Avoid Living In a Nursing Home - How to Keep Living Independently

Here we cover a huge reason why people end up in nursing homes and how you can prevent it. By not falling! Now, preventing falls doesn’t come just from picking up rugs or having someone fall proof your house. It comes from maintaining our bodies in a way that maintains balance. Here we discuss science-backed methods for fall prevention as we age and how you can use them, with a focus on a special type of exercise that will change your body to prevent falls no matter where you’re at or what you’re doing.
Link to the New England Journal of Medicine study:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056...
Link to the CDC fall questionnaire to rate yourself:
www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI...
Link to the CDC brochure on 4 things you can do to prevent falls:
www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/STEADI...
Link to the CDC home checklist:
www.cdc.gov/steadi/pdf/check_...
Link to the article in the Journal of Exercise Rehabilitation on Tai Chi:
www.e-jer.org/upload/jer-14-6...
Link to Dr. Lam’s KZbin channel on Tai Chi:
/ @drpaullamtaichiproduc...
and his introduction to Tai Chi video:
• Tai Chi for Arthritis ...
About Us:
This Beautiful Brain is an organization dedicated to helping people understand the science of brain health and apply it in their own lives. Learn more about This Beautiful Brain and have access to Dr. Amy’s blogs on brain health at thisbeautifulbrain.com.
● Subscribe to our KZbin channel for more videos about brain health.

[@marciacapell1541]

Seeing the suffering inside the ones I worked in was horrible! I was a full time volunteer in two different nursing homes during close to 20 years. I felt so sorry for the residents who were stuck in a lonely and filthy environment! So many of these people had no visitors, just plain forgotten about! I chose this service to try to cut into the loneliness with the folks who were interested in having a friendly visitor everyday. 😊 I made sure not to skip anyone who needed me. I made alot of precious friends during that time. I also saw some disturbing situations! There was alot of depression due to so much neglect. 😢 I wont go into those details because how negative it was! I was in my 30s and loved the work, but every afternoon I was so thankful that I did not have to live there! My work in nursing homes gave me the opportunity to go with some of the residents to the circus, and on picknics and some trips to their dr appointments, because they needed a driver. Some elderly folks were home bound, so I brought them free groceries, and hugs! 😂❤ I was an assistant activity director too, 😂 We had movie day on wednesdays with popcorn! The ones who felt able to, loved to see a movie. We had a blast! 😊 On holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, a few residents who were interested, I brought to my house to let them have dinner with my family, to make them feel cared about so they werent left out. ❤ I knew the day would come, that I would be old myself! 😂oops! And here it is! Iam now officially OLD! Lol. I raised my 2 kids then raised my only grandchild! Everyone is all grownup. My how fast things change. For the past 2 years Ive been fighting IDC breast cancer. Iam on my final treatment in 6mo. Intervals. I have always had OA but chemo and radiation weakened my bones to Osteoperosis. Iam a happy 68 yr old 😂 still a bit concerned about falling, but the zometa is strengthening my crazy bones, so Iam planing to stay at home. Having our finances already set is important. Longterm healthcare is paid for, so incase the time comes, our children only need to choose a place for us. My gosh life goes by fast!! 😊 I spent years being an artist for people. I write childrens story books and illustrate them for a hobby. We are starting to put them on Amazon. Boy are they particular on sizing 😮oh my is that a bit frustrating! My first book on there is a book about a girl dinosaur 😂 its good to keep my mind off cancer crap 😂❤ this got long didnt it! Lol ( thankyou for your video! ) Iam a real chatterbox 😂

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Marcia, it sounds like you've had a wealth of amazing experiences in your life, and have really contributed to the wellbeing of others. Thank you for all of your efforts and words of wisdom!

