With the aging and aging process in China, the disability rate of the elderly also increases significantly with the increase of age. The survey found that with the increasing degree of disability, disabled elderly people prefer home care. How to design and transform the home environment suitable for aging to promote the rehabilitation of limb movement function of disabled elderly people? How to create conditions to encourage disabled elderly people to take care of themselves, move freely and spend their old age with dignity? Here are some key points to share.

1. Renovation of the living environment to ensure safety and comfort

1. Entrance and exit

There should be good lighting; Building barrier-free ramps at the entrance and exit of the first floor of residential buildings; Install corridor and corridor handrails; Install voice intercom doorbell, flashing or visual doorbell (height not exceeding 1.1m); The ground of the outdoor passage in the family yard with courtyard is smooth and hardened; The upper part of the entrance and exit should be equipped with a rain canopy with drainage structure, and the depth should not be less than 1.2m; Eliminate the height difference from the road around the door to the entrance, with slow steps or ramp transitions; The door should be easy for the wheelchair to pass, the height difference between the door barrier or the height difference between the inside and outside of the door should not be greater than 1.5cm and the transition should be inclined, and there is 1.5mx1.5m space behind the door for the wheelchair to turn.

2. Living Room (living room)

Should have a good orientation and vision; The wall, door width and furniture position should meet the requirements of wheelchair access, stay and rotation; The seat is facing the direction of the hall, the sofa is soft, too deep and too short, convenient for the disabled elderly to sit up, keep the distance between the coffee table and the sofa in front of the sofa is greater than 30cm, to ensure that there is no bumping when entering and leaving, the coffee table is light and stable, and can be moved and combined as needed; The Yang corner of the wall should be made small rounded or cut corners; Indoor floor should be smooth and non-slip, carpet should be removed as far as possible; Handrails should be installed on both sides of the indoor corridor (suitable diameter of 32-36mm).

3. Bedroom

The head of the bed should be against the wall or corner, the bottom of the bed leg should take a fixed device, there should be sufficient wheelchair rotation space in front of the bed, the height of the bed should be conducive to the disabled elderly bed and wheelchair transfer, for non-wheelchair users, the height of the bed should be disabled elderly sitting on the bed, the hip, knee, ankle joint to maintain about 90 degrees, feet can be flat on the ground is appropriate; The height of the bedside table is slightly higher than the bed surface, about 60cm; The height of the wardrobe and locker is suitable (65-185cm for the user standing, 55-135cm for the wheelchair user), and the depth should not exceed 60cm; Clutter free household items; Disabled elderly people in bed should be able to reach the bedside lamp and call button switch.

4. Kitchen

The floor should be non-slip; Cabinet height can be adjusted; The stove is at a moderate height from the floor, and there is enough space below it for leg movement when sitting or wheelchair is used; The washing sink or operating table is 75-80cm from the ground, or the operation table can be set up, the net width and height of the capacity space under the operation table should be ≥60cm, the depth should be ≥25cm, the surface of the operating table is smooth and heat-resistant material, the edge is not sharp Angle, there is enough lighting, the faucet is a lever switch.

5. Bathroom

Ground level, no height difference, no water, non-slip, buffer materials, or install anti-slip pads; The bottom of the basin should not be lower than 60cm for wheelchair access; The toilet is 40-45cm high from the ground, it is easy to sit and stand up on the toilet, there are handrails around the toilet that can be grasped, there is enough moving space in front of the toilet, on both sides of the toilet or at least one side of the toilet, and it is easy to get toilet paper when sitting on the toilet; If it is a squatting urinal, a stool can be provided for the elderly; The shower space is easy to enter, with folding chairs or movable shower chairs, the wall should be installed with handrails, the diameter of the handrails is 28-32cm, which is smaller than the handrails used in the corridor, easier to grasp, the shelf is within reach, and the height of the shower can be adjusted at will; It is best to install emergency calling devices and teach the elderly to use them.

Second, suitable for the elderly auxiliary equipment to assist living activities

According to the physical condition and activity needs of disabled elderly people, they can be equipped with crutches, walkers, walking carts, wheelchairs, multi-functional electric nursing beds, clothing hooks, food AIDS, magnifying glasses, hearing AIDS, etc.

Third, intelligent facility configuration, improve the quality of life

It can be equipped with facilities and equipment such as smart home, intelligent security, intelligent care, intelligent remote centralized control system, as well as intelligent vital signs monitoring, assisted rehabilitation, leisure and other medical and health care facilities and equipment.

Fourth, create a social environment to promote social participation

The social participation of older persons is one of the three pillars of an active response to population ageing. Active social contact and participation is of great practical significance to the development of the elderly themselves, their families, communities and society. To create a good social participation environment for the disabled elderly, help mobilize the disabled elderly positive and healthy psychological and spiritual, help self-psychological adjustment, and make them feel respect and care. Caregivers should encourage and assist disabled elderly people to actively participate in social and community activities, receive geriatric education, enhance their self-care ability, improve body health function, enjoy life fun, and reflect their own value.

In short, the home environment of disabled elderly people must implement the concept of barrier-free, maintain comfort and convenience, and have no safety risks. At the same time, it should be convenient for caregivers to observe the activity status of disabled elderly people. If necessary, professional assistance can be invited to evaluate, design and transform.

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References:

[1] PI Hongying, Zhang Lili. Medical Care for the Elderly in China -- Skills (Daily Life and Activities).[M]. Beijing: People's Medical Publishing House,2017.

[2] Zhang Zhenxiang, Xu Mengya et al. Nursing guidance for disabled elderly people's life reconstruction and rehabilitation.[M]. Zhengzhou: Henan Science and Technology Press, 2022.

About the author

Vice Chairman of the Promotion Committee of the Combination of medical and Nursing Care, Chinese Geriatrics Society; Chief expert of national key research and development Plan (medical and nursing combination special); Chairman designate of the Working Committee of Chinese Rehabilitation Medical Association; The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University; Dean, School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Zhengzhou University; Experts enjoying the special allowance of The State Council; Ministry of Personnel ";ten million talents project" national candidate; Excellent hospital President of Chinese Hospital Association.

 

 

(The opinions expressed are solely those of the author. Some pictures in this article are from the Internet, if there is infringement, please contact to delete)