Information about
"The Ride"
Discounted fares for
seniors and
handicapped
individuals
Handicapped
accessible buses
Handicapped
accessible stations
Informative booklet
entitled "Getting
Around Boston: A
Guide to Riding the T
for People of All
Abilities"
Service Animals
welcome in all areas
"The Ride"
Discounted fares for
seniors and
handicapped
individuals
Handicapped
accessible buses
Handicapped
accessible stations
Informative booklet
entitled "Getting
Around Boston: A
Guide to Riding the T
for People of All
Abilities"
Service Animals
welcome in all areas
You may contact the MBTA at the following numbers for further
information:
Customer Service Line: (617) 222-5215
Deaf or Hard of Hearing: TTY (617) 222-5146
information:
Customer Service Line: (617) 222-5215
Deaf or Hard of Hearing: TTY (617) 222-5146
| 3 |
| STAYING HOME SAFELY (continued from page 1) |
Travel is often very difficult for the elderly and disabled. A simple trip to
the grocery store can be difficult enough that individuals will ration their
food in order to delay their next outing.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers a wide
range of services to make travel easier for this population. Visit the
"Accessible Services" area of their website at:
http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/accessible_services_index.asp
Among the services that they offer are:
the grocery store can be difficult enough that individuals will ration their
food in order to delay their next outing.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers a wide
range of services to make travel easier for this population. Visit the
"Accessible Services" area of their website at:
http://www.mbta.com/traveling_t/accessible_services_index.asp
Among the services that they offer are:
| GETTING AROUND TOWN... |
measures that are put in place, nothing can provide
a 100% guarantee.
One of the best things that you can do to assess the safety
of your loved ones' home is to approach it the way you
would if you were examining it for an infant. Bring yourself
physically to his or her level - leaning on a walker or seated
in a wheelchair - and move about the house as they would.
Is there enough clearance to open the refrigerator door
safely? Do you have to reach accross the burners to turn on
the stove? Are there open stairwalls that might be
dangerous for an individual with poor balance?
As you move around the house, make a list of areas that
concern you and write them down. It doesn't matter if the list
looks very long - quite often one solution will solve many of
those problems at once. With your list in hand, approach a
health care professional - your loved one's physician, nurse,
therapist, or a member of the Amazing Grace team - and
discuss your concerns with them. Don't hesistate to ask
friends, neighbors and co-workers if they've ever
encountered similar issues with their loved ones -
sometimes the best remedies come from sources you'd
never expect!
Exterior doors and windows are areas of significant concern
and there is often a temptation to lock them in order to
prevent elderly loved ones from wandering unsupervised.
Remember, though, that those doors and windows may be
the only means of escape in the event of a fire or other
emergency. Instead of locks, consider motion sensor
alarms on door jams and window frames. Although they
require a moderate amount of light to function properly, the
sound of the alarm may be a sufficient deterrent to prevent
your loved one from exiting. Additionally, if he or she does
not live alone, the alarm will wake others and alert them to
the fact that someone is up and wandering and may need
assistance.
Consider, also, the
purchase of a number
of small "STOP" signs
(or simply download
them from the web by
typing the phrase "stop
sign" into any search
engine). Make sure that
the signs are large
enough to be visible,
then tape them to doors and windows. Lastly, don't hesitate
to call Amazing Grace with any safety concerns. We have a
number of resources available to our Clients and would be
delighted to help out!
a 100% guarantee.
One of the best things that you can do to assess the safety
of your loved ones' home is to approach it the way you
would if you were examining it for an infant. Bring yourself
physically to his or her level - leaning on a walker or seated
in a wheelchair - and move about the house as they would.
Is there enough clearance to open the refrigerator door
safely? Do you have to reach accross the burners to turn on
the stove? Are there open stairwalls that might be
dangerous for an individual with poor balance?
As you move around the house, make a list of areas that
concern you and write them down. It doesn't matter if the list
looks very long - quite often one solution will solve many of
those problems at once. With your list in hand, approach a
health care professional - your loved one's physician, nurse,
therapist, or a member of the Amazing Grace team - and
discuss your concerns with them. Don't hesistate to ask
friends, neighbors and co-workers if they've ever
encountered similar issues with their loved ones -
sometimes the best remedies come from sources you'd
never expect!
Exterior doors and windows are areas of significant concern
and there is often a temptation to lock them in order to
prevent elderly loved ones from wandering unsupervised.
Remember, though, that those doors and windows may be
the only means of escape in the event of a fire or other
emergency. Instead of locks, consider motion sensor
alarms on door jams and window frames. Although they
require a moderate amount of light to function properly, the
sound of the alarm may be a sufficient deterrent to prevent
your loved one from exiting. Additionally, if he or she does
not live alone, the alarm will wake others and alert them to
the fact that someone is up and wandering and may need
assistance.
Consider, also, the
purchase of a number
of small "STOP" signs
(or simply download
them from the web by
typing the phrase "stop
sign" into any search
engine). Make sure that
the signs are large
enough to be visible,
then tape them to doors and windows. Lastly, don't hesitate
to call Amazing Grace with any safety concerns. We have a
number of resources available to our Clients and would be
delighted to help out!