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As we ring in the new year, many of us are thinking about resolutions, fresh starts, and setting intentions for the months ahead. For aging adults or those with disabilities causing limitations within their household, one of the most important resolutions could be to make their homes safer and more comfortable for years to come. Whether you're planning to age in place or are caring for a loved one, making simple, thoughtful home modifications can have a huge impact on maintaining independence and enhancing quality of life. 

In this blog, we’ll explore key home modifications that can help seniors or those with limited mobility stay safe and independent in the new year and beyond. 

1. Improve Bathroom Safety 

The bathroom is one of the most common areas where falls occur for seniors with limited mobility or poor balance, but with some simple adjustments, it can become a much safer space. 

• Install Grab Bars: Place grab bars near the toilet, in the shower, and around the bathtub to provide stability.  Consider grab bars that are non-slip or textured and can handle weight-bearing stress. Grab bars also come in a variety of colors. If choosing a colored bar, red and yellow are preferred because they are easiest to see because of their ability to reflect light, as well as being colors our memory hold onto the longest.  Alternative to a grab bar is a Super Pole, a floor to ceiling grab bar that can be placed anywhere a grab bar is needed without the need for wall mounting. Installation is easy, installing in just minutes using a simple jackscrew expansion (tension rod style) between the floor and ceiling. This grab bar system does not require drilling or wall mounting, can be installed in virtually any area of a room, and can be easily moved exactly where it is needed. This Super Pole can be placed by your favorite chair, couch, bedside or in the bathroom by the toilet and shower/tub.  

• Non-slip Bathmats: Prevent slippery surfaces by adding non-slip bathmats or adhesive strips in the tub and an absorbent bathmat outside the shower for drying feet immediately. If low vision is a concern, consider a bright colored mat for visibility and safe foot placement.  

• Shower Chair: A shower chair or bench allows seniors to sit while showering, reducing the risk of losing balance. Shower chairs and benches are available in a blue color to enhance visibility, compared to white/gray that could blend in with tub walls. Additionally, a shower chair or bench can have an added swivel/ rotation of the seat for users who have difficulty lifting their legs and minimize strain and unnecessary twisting. A fold down shower seat saves space and allows it to be folded for other users to use the shower, but who otherwise may not need the shower seat. A power bath lift allows seniors who love to soak in a tub to safely lower in and out of the tub, reducing the physical burden on the user and preventing the risk of falls.   

2. Enhance Lighting Throughout the Home 

Good lighting is essential for preventing accidents, especially as eyesight changes with age. Improving lighting throughout the home can help prevent trips and falls while enhancing overall visibility. 

• Install Motion-Sensor Lights: Motion sensors can automatically turn on lights when you enter a room, hallway, or bathroom, so you never have to fumble for a switch in the dark. 

• Brighten Dark Areas: Areas like hallways, stairways, and the kitchen can benefit from additional light sources, such as brighter bulbs or under-cabinet lighting. 

• Nightlights Bedside, Hallways, and Bathrooms: Placing nightlights in hallways, bedrooms, and bathrooms ensures that nighttime trips are safer and illuminated.  

3. Address Mobility Issues with Furniture and Flooring 

As mobility challenges increase with age, it’s essential to make adjustments that support ease of movement throughout the home. 

• Clear Pathways: Ensure that furniture is arranged in a way that allows for clear, wide pathways. Remove clutter or any tripping hazards such as rugs and cords. 

• Install Ramps: If there are stairs leading into or within the home, consider installing ramps or transitional thresholds for easier access. 

• Raise Furniture Height: If standing up from chairs or couches is difficult, raising the height of the furniture with furniture risers can make it easier to sit and stand. Adjustable or lift chairs/cushions can also help ease and safety from sitting.  

4. Modify the Kitchen for Safety and Accessibility 

The kitchen can be a high-risk area for older adults, especially if mobility, dexterity, or cognition becomes impaired. Making a few modifications can reduce the risk of accidents. 

• Rearrange Pantry and Cabinets: Keep frequently used items at eye level to avoid unnecessary bending or reaching. Consider pull-out cabinets and adding a lazy Susan to make it easier to access items. 

• Stove Safety: Consider a stove adaptation with an automatic shut-off feature for gas or electric stoves. Once the smoke alarm sounds, the stove adaptation will hear the smoke alarm and shut off the stove.  Additionally, using burner covers and setting up a fire extinguisher nearby is always a good safety measure. 

5. Focus on Entryways and Exits 

Getting in and out of the home safely is essential for seniors. Small adjustments can make a big difference in preventing falls when entering or leaving the house. 