[@marciacapell1541]

@@thisbeautifulbrain Hello there! 😂👍🏻❤️ Thankyou so much! Youre amazing yourself also!!! Heres five stars for you! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤩🥳🤩

[@raoulduke2625]

The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

[@martinep6293]

My attitude is simple: me in a nursing home= not happening. My friends and collegues ROFL just imagining me being there for even a day. So in my 70s I started a new life living in Nature, hiking at least 6 miles a day, more in the mountains. No sugar or fast carbs, zero processed food, one meal a day. Learning a couple extra foreign languages (travel plans). Looking for scientific questions needing solving with different approaches than thoses presently being used. Social life: how about wild animals😊?...never been a social butterfly. I will adopt another cat and we will have a lot of fun especially training her like a dog ...and more. Why not expand your activites now that you have more time every day? I have seen how exposure to novelty and life outdoor make my furry companions thrive. I pretty much need the same things they do.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Martine, it sounds like you have created an amazing experience for yourself, filled with many healthy choices to support you long into the future. Thank you for sharing!

[@onefreelife]

I worked in a nursing home for 8 years. The main focus of administration was to keep state regulators from finding any problems. Residents were sad and seemed to give up even though they would act like they were happy. I was in the medical record department. I saw on records that just about every resident was tranquilized in some way. I felt sad for these people. I'd rather die than be warehoused like that

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Paulette, I'm sorry for your experience, and for the residents in that facility. I hope we can advocate so people don't have to live that way.

[@cemu1065]

I worked in a nursing home facility for a while (3 yrs). I was sacked for reporting the things that went on with residents to the authorities. Even after reporting, I heard nothing changed.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

I'm so saddened to hear about your situation. Some facilities are wonderful and take excellent care of residents, but I know this is not always the case. Ongoing advocacy is key to helping people get better care. I deeply appreciate your efforts with your situation.

[@cemu1065]

@@thisbeautifulbrain thank you. I know there is good & bad in all walks of life. I'm still glad, I did what I did. Though it cost me soooo much, I can sleep at night.

[@florabamabelle6413]

Thanks for your support! Nursing hom is last place I want for my love ones and myself.

[@hyacinthbucket3803]

A good indicator to the care of the residents in a nursing home, is the smell when you walk in. If pts are neglected, for example pressure wounds, you will smell it.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

@@hyacinthbucket3803 I like this idea. In fact, using all of your senses gives so much information! If it smells bad, looks dirty or cluttered, is loud, or otherwise seems uncomfortable in some way, this could be useful in making a decision about a loved one being there.

[@tarahskinner923]

my son just 48 was in a nursing/rehab home a month ago. It was Hell! Yes`~ i did a walkthrough tour for him before his release after several procedures while being in intensive care. 3 Hospital's total. After release-it was rehab time. The nursing/rehab center looking like a $$$ State of the Art facility $$$ on the outside. However`~ once admitted It was HELL! Feeling surreal! It was like being in an old Alfred Hitchcock/Twilight Zone film. "If it were not for another emergency due to their negligence by not giving my son proper care w/ the paramedics finally being called in for taking him to the hospital again. He may have never gotten out of there due to so called protocol! After more treatment in the hospital in being due for release again - my son spoke out by refusing to go back ... He will never return! NEVER! Yes`~ my son has a strong mind-it only having been a place for so called rehab until his body healed ... NOT! He has a voice .... a VOICE! i assure you! He keeps thinking about the people still stuck w/ no voice! Waiting for rescue! Sad`~ so very SAD! The sick-The elderly in need of true care ... proper care ... Holding dignity!

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

I'm sorry your son had to go through such a terrible experience. The more we can advocate for good care, the better.

[@pinkfreud62]

I hope my good genes keep me around. I'm 60 & had a hip replacement 25 yrs ago so I def try to stay careful. My aunt, who's 90 now, had a hip replacement & fell when she was about 85 walking to the VFW just down the street. She layed in the cold weather on the sidewalk abit until someone found her. Luckily, after alittle rest, she's OK. She still lives at home alone and uses a cane to get around at 90. Be careful out there!

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

I'm glad your aunt is okay, and hope that both of you keep doing things to be safe and maintain brain health! :)

[@gailalbers1430]

Thank you so much - you’re becoming a great resource here 🎉❤

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Thank you Gail! That's such positive feedback!

[@caryn9561]

My grandmother lived til 92 in her own home.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Grandmothers are amazing! Thank you for sharing!

