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Day: November 3, 2022

Did you know that most American adults own an average of at least 300,000 items? Also, one out of ten Americans have an off-site storage rental for their excess belongings, according to Joshua Becker, who wrote: “21 Surprising Statistics That Reveal How Much Stuff We Actually Own, Becoming Minimalist.” 

Over their lifetimes, aging adults will accumulate several items over the years that could now be cluttering the home. Too much stuff in the home can make it hard to move around, which can be especially dangerous for aging adults.

Living in a cluttered space can also make us feel more anxious or depressed. Here are some decluttering tips for aging adults in your loved one’s home, so they feel safer and more comfortable at home. 

Declutter One Room at a Time 

Decluttering can feel overwhelming if you do not limit yourself to one room at a time. To begin, it might be helpful to declutter the room with the greatest number of possessions. Starting here could help your aging loved one not feel overwhelmed with the process.

For some aging adults, it became ingrained in them not to throw things away that “could” be valuable. You may know the item is not and will not be, but perhaps they are no longer savvy about what sells. Also, many aging adults have inherited many things that they are sentimentally attached to.

For these items, you could try to figure out clever storage ideas. These days between places like The Container Store or Amazon, you can find many ways to creatively store precious items.  

Make Piles 

Separate the piles into keep, throw away, and donate. If your loved one is having trouble sorting items into these piles, you can include a maybe pile that you can revisit once you separate everything else. This will help your loved one feel in control instead of being pressured in the moment. 

Get Rid of Items That Could be Dangerous 

If your loved one has limited mobility and needs assistance balancing, they must have a clear pathway for their safety. They will also likely need your help throwing away items they cannot reach. Items such as: 

  • Expired food items 
  • Broken furniture 
  • Old medicine 
  • Broken dishes, including pots and pans 
  • Broken appliances  
  • Rugs you deem a trip hazard 
  • Unused wires or plugs for electronics 
  • Any damaged items lying around that you know will never be fixed 

Throw Away Duplicate Items 

Many people buy duplicate items because they misplaced an item, or maybe the item was on sale, and they like it more than the one they have at home. Whatever the reason, these duplicate items add up in each room. For example: 

  • Bathroom: Your aging loved one could have many towels, rugs, and toiletries they do not need. 
  • Office: Notebooks, scissors, pens, stationery – All these items could take up valuable space. 
  • Kitchen: Over the years, it is likely your aging loved one has collected numerous dishes, coffee mugs, silverware, etc. These duplicated items could generously be donated to a local mission. 
  • Closet: Many ladies and some men love to have a variety of clothes. There is nothing wrong with that unless many of their clothes are almost exact replicas of each other. This could include accessories as well. 

Put Items Where They Belong in the Home 

Try to ensure that every item has a place it belongs. Silverware should go in the drawer in the kitchen. Books should be on a bookshelf. A coat should be hung in the coat closet. The list could go on and on. The quickest way for a house to get in disarray is when items are strewn about the house instead of in their rightful places. 

We hope these tips will help you to make the home safer and more comfortable for your aging loved one. At Next Day Access, it is our goal to help aging adults be able to live out their lives in their homes.

We offer several products that assist with mobility, such as grab bars or wheelchairs, among many other accessibility devices or mobility equipment. If we can ever help you ensure your loved one’s home is safe, please do not hesitate to reach out to your nearest Next Day Access to schedule an in-home consultation. 

Posted in Aging in Place, Home SolutionsTagged , , , , ,

A new study by researchers at the University of Virginia found that people with type 2 diabetes who attend an annual wellness check are significantly less likely to require a major lower extremity amputation within the same year. 

The research involved Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, who are now entitled to a free yearly healthcare visit. The research found that 36% of people with diabetes had decreased odds of amputation just by attending this free check-up. 

Jennifer Lobo, a researcher from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, USA, presented findings at the 82nd American Diabetes Association’s Scientific Session in New Orleans, Louisiana. She said that “People who made use of the new free annual wellness checks had diabetic foot issues diagnosed earlier than those who did not attend the wellness check.”  She also suggested that, “Policymakers should prioritize incentives for having patients participate in annual wellness visits to improve preventative care and reduce major lower extremity amputations, particularly in the Diabetes Belt.”  

