Page 76 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2017- Online Magazine

and violin; Synergy ↕
his role as
band director
was enhanced Homecare
by his ability
to play
many other Senior Lifehacks
instruments.
His wife
Bernice was
an elementary school teacher. (She taught school “STOP THE SLIP” HACKS
many years with her best friend Ruth Priestly,
whose husband Clarence is featured on pp. Staircases and stairway accidents are the second leading cause
70-71.) The Braxtons were happily married for of accidental injuries, second only to motor vehicle accidents.
69 years until Bernice’s passing in January 2014. Each year 12,000 people die from stairway accidental deaths,
Not surprisingly, both of their children, Ruby many of them seniors. Another staggering statistic: 80% of
and Thomas, became accomplished musicians senior falls happen in the bathroom. Slippery surfaces are
themselves. hazardous and usually to blame for falls.
• STAIRCASE/STAIRWAY HACK - Place a strip of color-
ful duct tape on the edges of stair steps to make it easier
for seniors to judge depth and distance and keep from
tripping and falling.
• SHOWER HACK - Place a bar of soap in the leg of some
pantyhose. Tie the open end to the shower head or a
towel bar located in the shower area. This eliminates
dropping the soap and slipping and falling trying to pick
it up.

ARTHRITIS

46% of persons aged 65 and older are dealing with some form
of arthritis. It is a leading cause of disability in the United
States. Elderly arthritis sufferers are 2.5 times more likely to
have two or more falls within a year and suffer a fall injury,
compared with adults who don’t have arthritis.

HACKS TO HELP WITH ARTHRITIS
• Slip a foam hair roller over the end of silverware to
improve hold — especially knives.
• Wrap rubber bands around a glass to prevent it from
Mr. Braxton retired from LISD in 1985, but was slipping out of hands and breaking. This hack reduces
coaxed out of retirement by his replacement, the risk of cuts.
former student Mary Jo Wilson. Now nearing 98 • Use rubber-coated gardening gloves to help open jars or
years old, James continues to volunteer at Dunbar • bottles. Puffy plastic shelf liner works, too.
Make lever-type door handles easier to grip by placing
as a mentor and teacher to many students. a foam roller over the end. (A small balloon helps on
Countless students have studied under Braxton round doorknobs.)
over the years, and you can hear the joy in his
voice as he recalls his days “teaching my kids.” MORE HELPFUL LIFE HACKS:
He still plays faithfully at his church, Mt. Vernon
UMC, where he has been a member for over 50 • Zip It – Attach round key rings or bobby pins to zipper
years. pulls to make getting dressed easier.
• Canned Do – Use canned goods as weights during exer-
cise. Grab those peas and get pumping!
• Recipe Rescue – Attach a cookbook or recipe page to a
Respectfully submitted by pants hanger and hang from a kitchen cabinet door knob
Larry A. Williams, for hands-free recipe reading.
Texas South Plains Honor Flight • Ice, Ice Baby – Use an upside-down ice cube tray to hold
Veterans Liaison Co-Chair playing cards.

76 Lubbock Senior Link