[@DanFanG0]

Nice video

[@angelagillett1033]

If your parent is at nursing home leval, in home care you are going to find it difficult to get round the clock care. Pca companys only work short hours, and generaly dont have back up people. Depending on leval care and insuence. You get one to two showers a week. One mabye two home health aid a day depending on the hours you qualify for. You may get a home care nurse that comes once a week or month. It also depends on what state you live in. And what insurence you have.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Angela, these are important ideas - thank you for sharing them! Each person's experience, depending on things like location, insurance, and other resources, is so different. I'm hoping our community can continue to add to everyone's understanding of what to do in their unique situation.

[@middleofnowhere1313]

Good thing i still have good bone density then. I don't have money for assisted living.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Keep up the good work with the bone density, get rid of your ladders, and try tai chi! :) All wonderful steps.

[@middleofnowhere1313]

@@thisbeautifulbrain I've been practicing yoga. Nothing like a good tree pose lol.

[@Penelope416]

if you can, get into resistance or weight training. Weights can improve bone density and can improve or prevent risk of osteoporosis.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

@@Penelope416 Wonderful advice! Research definitely supports doing resistance or weight training!

[@Indrid__Cold]

My wife and I have mutually committed to leaving this world when we can no longer live independently. Neither of us is interested in living life without the other.

[@brandyhuffman8672]

Been a CNA for 16yrs, American nursing home's are by far, complete horror, and profits come before residents care's.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Thanks for sharing your story, Brandy. It takes individuals to make a difference.

[@pamelaminor696]

Yes, it's a real money pit! The place my mother went to spent ALOT of money on the building to impress visitors & fool them into thinking that the place really gave a damn.

[@brandyhuffman8672]

@Pamela Minor omg I could tell horror stories for hour's about what my residents had to go through, one day I would love to write a book about America's nursing home's and what it's like to be a caring CNA like I was.

[@ms.rlsteele351]

My mom told her family all during her life that she would not go into a nursing home. She later developed vascular dementia around the age of 80. My brother found her a very good facility that had a memory care unit. She didn't fuss because she knew what was going to happen. Fortunately, she was well-cared for. I am determined not to go into a care facility unless it is for an emergency. I hope to move to a state where I can plan the end of my life in a peaceful environment, not in a warehouse of elderly who cannot take care of themselves. No one should be relegated to suffer like she did regardless of the fact that she was in a good facility. Once she developed full-blown dementia, she had no life whatsoever. That lasted about 3 years. That is exactly what she DID NOT want.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

I hear you loud and clear. I want an end of life experience filled with peace and personal choices for everyone. Now we just have to help people figure out how to get that in today's medicalized world.

[@sherrie6492]

Add assisted living to where you don't want to be. If you don't have cognitive issues you will be treated like you do. It will break your heart.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

I agree - if you need help, that's wonderful. But having too much done for you is not good.

[@ChristinaOstil115]

Even though elderly people have ones that help them out, what about domestic violence?

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

DV is a terrible thing, and one that we should all be aware of and speak out against. I'm glad you have highlighted it for us all.

[@susiemitchell1198]

More advice please, and fewer statistics and personal stories.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Susie, I'll work on just telling you what to do! :)

[@angelagillett1033]

And in the end you still might end up in a nursing facility.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Angela, you're right. We don't know and can't control the future, but we can sure make choices to change our odds!

[@francessheeran7371]

I think medication may make people fall

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

That's a great observation. Some medications CAN increase the risk of falls. It's so important to talk to your doctors about that!

[@DanielHYNg]

Nursing Home is actually the last place to go unless it's the best option.

[@laurieberry162]

My mom fell and broke her tibia. Now my mom uses a walker. At least mom is not in a wheelchair.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Being thankful is a hallmark of better coping. Yes, there is much that we can still do while using a walker!

[@susiemitchell1198]

Forget the personal stories......

[@naturelover1284]

from what I see, their lazy habits and the incessant discouragement of others healthy habits get them their fate.

[@thisbeautifulbrain]

Nature Lover, it sounds like you're a proponent of healthy ones yourself, which is great. And for people who don't have them yet, habits can be changed! This is another reason to inspire people to make changes that might lead them to healthier habits and a less negative fate.