The Diabetes Belt, where the study took place, is made up of 644 counties in the Southeastern and Appalachian USA. The study showed that people in the Diabetes Belt had a 27% higher risk of requiring a major lower extremity amputation when compared with surrounding counties.

Previous research from the team found that precisely one additional major lower extremity amputation per 1000 people was needed in the Diabetes Belt compared to other counties. 

The study also found that there are significantly increased rates of diabetes-related amputations among non-Hispanic Black patients in comparison to non-Hispanic White patients. This is true for inside and outside the Diabetes Belt. Researchers suggest the discrepancy could be due to relatively low available resources in the Diabetes Belt area. In order to boost preventative care in this area, more resources need to be available soon. 

“While Annual Wellness Visits are a free visit for qualified Medicare beneficiaries, additional incentives or resources to overcome systematic access to care barriers are needed to support patient attendance,” says Jennifer Lobo. “Patient education about the value of Annual Wellness Visits and preventative care could also help improve utilization of Annual Wellness Visits, hopefully reducing the rate of major amputations.” 

The new FREE Annual Wellness Visits provided by Medicare will benefit millions of people with Type 2 Diabetes, but only if they take advantage of the free visit.  

At Next Day Access, we encourage you to take advantage of this wellness visit. However, if you have recently had an amputation, we encourage you to visit your nearest Next Day Access. We provide many types of mobility equipment to help you get around safely and independently after an amputation. We sincerely hope you will never find yourself needing an amputation, but we are here for you if you do.  

Posted in Aging in Place, Health & WellnessTagged , , , ,

It seems that lately, there are always changes to our Social Security. It can be hard to keep up with what is new, and when you have a question, it can be difficult to reach anyone by phone. Most of the time, when you need to speak to someone at the Social Security office, you need to make an appointment to meet in person. Many people understand that before they go to the Social Security office, they should plan to be there for some time. That is why we have researched some of the most frequently asked questions and answers pertaining to Social Security and aging adults. We hope this will be more convenient for you. 

What is the maximum Social Security retirement benefit payable? 

Depending on the age you choose to retire will determine the amount of money you receive from Social Security. If people do not have other income coming in to support themselves, they may choose to work as long as possible. So, let’s say you decide to retire at your full retirement age of 70 in 2022, your maximum benefit would be $4,194. However, if you retire early at 62, your maximum benefit is significantly less at $2364. When ready to retire, you can go to the Social Security website and fill out the online retirement application. The application will let you know how much you put into your social security accounts over the years and calculate your payment based on when you choose to retire. It will give you a good idea on whether you should continue working or if you can afford to retire early. The retirement application is considered the easiest and most efficient way to apply for your retirement benefits. 

How do I earn Social Security credits, and how many are needed to qualify for benefits? 

The Social Security Administration uses your total yearly earnings to determine your Social Security credits. In 2022, the amount needed for credit is $1,510. You are allowed four credits for any year. As average wages increase, the amount needed will also increase, so you might want to check this figure every few years. You must earn a certain number of credits to qualify for Social Security benefits. The number of credits needed depends on the type of benefit you apply for and your age. No one needs more than 40 credits to receive their Social Security benefit. 

What earning types have special rules? 

Usually, Social Security earnings are calculated the same way for most Americans that worked throughout their life. However, there are some types of earnings that have additional rules. The earning types with special rules include the following: 

  • Farm Work 
  • Federal Government Housing 
  • Household Employment 
  • Military Service 
  • Nonprofit or Religious Organizations 
  • Railroad Earnings 
  • Self-Employment 
  • State and Local Government Employment Wages 
  • Work Outside the United States 

How important is it to monitor your earnings? 

If you want to be sure you receive all the money entitled to you when you are due to receive your Social Security benefits, you should be keeping up with exactly how much you are paid each paycheck and recording it. If your employer did not correctly report just one year of your work earnings to Social Security, your future payment could be almost $100 per month less than what it is supposed to be. 

We hope providing some Social Security answers helps clarify specific issues you may have been concerned about in your retirement. At Next Day Access, we care about our customers. Our goal is for each of our customers to live safely and independently at home as they age. While we do not work as benefit analysts, we offer many products like wheelchair ramps, scooters, vehicle lifts, and more to keep you safe and remain in your home as you age. Please do not hesitate to contact your nearest Next Day Access if you have questions or would like to schedule an in-home consultation. 

Posted in FinancesTagged , , , ,

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