As more seniors choose to remain in their homes as they age, making those homes safer to live in becomes more of a priority for them. Gary Bivona, an aging-in-place specialist and occupational therapist, helps families to make that possible with in-home evaluations of people’s homes.
“I’m looking at the client in their home,” explains Gary. “I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do have an area of expertise that allows me to look at the client’s physical and cognitive abilities, which include short-term memory, physical strength, standing balance, and functional mobility inside and outside the home. I’m there to assess if a client can remain in the home with or without supportive services in place.”
A typical evaluation involves Gary interviewing and learning about the older resident of the home, considering any medical issues they may have and how those may play out in the future. He also likes to bring in all of the family members and friends who may act as the support system or caregivers. The evaluations typically take about one to two hours and include an assessment of the home.
“I want everyone involved to be present,” says Gary. “I don’t just look at the home, but I look at the person and their balance, strength and condition. I look at it from more of a functional standpoint.”
Many people believe that stairs automatically mean that people can’t stay in a home as they age, but Gary explains that the individual capabilities of each person need to be assessed.
For many older individuals, staying in their home can be done with only small adjustments, such as adding grab bars to showers and beds, adding double-sided tape to rugs and floor strips to wires to prevent tripping and having appropriate levels of lighting so people can see clearly. Gary can also recommend small changes to the kitchen that make its use easier for people.
“These are simple fixes that make it much easier to navigate the home,” says Gary.
If Gary sees a need for larger home modifications, then his background in construction from before his occupational therapy career provides his clients with the knowledge and references that they need.
“I can look beyond the home itself and see the potential. I know the right questions to ask and the right contractors to call,” notes Gary.
Although his background is in occupational therapy, Gary doesn’t generally offer those services to his clients. He does sometimes recommend that people begin therapy and Gary encourages them to do so with a professional occupational or physical therapist.
“Many people don’t maintain it on their own and I don’t recommend that family members work with them as it can cause tension in their relationships,” explains Gary.
For his more independently mobile clients, Gary recommends joining a local gym, like Northampton Athletic Club. “They have many classes and several athletic trainers who specialize in developing and maintaining strength and balance in the older adult population." Seniors can also check with their local community senior centers for information on similar programs that might be available to
them.
Gary has been an occupational therapist for 30 years, working in hospitals, acute rehabilitation centers and skilled nursing facilities. His time with patients with a wide range of medical concerns, from head and spinal cord injuries to dementia and end-of-life care, provides a wealth of experience for Gary to draw from when making his recommendations.
For more information, visit www.GaryBivonaOTR.com or call 413-695-3483.
“I don’t just look at the home, but I look at the person and their balance, strength and condition."