• Install Handrails: Handrails on both sides of stairs or at entrances to the home provide extra support when walking up or down. An alternative to handrails is a doorframe grab bar.  Stairs should have increased visibility through contrast strips on the top and bottom of the stairs.  

• Ramp Access: If stairs are an issue, a ramp can be a great alternative to allow easier access to the home, especially for individuals who use walkers or wheelchairs. Some ramps can be foldable and transportable, making it an ideal solution when visiting family and friends or if living in a place that may not allow for a permanent option. 

• Adequate Outdoor Lighting: Ensure that the driveway, walkways, and entryways are well-lit to prevent tripping over uneven surfaces in the dark. 

6. Consider a Professional to Assess the Home 

If you're unsure where to start with home modifications or if you're looking for personalized recommendations, consider working with an aging-in-place specialist or occupational therapist. These professionals can assess the home for hazards and provide expert guidance on making it safer for seniors. 

Conclusion: A Safer Home in the New Year 

Home modifications are a valuable investment in maintaining independence, health, and safety as we age. By making adjustments to the bathroom, kitchen, lighting, and flooring, and adding assistive technologies, you can significantly reduce the risk of falls and accidents while ensuring comfort and accessibility. 

As we step into the new year, take the time to assess your living space and make the necessary changes to create a safer environment. Whether you’re aging in place or caring for a loved one, these simple yet effective modifications will help ensure that your home remains a haven of comfort and security for many years to come. 

Here's to a safe, healthy, and happy new year, one where you and your loved ones can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a well-modified home. 

The holidays are a time for gathering, feasting, and making cherished memories with loved ones. Whether you're celebrating Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, or any other special occasion, the holiday meal plays a central role in bringing people together. But it's not just about the food—it’s also about the experience of sharing that food with the people who matter most. For individuals with limited mobility or a disability, traditional mealtimes can be challenging and may hinder their ability to participate in these memorable moments without the need for a caregiver to assist in their feeding.  

The right dining products can enhance that experience, making every meal more enjoyable, accessible, and memorable for everyone. From dinnerware that sets the mood to tools that make serving and eating easier, here are some must-have dining products to ensure that everyone can fully enjoy holiday meals together. 

Inclusive Dinnerware for Every Guest 

A holiday meal is only as good as the setting in which it’s served. Dinnerware plays a crucial role in setting the tone for your gathering and ensuring that every guest feels included. Consider dinnerware sets that are suitable for your guests during holiday dining. 

• Accessible Designs: For those with mobility or dexterity challenges, look for plates, bowls, and cups with raised edges or non-slip bases to prevent spills and weighted items to make handling easier for those with tremors. 

• Versatile Plateware: Pisces Healthcare offers a variety of plate styles, depending on the level of assistance the Veteran may need.  

• Round Scoop Dishes with a nonskid base that grips tabletops and helps prevent the plate from sliding as well as a low front and high back are ideal for veterans with limited motor coordination or the use of only one hand.  

• Partitioned Scoop Dishes have compartments to keep food separated to minimize choking with mixed consistencies and provide more surfaces for scooping.  

• The Red Dining Set is ideal for a loved one who has difficulty eating due to Alzheimer’s. The color red can help increase the Veteran’s appetite along with other color plate options for Veterans with low vision during holiday meals. 

• Insulated weighted bowls are perfect for serving a favorite holiday soup. The weight can help to reduce the bowl's movement while eating. 

For more dining plates and bowl options click here! 

Eating Tools for Minimal Spillage and Less Effort 

A holiday meal often features an array of delicious dishes—think roasts, sides, casseroles, and pies. Having the right utensils can make the meal flow smoothly and encourage everyone to participate in the feast, with minimal fear of spilling the yummy, prepared food!  

• Adaptive Utensils reduce the challenges of eating and increase meal intake with the right utensils. When considering the correct utensil, Pisces Healthcare has an array of options for improving grip and control, reducing strain and pain to increase independence and accessibility for individuals with physical or cognitive impairments. 

• For veterans with limited hand strength or dexterity choose from utensils with built up handles that are either foam, cushioned, or shaped to provide increase comfort. Many utensils have textured or rubberized handles to reduce the chance of slipping, making it easier for the Veteran with hand tremors or limited grip to use them.  

• Bendable or angled utensils are designed to reduce the need for awkward wrist movements or excessive bending for those with arthritis or joint pain.  

• Utensils can be lightweight, reducing the effort needed to lift or weighted to reduce a tremor to minimize spilling food. Cuffs can also be used to hold the utensil when a Veteran does not have full strength. 

• Don’t forget a rocker knife for ease of cutting favorite foods.  

