People in the 1900s learned to invent ways of staying at home as independently as possible.

DUXBURY -- In the last room of my tour of the Bradford House's new exhibit, "Four Bradford Daughters: Lives Well Lived," Erin McGough made a striking observation.

In the 1890s, three elderly Bradford sisters were still living in the house. Growing old together posed its problems: how do you age safely at home and take care of each other before the advent of modern health care, hospice, social services or Social Security?

The historical society was left with artifacts that showed how they managed this. There is a patented 1875 invalid bed that Elizabeth used for eight years while bedridden after having a stroke. There is also her wheelchair, improvised, and her compost toilet.

Plymouth relatives were worried about the sisters and brought the objects in so the three could stay in the house as independently as possible.

It was a  difficult situation for the family, just as it is today. There were worries they would hurt themselves or each other, just as families and caregivers have today.

The wheelchair was devised from an 18th C. easy chair that had belonged to their mother. It is an example of making do and modifying furniture with casters.

The house had no electricity or plumbing so they brought the compost toilet in to add some accessibility, McGough explained. YOu put dirt in the top of the back, pulled the handle to dump the dirt into the bottom of the toilet bowl and you could use the toilet several times before cleaning it out.

The bed frame would be adjusted in a few different positions.

McGough is executive director of the Duxbury Rural and Historical Society, which owns the Bradford historic house/museum and the staff worked on the exhibit over the past several years.