Hi, my name is Maria Lindbergh, MOT, OTR/L, ECHM.

I was a caregiver to my grandparents for 12 years. My grandmother, ‘Granny’, told me that she never wanted to live in a nursing home. My mom and I worked as a team to make changes to her home and find local supports to make sure all of her needs were met.

After Granny died, my grandfather’s dementia worsened. Despite our best efforts to keep Grandpa at home, it came to a point where we recognized he needed two people to help him 24 hours a day. It was a difficult decision to move Grandpa to a memory care unit, but we knew it was the best choice for him to have the level of care he needed.

While caregiving for my grandparents, I went to school and became an occupational therapist. I started my career working in nursing homes, so I know firsthand the everyday struggles people have living in these facilities.

I noticed that some of the patients I worked with would get better and take care of themselves more independently at the facility. However, when they returned home, they would become rehospitalized or reinjured and return to the facility worse off than how they left. 

The reason why those patients were not successful living in their homes is that their homes were not set up for them to independently care for themselves.

I saw a need to fill in the gap and prepare the home, specifically the bathroom, so it was safe for people to age in place.

This led me to create my business, Toilet Talk, for people to create beautiful and safe bathrooms. I offer bathroom solutions, financial resources, a blog, videos, a free newsletter, and an online course on my website, “Hard Time Wiping? Let’s Talk A-booty It!” 

You now have the perfect resource to stop:

• Being afraid to talk about this sensitive topic with your doctor and family

• Shaming yourself for “letting yourself go” or becoming a burden on your loved ones

• Feeling hopeless over losing your independence and the possibility of moving away from the comfort of your home

And begin

• To be independent with personal hygiene again, and

• Feeling confident in your ability to take care of yourself!

Please know that you’re not alone. I’ve got your backside! Join the Toilet Talk Newsletter for more bathroom solutions.

Your potty pal,

Maria:)