• For more complex eating needs the Geno Bravo Twist has a spoon and fork kit with anti-shaking function and twist function for spaghetti. 

For more Dining Tools click here!  

Flexible Drinkware  

Drinks are an essential part of the holiday meal experience. From festive cocktails to non-alcoholic options for designated drivers, and warm drinks for comfort and relaxation. Pisces Healthcare has innovative drinkware options to ensure that everyone has something they enjoy. 

• Adaptive Cups and drinking aids help Veteran’s with limitations pick up and drink from a cup without accidental spills or excessive strain, as well as minimize aspiration. There are a variety of options to reduce the challenges of drinking and promoting liquid intake for adequate hydration. 

• Insulated mug with lid or spout, comes standard or weighted. The large handle makes grasping easier and the sealing lid helps prevent spilling. It also features an option for a straw hole that directs the flow of liquid or choose a spout to regulate the amount of liquid. Veterans can enjoy hot beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate that are perfect for winding down after a meal.  

• The HandSteady Cup with a rotating handle has unique features as it self-levels, helps increase control, and reduces spills. A lid with straw hole is another option to use for this cup. This drinking aid is for veterans with tremors, limited dexterity, and weak grip.  

• Two handed nosey cup allows monitoring of hot and cold liquid intake. Ideal for veterans with swallowing difficulty and poor grasp. This cup allows drinking without bending the neck or tilting the head. This cup is ideal for all liquid consistencies. 

• Discreetly assist with volume control and positioning for dysphagia with a SafeStraw. This reusable straw holder assists with oral motor control of liquid bolus by using a small fluid chamber with a one-way valve and a “float” to regulate how much fluid is sucked through the straw at once, helping to prevent aspiration or choking. Once suck is stopped, float sinks to the bottom and is ready to deliver more liquid. Or a disposable option with Ark's One-Way Straws make drinking easier for veterans with a weak suck, oral motor difficulties, and/or problems generating and maintaining suction.  Users tend to experience less coughing and choking while consuming more fluids with this straw. 

For more cups and drinking aids click here.

Specialized Dining Products  

During the holidays, veterans with increased need for assistance from a caregiver may find it challenging to fully enjoy a meal. This can especially be demanding for a caregiver during the holidays when a veteran requires total assistance. Selecting high-tech robotic dining devices elevates the pressure from caregivers and veterans have more independence and control over their dining experience.  

• The Neater Eater is an amazing solution for Veterans who cannot feed themselves or are slowly losing the ability to do so. This feeding device provides veteran’s the ability to eat at their own pace, providing greater independence, dignity and choice. Veterans must be able to maintain head control and the ability to chew and swallow in order to use the Neater Eater safely. 

• The Neater Power Drinker enables veterans to drink liquids and puréed foods at their own pace. The amount of liquid it can pump can be set by the user, and the liquid does not touch any parts of the mechanical pump, meaning it is easy to keep clean and long-lasting.  

For more information click here!

Additional Dining items to consider 

With a little planning and the right dining products, you can ensure that everyone feels confident and included. Pisces Healthcare offers an array of additional products to enhance the veteran's dining experience during the holidays. The following products should be considered for a well-rounded dining experience. 

• Clothing protectors and adult bibs are available as reusable and washable or disposable. The perfect accessory to ensure your attire remains clean and intact for all those family photos! 

• Dycem mats are thick anti-slip mats that provide a secure surface that anchors items, such as cups, plates, and utensils.  

• Plate guards are a great option to add to a traditional plate making the adaptation more discrete and for easy scooping of solid or modified consistencies. 

• Positioning aids such as lateral supports, wedges, or wheelchair tray tables.  

For a full list of all our dining products, click here!

Conclusion: Celebrating the Holiday Spirit, Together 

The holidays are a time for connection, warmth, and celebration. By selecting the right dining products, you can make a veteran’s holiday meal more enjoyable for everyone, from the youngest to the oldest guests. Thoughtful dinnerware, easy-to-use serving tools, flexible drinkware, and even special accommodations for dietary needs can all contribute to a smooth, festive atmosphere. With the right dining tools, you can create a safe space where everyone feels included and supported no matter their abilities. After all, the holidays are about more than just food—it’s about the love and memories you share with family and friends. Happy holidays, and may your dining experience be filled with joy, laughter, and delicious meals! 

Pisces Healthcare Solutions: Celebrating Our Grand Opening and Rebranding

The future of Pisces Healthcare is here! We’ve officially begun our transition with the grand opening of our upgraded headquarters in Longmont, Colorado, complete with a brand new cutting-edge 26,665 sq ft distribution center and the official launch of a bold, revitalized brand identity. Pisces Healthcare Solutions is committed to serving veterans with unique, top-tier medical products and services. This vision has fueled our growth, allowing us to become one of the leading healthcare product providers to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and expanding exponentially year after year.

