our blog
Clear the Way
Clutter can cause physical and mental anguish. Clutter and poor organization can cause trips and falls. And contrary to what many people believe, falls and unorganized or overstuffed homes are not normal or expected parts of aging. When you stay in control of your...
How to Synchronize your Refills and Bubble-Pack your Prescriptions
If you or a family member takes multiple prescribed medications, it can be a major task to safely manage proper dosages, dosing schedules, and refills…
Every Walk I Take…
I am a grandmother of seven, and very thankful for “every walk I take.” At the age of 35 I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease that was progressing rapidly…
My Dad
My dad was a wonderful human being. He was a great father, grandfather, husband, uncle, and friend to many people and organizations in this community. As Dad grew older, he moved from home with my mother to a condo and then by himself to Touchmark (Senior Retirement...
Best Kept Secret
Have you heard of the Aging and Disability Resource Center and all they have to offer? No? Know someone who can use assistance in their home? Just turn 65 or will be soon and want to know more about Medicare? Know someone that has a disability struggling to find...
Home Safety Tips
Home safety is a topic that goes far beyond grab bars in the bathroom. I help seniors and their families discover new and helpful ways that enable loved ones to live safely and happily in their homes. Some advice is so simple, it’s surprising. But if a person has been...
Simple Steps
As a Mom to two boys, I am reminded each day of the innate drive to move our bodies – that is evident from birth! As we grow older, the sedentary habits we adopt as adults become increasingly more challenging to overcome. No matter the age bracket you find yourself...
Falls and Surgery
Patients who have just had surgery are at an increased fall risk. The good news is there are measures that can be taken to lower the risk. Prevention and planning are the keys! In the hospital, fall prevention is a major initiative for staff. But what happens when you...
Hobbies are important!
Hobbies are what we live for and work for in life. When it comes to Fall Prevention as we get older, we may need to think about adapting how we maneuver around while enjoying our hobbies. When you think about your quality of life and what brings you joy, you may...
Light and Dark: How lighting plays a part in falls prevention
The human eye has a strong connection to light as the eye needs light in order to see. The following three tips are provided to help you manage the light in your life in order to reduce your risk of a fall. Get more light We humans cannot see as well in the dark. When...
Fall Prevention – Why is it Important to You?
I had just gotten done working a short shift at the hospital, it was late, I just wanted to go to bed. I couldn’t, I had to take my dogs out yet. I got home and quickly threw my purse down and grabbed the dogs. It was February and it had been warmer during the day so...
Avoid Falls at Home – Checklist
Six out of every ten falls happen at home, where we tend to move around without consciously thinking about our safety. Sore muscles, broken bones, and painful bruises can be avoided by following these tips from the National Institute of Health: Remove anything that...
Age Where You Want To
My grandma was our rock, she was 90, she was strong-willed, and she was our glue. She broke her hip but was determined to walk again and did so in six short weeks. She cared for my 92 year old grandpa who had a number of strokes but still lived at home with her. ...
Live the Dry Life: Incontinence Treatment in Fall Prevention
How often have we heard someone say (or maybe even say ourselves) “When I laugh I leak a little bit” or “I just wasn’t able to make it to the bathroom in time” or even “I woke up to go the bathroom 3 times last night”? All of these describe urinary incontinence, and...
How to Identify Intrinsic and Extrinsic Falls
I didn't fall, I just slipped out of my chair… My feet stopped moving and the top part kept going… I tried to turn around but my feet got tripped up… Statements like these are very common when I talk to my patients with Parkinson's disease about falls. As an...
Hunting Season Safety
During hunting season, falls from tree stands are common and are correlated to a high rate of neurological injury. In fact, it's estimated 1 out of 3 hunters will experience a fall resulting in serious injury. Improper use of tree stands, poor construction, using tree...
Perspective from Clinical to Community
As a nurse that works in an orthopedics unit, Sara has personally seen the negative consequences of fall-related injuries. The psychological impact due to the fear of falling and the loss of independence accompanies the physical pain of falling. Also of importance,...
The Thompson Center on Lourdes
The Thompson Center on Lourdes is a nonprofit community center based inside St. Bernadette School in Appleton, Wisconsin. Their motto is “Celebrating Life over 50.” When the Thompson Community Center on College Avenue closed in March 2016, St. Bernadette Parish...
Plan a Trip to the Floor
When was the last time you got down on the floor in your home? Really, think about it. Was it days, weeks, months or years ago? Does the thought of getting down on the floor make you question your ability to get back up? When we are younger we spend much time on the...
Wisconsin is Second in the Nation (and not in a good way…)
On a cold morning in January of 2017, I received a panicked call from my 88 year old grandma that she had fallen and needed help. After a night of lying on the floor, she managed to knock her cell phone off her night stand and dial my number. I arrived just as the...