As we emerge from the other side of Covid, now more than ever people want a strategy for aging healthy and aging safely in their own homes. The answer to “how do I negotiate my home environment with ease and safety?” is to consider an At Home for Life Home Assessment!

The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted our elderly population harder than most. Seniors who are isolated at home are becoming weak, frail and sedentary leading to an increased risk for falls.

Nearly every day my phone rings and I speak with people who are in a panic about how to deal with their aging parents, or other seniors who are in their care, who are struggling to provide for themselves. I am an Occupational Therapist and a Certified Aging in Place Specialist, with more than 35 years of experience in the field of geriatric rehabilitation, the past 17 years in home care. And who better to help you then the one who “wrote the book” on aging in place?

If you, your parents or a loved one you care for feel no longer safe at home, an At Home for Life Assessment, where we evaluate all aspects of the home, both inside and out, and formulate a series of recommendations for how best to adapt the residence to safely and successfully Age in Place, is the solution. Click on the At Home for Life link above for more information on this valuable initiative as well as other available services.

Click on the Contact Lynda button above to give me a call or send me an email. The initial 20 minute phone consultation is free of charge.  From there we can set up a time to discuss in detail how best to  make a plan that works for all involved.

Keep Them Safe, Keep YOU Sane

              Modify your parents’ home so they can safely age in pace  

A survey by AARP shows that 90 percent of seniors wish to remain in their homes where they created so many wonderful memories. But declining physical and cognitive abilities often derail those desires. When the issue of “How safe are Mom and Dad?” comes up, and the question “Can they stay in their home?” arises, it often causes conflict between parents and kids. The answer is to somehow meet in the middle. By getting them to agree to modify their surroundings, you can help your parents to stay in their home for as long as possible.

In her book, Age In Place: A Guide to Modifying, Organizing, and Decluttering Mom and Dad’s Home (Bull Publishing) Lynda provides a practical step-by-step, room-by-room guide to simple modifications that can help seniors make their homes safer and easier to navigate. Shrager offers readers clear and practical solutions, from how to sleuth out the places most likely to cause a potential fall to detecting declines in hearing by whether the TV volume is blasting.

In bookstores now! Click on Age in Place to order your copy on-line.

Jane E. Brody, Personal Health Columnist dedicated her New York Times column to the book with a great review: How to Age Well and Stay in Your Home (PDF)

Click here to see what readers are saying about Age in Place

Hire Lynda to Present a Keynote Address or Conduct a Workshop for your Organization

Lynda offers a variety of workshops and seminars. Topics include strategies for families to help loved ones age safely in place, how to get your affairs in order by organizing home and health information along with tips for decluttering and downsizing, methods for tackling the job of caregiving and how to negotiate the health care system to enhance positive outcomes. Click Hire Lynda to learn more about what she has to offer your organization.

Lynda is featured in articles in AARP and EP Magazine

I have been interviewed for many articles throughout my career but never have I been more thrilled to have contributed significantly to the September 2021 edition from the mothership for all things on aging – AARP!  Log on to:   https://otherwisehealthy.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/29-Ways-to-Make-Your-Home-Safer-and-More-Secure-AARP-September-2021-1.pdf

Check out the cover story in the August 2021 annual Accessible Homes edition of EP Magazine (formerly known as Exceptional Parent).  EP’s mission is to improve the quality of life for all people with chronic lifelong conditions, as well as their physicians, allied health care professionals and caregivers involved with their care. EP readership is over 100,000 worldwide.  Log on to:  https://www.epmagazine.com/blog/navigate-your-home-safely-and-easily-with-these-simple-modifications

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Rochester and Finger Lakes Region of the Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Conference, Thursday, April 20, 2023, 10:00AM – 2:00PM. Lynda will be presenting her workshop – Age in Place at the Lyons Community Center

Shenendehowa Neighbors Connecting, Thursday, April 27, 2023, 1:00PM – 2:00PM. Lynda will be presenting a program on Staying safe at Home at the St. Mary’s Crescent.

Listen to a Podcast Interview with Dave Hall, CPA on making your home safe and accessible.  Click on this link https://player.fm/series/the-retirement-risk-show/making-your-forever-home-safe-and-accessible-with-lynda-shrager

A Message from Lynda

It would be great if life was as simple as a relaxing day at the beach with the warmth of the sun on our faces, the soothing sounds of crashing waves in the background and a nice warm ocean breeze. As you have logged onto this site and are reading this message, it is likely that you have hit a major bump or a crossroads in your life.  What follows is my personal story and why Otherwisehealthy.com was created. Read more…