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Linda and Murray,
1.  Thanks for reposting the links for med/interaction.

2.  Flooring surfaces:   For those of you who may be "house shopping" or
remodeling in the near future......a current observation.

My kitchen floor is a laminate surface (Pergo, Armstrong Imagine...a few of
the more popular brands in the US).   I love the surface for ease of care and
durability....we have had the flooring for about 6 years.  HOWEVER:  Now that I
am using wheelchair/walker/crutches with a broken leg.......the laminate
flooring surface is SLICK!  I am not at all comfortable using a walker on that
surface, the crutches are just barely ok on the laminate surface.  Fortunately,
our kitchen is wheelchair accessible and adapted, so I can easily (don't tell
my husband!) cook from a wheelchair.

Just thought that I would mention this for any of you who may be thinking
about flooring options.  After this week.....I would NEVER consider the laminate
flooring surface again.

With a broken right leg....non-weight bearing for at least the next
month....we have been gifted with the time to reevaluate all of our home adaptive
skills.   I have been dx with PD for about 14 years (symptomatic for 20+).  Husband
is helpful, but I am home alone for to 12 hours per day routinely...so I do
need to be independent.

Fortunately we moved to a home where I could live/function completely on one
level...and it is proving it's worth this month.

Crutches seem to be difficult to handle during my "off" times.....the walker
is easier. Thanks to my sister (a retired PT) I did request the walker with
the seat.....the seat makes a great tray for getting a cup of coffee from
cabinet to the chair, or eggs from the refrig to the stove.........as well as a
place to rest if I were really out "jogging".

1/2 gallons of milk are easier to handle with crutches,etc...than are gallons
of milk.

individual water bottles(caps) are easier to handle than glasses and cups.

The larger (2 gal?) wide mouth containers that birdseed, rice, dog food etc
are packaged in today.......are very handy to carry especially if they are only
partially filled....I can refill bird baths,bird feeders, water house plants
etc with those containers and carry them while using the walker/crutches.

The shower stool is a NECESSITY.

Mobility has been a big of a challenge......because of course, I broke my
right leg (the good leg).......so the left leg, which has a tendency to drag and
do it's own thing during "off" times has had to take a turn at being the good
leg.   Although insurance would only pay for crutches OR a wheelchair, we did
decide that both were definitely necessary for me....and we are able to pay
the additional $60 for wheelchair rental for a month

Other than that.......the Huskers (through some miracle we are back in the
top 10 in the coaches poll!)  will not be able to use me for the rest of the
football season
......and one son tells me that I have been booted off the family soccer
team!  and will not be allowed to do flag football at Thanksgiving with crutches
(they think that would give my team the advantage!!  Is that discrimination or
what????

Rita Weeks


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