A fall in her driveway left 83-year-old Loretta with a broken wrist and a list of concerns. Among them was how she would make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“I love peanut butter and jelly,” said Loretta, who lives alone and worried how she would get by while her injury healed.
Having received meals a few years ago, Loretta was familiar with YMOW’s home-delivered meals program. What she didn’t know was that YMOW’s Safe at Home program could help make her home safer during and after her recovery. And it could help her make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Safe at Home Occupational Therapist Bridget showed Loretta how to make her favorite snack with one hand. She also taught her to open a bottle or jar and how to dress herself with one arm. But she didn’t stop there.
With help from Disability Made Easy, Safe at Home installed grab bars and a handheld shower head to help Loretta bathe safely. A shower chair, Loretta said, has been a big help.
“I don’t have to worry about falling. It makes a big difference to me,” she said.
Safe at Home made getting to the bathroom safer, too, by installing motion-detecting lights that illuminate Loretta’s path from her bedroom.
With her arm healed, Loretta is growing cucumbers and tomatoes in her backyard, enjoying meals from YMOW, and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with two hands.
Thanks to YMOW and Safe at Home, Loretta’s house of 35 years feels like home again.