TIP SHEET
Planning for Healthy Aging
Get an early start on planning for your family member’s aging process.
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Develop Healthy Habits |
Take a lifespan approach to planning for healthy aging. Creating healthy habits – such as good nutrition, access to education, and engaging in stimulating activities – and continuing them throughout life’s stages provides people with the best chance of being happy and healthy into old age. Ensure that your family member has regular recommended health checks. You can find guidance on this by checking out the Primary Care Guidelines on the website for Surrey Place Center.
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Strengthen Social Networks
As challenging as it may sometimes seem, it is also important to assist your family member in developing increasing and
Capture Their Story
Work together with your family member to create a Life Story and keep it a living, breathing document.
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Engage in Conversation |
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Consider Housing Options |
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Look for naturally occurring situations to |
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Last, but not least, consider alternative |
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engage in conversations about death and |
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housing arrangements for yourself and |
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loss. Help your family member to find |
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your loved one. Write down what you are |
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their own way to communicate their |
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looking for in an agency and home, |
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feelings about grief and loss and |
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interview agencies and ask if they support |
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document this for others. |
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aging in place. |
Reference Materials:
1.CareSearch. Talking End of Life with People with an Intellectual Disability 2. Surrey Place Centre. Primary Care Guidelines – A guide to understanding the 2018 Canadian consensus guidelines for the primary care of people with an intellectual and developmental disabilities 3. Common Sense Education. Apps and Sites for Storytelling 4. Foster Parent Journal. Why and How to Make a Life Book 5. Mayo Clinic. What do expect in normal aging
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TIP SHEET
Aging – Record of Abilities
A record of abilities is simply a way to document and/or illustrate a person’s functional and cognitive abilities over time.
Sometimes the original record of abilities is referred to as a baseline. With age, we experience changes that may affect our abilities. A personal record of abilities can help identify changes by comparing the abilities we had before with those held at a future date. There are different ways to document a personal record of abilities. One way is to use the National Task Group – Early Detection and Screen for Dementia
The
•Documents both functional and cognitive abilities as well as health history.
•No special training required; the manual helps explain each section.
•The
•Have a look at it and decide if it will suit your purposes.
If you decide to use the
•Remember it is NOT a diagnostic tool, it simply documents functional and cognitive abilities over time to help identify changes.
•If there are concerns about changes that become apparent in completing the form, make an appointment to see a healthcare provider to discuss the changes.
•Highlight the
•If your healthcare provider is not familiar with the
A video alongside the
•Use a cell phone or video to make short recordings of the person.
•Select tasks the person is familiar with and able to do.
•Include some tasks to illustrate: gait/ambulation (aided or unaided as necessary), an activity of daily living, a fine motor task, and language/ communication
•Annual updates should be a repeat of the original tasks recorded.
Keep the personal record of abilities in a safe place and update it on an annual basis unless on a more often basis is required to monitor a change.
Contact
Nancy Jokinen, MSW, PhD E: Nancy.Jokinen@unbc.ca
Adjunct Professor, UNBC School of Social Work Board Member, National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices (NTG),
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TIP SHEET
Falls: Risks & Prevention
Falls become a risk earlier for people with developmental disabilities. That’s because the aging process starts as early as 40 years old. Keep reading to learn more.
Risk Factors
•Poor vision
•Hearing loss
•Poor footcare: bunions, corns, etc.
•Osteoporosis
•Psychotropic and
•Poor balance and weak muscles
Environmental and Pyschological Factors
•Slippery floors
•Loose carpets or unstable rugs
•Poor lighting
•Poorly fitting footwear
•Seat heights that are too low, including beds, chairs and toilets
•Clutter
•Fear from a previous fall
Environmental Improvements
•Identify and remove clutter in and around the home
•Add
•Install shower and tub grab bars in the bathroom, around the toilet and the tub, handrails
•Place
•Secure or remove loose rugs
•Keep objects that are used often within easy reach
•Make home lighting brighter, but prevent glare
Additional Considerations
Regular medication review
Regular medication review for side effects and interactions
Colour contrast
Use colour contrasts to help distinguish between different surfaces (such as toilet bowl and toilet seat)
More personal changes
•Ensure shoes fit properly and are sturdy with
•Have regular Chiropodist appointments
•Have regular occupational therapy assessments
• Physiotherapy Assessment exercise programs (walking and endurance)
• Ensure assistive devices are used properly
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TIP SHEET
Osteoporosis: Risks & Prevention
Adults with developmental disabilities are at higher risk of developing osteoporosis – a bone disease that makes them vulnerable to fractures. Keep reading to learn more.
Risk Factors
•Impaired mobility/weight bearing
•Low calcium intake
•Lack of exercise
•Age and body weight
•Psychotropic and
•Fall history
•Postmenopausal women
•Medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, chronic kidney disease, diabetes,
Detection
85% of fractures in people with developmental disabilities involve extremities like the thighbone, hands and feet. Since people can’t always
Tips for prevention
Maintain a healthy body weight
Being under or overweight is damaging to bone health
Maintain a healthy diet
Calcium, protein and vitamin D are three key nutrients for bone health
Get active
Being active and exercising support strong bones
Screening and assessments
•Screening should begin before the age of 50
•For assessments, try a hand or forearm scan rather than
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