Safer to Stay

06/07/2026

A bathroom remodel is more than choosing tile, paint colors, and fixtures.
It's an opportunity to plan for the future.

This week I worked on a scaled bathroom layout to evaluate space, clearances, and accessibility considerations before construction begins.

Small design decisions made today can have a significant impact on safety, independence, and usability years from now.

One of the biggest benefits of having a physical therapist evaluate a space is that we don't just look at the room, we look at the person who will be using it.

Mobility, balance, strength, transfers, vision, endurance, and daily routines all influence how a bathroom should be designed.

A beautiful remodel can still be challenging to navigate if there isn't adequate space around the toilet, room for a walker, or consideration for future needs.

Planning ahead can help avoid costly renovations later and support aging in place for years to come.

At Safer to Stay, I help individuals and families bridge the gap between home design and functional living so their homes can continue to support independence, safety, and quality of life.

05/27/2026

At some point in our lives, many of us will unfortunately experience a fall.

But very few people are ever taught what to do after it happens.
Come learn:
✔️ How to safely recover from a fall
✔️ When to call for help
✔️ Common mistakes that can make injuries worse
✔️ Simple strategies that may help reduce future falls

This presentation is designed to help older adults, caregivers, and families feel more prepared, confident, and safe at home.

Because falls don’t just happen to “other people.” And knowing how to respond matters.

Hope to see you there!

— Jenelle Murphy, PT, DPT
Founder of Safer to Stay

05/27/2026

Maybe healthcare workers don’t need puppy yoga.

Maybe we need “Dog CPR.” 🐶🚑

Not because the dogs help us practice…
…but because it’s impossible to stay stressed when a dog is interrupting compressions for kisses and emotional support.

Honestly, there may be no better reminder during CPR training than this:
Stay calm.
Keep going.

And if all else fails, get yourself a dog for morale support. 😂

05/21/2026

As adult children, many of us eventually start noticing small changes in our parents:

→ holding onto furniture
→ avoiding stairs
→ near falls
→ needing more effort for everyday tasks

And then comes the difficult question:
“Is it still safe for them to stay at home?”

That decision can feel overwhelming emotionally.

The Safer to Stay Safety Score™ was created to help families gain a more objective understanding of how safely the home environment is supporting mobility, function, and independence.

Not to push families toward staying home.

Not to push families toward senior living.

But to provide clarity during one of the hardest transitions families face.

What do you think is the hardest part of navigating these decisions with aging parents?

www.safertostay.com

05/17/2026

Your home may not need a renovation.

It may need a prescription.

At Safer to Stay, every family receives a personalized Home Safety & Aging-in-Place Report filled with detailed recommendations, practical next steps, and priorities specific to their home, routines, and goals.

Instead of a generic checklist, this report looks at how the person actually moves through their home:
✔ nighttime bathroom trips
✔ stairs and hallway navigation
✔ lighting and vision needs
✔ bathroom safety
✔ footwear and surface traction
✔ everyday routines that may quietly increase fall risk

The goal is not to overwhelm families with everything that could be changed.

The goal is to identify what matters most now, what to monitor, and which small adjustments can make the home safer while preserving independence.

Think of it as a personalized home safety prescription written for the way someone lives, moves, and wants to stay confident at home.

Safer decisions earlier.
More confidence at home.
Less waiting for a crisis.

This is an example of a SnapShot summary page from a report.

www.safertostay.com

05/14/2026

This is such a powerful reminder that rehabilitation is never just about exercises or improving strength.

It’s about helping people return to the moments that matter most. ❤️

After surviving being hit by a car and experiencing a stroke, Carl worked incredibly hard to regain the coordination, confidence, and functional abilities needed to pursue one meaningful goal…proposing to the love of his life. 💍

What stands out most is how recovery happens in real life, not just in clinics.

The ability to safely move through your home, navigate daily routines, transfer confidently, manage fatigue, and interact with your environment all play a major role in whether someone can truly return to meaningful activities and participation.

Sometimes the smallest environmental changes can help restore confidence, independence, and quality of life in ways people never expected.

These are the moments that remind us why accessibility, home modification, and person-environment fit matter so much. 🏡

Stroke survivor Carl Haydel worked with his occupational therapist, Amanda Cable, to regain strength and coordination to propose to his girlfriend, Rachel Di**le. 'It's so special to be a part of making dreams a reality for someone,' Cable tells PEOPLE.

05/11/2026

Most people don’t realize how much effort “independence” can actually take.

Sometimes it looks like:
→ Holding onto furniture to get across the room
→ Avoiding stairs unless absolutely necessary
→ Sitting longer before standing because it feels harder
→ Carrying laundry differently
→ Leaving lights on all night “just in case”
→ Planning the day around what feels manageable

And because these changes happen slowly… families often adapt to them instead of noticing them.

The problem?
By the time everyone realizes something is wrong, there’s often already been a fall, injury, hospitalization, or major loss of confidence.

What’s one small thing you’ve noticed older adults start doing differently at home over time that people often dismiss as “normal aging”? 👇

05/05/2026

Have you ever noticed this with your parent…
They don’t just stand up anymore.

They: → Rock forward → Try again → Push off unevenly → Reach for something nearby

It’s subtle. Easy to overlook. But it’s often one of the first signs that something in their environment isn’t working for them anymore.

If you are noticing changes in your parents and not sure what to do, Safer to Stay offers complimentary 15 minute consultations.

05/04/2026

Thank you for recognizing us! Always happy to be a part of the community!

⭐️ May's Champions Circle ⭐️

✨ Member of the Month: Daniel Schuzer, Fitness Premier Beecher
✨ Client of the Month: Shannon Haag, Fitness Premier Manteno
✨ Employee of the Month: Ryan Conway, Fitness Premier Crete
✨ Business of the Month, Safer to Stay

Thank you for being a positive influence on the ! 💪🏼

04/30/2026

Had such a great time speaking at Fitness Premier Beecher earlier this week! Thank you to everyone who showed up, asked questions, and shared your experiences.

One of my favorite takeaways:
👉 Most people don’t remember the fall… they remember the moment right before it.

That split second of:
“Am I going to catch myself?”

That moment is where everything happens and it’s influenced by two things:

1. How your body responds
2. What your environment allows

That’s exactly why I do what I do.

We spend so much time focusing on strength and balance (which matter)…
but not nearly enough time looking at how your home actually supports or challenges you in real life.