A Brand Built for the Future

As Pisces Healthcare looks to the future, we remain committed to dominating the VA healthcare market and beyond. Our rebranding reflects this ambition, ensuring our visual identity and messaging align with the vision that drives our company. Our newly crafted brand guidelines will be a foundation for consistent, impactful communication with the clinicians, providers, purchasing agents, and most importantly the veterans we serve daily.

This rebranding represents a natural evolution for our company. We aim to connect deeply with our core mission: to provide veterans and active service members with the most effective products, personalized support, and reliable services, empowering them to live their best lives.

A New Look for Pisces

At the heart of our rebranding is a modernized logo that remains true to our roots. This new design subtly integrates two “P” s, symbolizing our founders zodiac signs (our founders are both Pisces!) and the strength of their partnership. Together, they create the iconic shape of a medical cross, an emblem of our commitment to serving those who have served.

Our brand colors have also been thoughtfully chosen to convey who we are and what we represent. Blue remains our core color, symbolizing confidence, control, and stability. All qualities that our clients and veterans deem important, creating greater trust in every product and interaction with Pisces Healthcare. We also have incorporated two new distinct accent colors, alongside our signature green: turquoise and orange. These two colors are uniquely ours and are used to create distinction in our communications.

Moving Forward Together

The grand opening of our new headquarters marks an exciting new chapter for Pisces Healthcare.

Our vision for the future is clear: to lead the way in providing healthcare products to the VA. With a refreshed identity and an unyielding commitment to quality, Pisces Healthcare is more equipped than ever to achieve that vision. We’re excited to embark on this next phase, ensuring that our brand resonates with our clients, veterans, and partners alike.

Thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to a stronger future with Pisces Healthcare.

At Pisces Healthcare, we understand the unique challenges that veterans face during and after breast cancer treatment. Our mission is to provide supportive products that enhance comfort, aid in recovery, and improve quality of life. We offer a wide range of breast forms, bras, post-operative padding, rehab tools, and comfort aids tailored to meet your needs. Below, you'll find a selection of products designed to support recovery and well-being through every stage of the journey.

Bras for Comfort and Support

We provide a variety of bras designed specifically for post-surgical needs. Our range includes styles that facilitate ease of use and comfort during recovery:

• Drain Management Bra
  Helps manage post-surgical drains with ease. This bra includes 2 modesty pouches and 4 rings, that are repositionable, to support the drain bulb and anchor it to the band, which reduces motion and pressure on the incision sites. The FlexFit cups accommodate breast volume variations due to swelling. Additional features include a combined padded hook-&-eye/zipper front closure for ease of donning and high-back coverage for additional support. Our proprietary TriFlex fabric has superior stretch to prevent binding, provides moisture-wicking and cooling, and active silver antimicrobial protection
  
  
• Front Zip, Sports Bra Style
  Ideal for easy access and comfort, offering gentle compression. Pre-formed and flexible seamless cups ensure optimal stabilization of the post-surgical breast area with even, all-over pressure (no fixation ring around the cup). Adjustable, wide straps with hook and loop fasteners for easy dressing and undressing while providing exceptional comfort, immobilization, and stabilization of the operated breast.
• Padded Wire-Free Bra
  Offers gentle support and comfort for everyday wear. The perfect bra for every day, Mara is smooth under T-shirts and comfortable against the skin. The breathable COOLMAX fabric cup pockets help wick away moisture to keep you cool and dry, the pockets can hold a breast form or shaper securely in place. A nice wide under band ensures comfortable breast support every day.
  
  
• Front Closure, Pocketed Bra
  Designed with pockets to hold breast forms or pads securely. Ultra-soft fabric offers a snug and non-restrictive fit. Post-surgery front closure bra for easy access during treatment with cut and sewn cotton pockets and smooth interior side seams for comfort to sensitive skin. Padded, stretch fabric straps with front fasteners.
  
  
• Post-Surgical Puff
  Provides symmetry immediately after surgery.  Post Surgical Puff is a specialized breast form that offers immediate symmetry following surgery. This unique post-surgical Puff can be easily customized to achieve the desired fullness by simply adding or removing fiberfill, and it comes with extra fiberfill included. It is specifically designed to address the unique requirements of women during the critical phases following breast surgery, whether in the hospital or upon returning home. Can be used with post-mastectomy bras

Post-Intervention Tools

Post-Surgical Pads
Our post-surgical pads are crafted to provide gentle compression and support after lumpectomy or mastectomy, helping reduce swelling and promote healing. This tapeless option is comfortable compression to help lymphatic flow after breast surgery.

