevator shaft is currently not functioning and there is an absence of ramps in the space. Because the show is on the 2nd floor, this may pose an issue for those who have mobility needs. We are aware of this need and we apologize greatly if this changes your ability to attend.
Bio:
Aaron is a 23-year-old amateur photographer from the Shenandoah Valley. He recently graduated from Eastern Mennonite University with a major in Biology and a minor in Art. The subjects of his photography range from large landscapes to tiny bugs, focusing mostly on capturing the essence of the natural world. Apart from photography, he enjoys listening to and creating music, making yummy coconut curries, playing pickleball, and spending time with friends.
Artist Statement:
An Ode to the Unnoticed
Through the lens of a camera, the Shenandoah Valley is transformed from a small, ordinary dot on Earth into an impressively diverse and intrinsically beautiful landscape. Walking around with a camera in my hand has been a physical reminder to pay attention to the details of the world around me, and to capture the unnoticed features of life that we often forget to appreciate. In my view, a good photograph helps us remember that our lives are drenched in art and that the only barrier to unlocking a lifetime of free exhibitions lies in our perspectives and willingness to observe.
“An Ode to the Unnoticed” Sneak Peek
————————————
This event is free and open to everyone. Snacks and refreshments will be served and we look forward to seeing you there!
Each month we host a new artist in our building’s 2nd floor gallery at the Chesapeake Western Depot at 141 W. Bruce St. (second floor entrance is on Chesapeake). Artwork will remain on exhibit through the month. Come view the show anytime and get a tour the Depot! We will have food and drink available!
