Editorial


 
 

5

Editorial 
 

HELPING AN OLDER PERSON REMAIN INDEPENDENT 
 

Bette Ide, PhD, RN 
Editorial Board Member 

 
 

Barbara Dahlen, M.S., FNP, ABD has been assisting her sister, who her 91-year-
old mother, Mrs. Marie Charbonneau, lives with, come up with strategies that will help 
their mother remain as independent as possible.  They have made modifications to her 
living environment that help her deal with failing eyesight while remaining 
productive.  She has difficulty seeing the edges of steps.  They use the yellow and black 
tape that you can buy in hardware stores, placing strips along the edges of the steps.  She 
can see the edges and does not trip.  She loves to sew, making quilts, pot holders, etc. for 
family members and for sale.   Modifications in her sewing environment have been made 
to accommodate her diminishing vision and difficulties in getting up from a sitting 
position. They have focused on increasing the amount of light, particularly natural light, 
available by placing her sewing machine under a window, using mini-blinds, and 
installing halogen  lamps in the corners of the room.   She has an L-shaped work space 
which she can maneuver around in using an office chair on wheels.  Everything is easily 
accessible, and she does not have to stand up frequently.   She has bright-colored totes in 
primary colors that are on wheels, available from K-Mart, in which to keep her sewing 
materials separated.  She also has special needles so she doesn’t have to thread a 
needle.  Her sewing machine has been modified by adding a rectangular magnifying glass 
so she can see the settings.  To avoid her having to use needles in putting a quilt together, 
she uses a plastic gun such as the ones used for stapling price tags on clothes and red 
staples that she can see easily.   The plastic guns and staples are available at quilting 
centers.   The dining room has a flat carpet and a round table with chairs with 
wheels.  The flat carpet prevents the chairs from sliding out from under her.   She is able 
to go around the table, tying quilts, and doesn’t have to stand up.  She is also in less 
danger of falling.   They have encouraged the making of “crazy quilts” because 
she doesn’t have to cut straight .pieces.  These modifications have kept her productive–
she sews every day–and independent.   

For questions or comments, e-mail me at Bette_ide@mail.und.nodak.edu. 

 Online Journal of Rural Nursing and Health Care, vol. 3, no. 2, Fall 2003
 

mailto:Bette_ide@mail.und.nodak.edu