• Jobst Post-Lumpectomy Pad The Post-Lumpectomy Pad features a posterior extension that, in combination with a compression garment, addresses edema and/or radiation fibrosis of the breast and serratus anterior. This pad covers the affected breast completely and extends to the spine.
• Jobst Double Mastectomy Pad This Double Mastectomy Pad is a wrap-around torso pad and is secured with Velcro. It is indicated for patients with edema on the anterior chest wall as well as the lateral and posterior chest wall areas
• BSN Jobst JoViPak Axilla Pad The flat channel pad is placed against the chest wall and held in place by a post-surgery bra after axillary node dissection.

Lymphedema Arm sleeve with Gauntlet

• Arm sleeve with Gauntlet is the answer to your lymphatic discomfort! Contains edema with our stylish and conspicuous 20-30 mmHg firm compression arm sleeve with gauntlet!

Recovery Aids for Comfort

Our range of recovery aids provides essential comfort and support for day-to-day activities following breast cancer treatment:

• Chest Ice Pack
  • Provides pain relief after mastectomy. Comfortable and discrete design and can be easily inserted into bra or placed on breast. These reusable packs deliver comfortable cooling at approximately 58 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour. Comes with one soft cover and one cooling pack
    
    
• Seat Belt Pillow
  • The seat belt pillow provides a comfortable barrier to protect sensitive areas from the pressure of a seat belt. Adjustable Velcro straps to adjust for your size and comfort. There is an added pocket for a gel pack to promote healing through hot or cold therapy while traveling.
    
    
• Mastectomy Post-Op Pillow
  • Chest pillows maximize comfort for sleeping, resting, or driving to keep your arms, seat belts, and more away from your ribcage. This is a must have chest pillow for any breast surgery. Very soft with underarm support and comes with a hidden pocket for a cell phone or other items to keep within reach.
    
    
• Seat Belt Extender for External Rotation
  • Reduces strain when twisting or reaching. Offering a convenient handle to allow the user to put on their seatbelt with minimal discomfort. The rubber handle is small, lightweight, and attaches to the seatbelt strap.

• Bed Wedge Pillow
  • Helps reduce strain while getting up and ensures comfort throughout the night. 4-in-1 design bed wedge offers versatile elevation for the upper and lower body. Customize the level of support and incline to sit comfortably in bed.
    
    
• Personal Lubricant Balm
  • For vaginal dryness following cancer treatment. This all-natural vaginal cream and moisturizer offers a unique blend of organic and natural ingredients to relieve and treat vaginal skin irritation, redness, and dryness for soothing relief.. Enchanted Rose Organic Personal Lubricant Balm
• Hair Dryer Stand
  • Hands-free option for easy drying and styling. Allows effortless, strain-free styling and drying for those with limited mobility after a mastectomy or for energy conservation during treatments.
    
    
• Long Handled Comb/Brush
  • For easy grooming without straining. Extra-long, ergonomic curved handles, make it easy to style hair from front to back with minimal shoulder and upper arm movement, providing less strain and discomfort.

Tools to Improve Range of Motion (ROM)

For many patients, regaining range of motion in the upper extremities is a key part of post-surgical recovery. Our products help facilitate this process:

• Overdoor Pink Pulley for ROM : This over-the-door shoulder pulley will help to improve the range of motion with easy adjustable line length.
  Overdoor Pink Pulley for Post-Mastectomy Range of Motion
• UE Ranger for Upper Extremities : Enhances recovery after mastectomy by promoting neuromuscular strengthening and coordination for optimal healing.
  UE Ranger Orthopedic
• Shoulder Wand : Collapsable stretching bar to outward stretch the shoulder area scar tissue and increase range of motion for greater mobility and comfort.

Swimwear

We offer stylish, post-mastectomy swimwear that provides comfort, support, and confidence:

• Manila Post-Mastectomy Swimwear High neckline to discreetly hide skin irritation or scars, providing a stylish and confident swimwear solution. Supportive shelf bra featuring integrated pockets and soft, padded cups to securely hold breast forms and shapers in place, effectively concealing any unevenness. Swimwear with excellent UV protection (50+) for optimal safeguarding of sensitive skin and scars.

To view the rest of our breast cancer care products, visit www.pisceshealth.com/breast-cancer-care.

Contact Us

For more information about our products or to place an order, please contact us:

Pisces Healthcare Solutions
Phone: 1-888-505-3627
Email:  customerservice@pisceshealth.com
Website: Pisces Healthcare Solutions