Health & Fitness
Is Your Senior's Home Safe as Possible? We Doubt it! Go See
Six Easy Rules...Make your senior's home safer and more efficient by applying these logical rules. And, shockingly, you'll learn how many both you and your seniors still need to follow.
A Home to Thrive in!
Considering a move is something none of us likes to think about. But as we age, our homes can become a hazardous place for us to stay.
I just got this letter from my Gerontologist friend, Karen…see what she says about homes and moving…………..
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Dear Aileen
My parents are now considering a move from their country home. My father just turned 80, and the work it takes for two acres is becoming more than he wants to handle. My mother thrives on gardening and spends many hours each day doing just that. But she’s come to the conclusion that a move might be needed in the next few years.
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Their two-story home can also be a problem. My mother recently took a fall down the stairs. It’s amazing that she came away without a bruise or scratch.
There are things we can do to make a home better suited to aging. If you are living alone, the right move might just be to a retirement community where you can interact with your peers and live in a safe environment. Here are a few things to consider when you’re considering a move.
According to the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, over 600,000 elderly Americans are seen each year in hospital emergency rooms from accidents in their homes. You can help make your home safer and often it doesn’t take a lot of cash to do so. Since falls are the number one cause of fatal injury for seniors, pulling up those throw rugs and removing any clutter from the floors will do a lot to keep you safe. Not all improvements are this easy but many are.
Experts have studied home safety and handy checklists are available on many websites. On the California Department of Aging website you can use the search words “home safety” to find a good list. But the place to really begin is talking to your loved ones about the idea. Perhaps making it a family project with all family members involved will make the task easier.
Sit down with them and go over the checklist. Items include making sure that all curtains and drapes are a safe distance from heaters. Removing electrical cords from walkways are also on the list. While these seem like common sense suggestions, you might be surprised which changes you’ll have to make once you’ve looked through your home.
Lighting is a big issue for those who often suffer from vision loss. Purchasing motion sensitive night lights can really help. No one should have to walk into a dark room to try to find a light switch. Having a reachable lamp near the bed will make it easier for middle of the night bathroom visits. And for entrances into the house, make sure all lights are working and adequate.
Falls in the bathroom are very common but a night light can make it much safer. Appliquéd non-skid decals can prevent slipping and the dreaded fall in both the bath and shower. Grab bars inside showers and bathtubs may take a little more doing but greatly increase your elder’s safety.
The kitchen is another place where safety is often an issue. Moving items that are used often to lower shelves will keep a senior off a step stool. Checking that kitchen step stool for sturdiness is also good idea. Make sure all towels, curtains and aprons are located away from burners. You’ll also want to look at plugged in cords to make sure they’re in good condition.
Telephones can be lifelines for seniors but make sure your parents’ is in good working order and it’s an appropriate model. Having a volume control will enable your senior to hear it when it rings. The California Aging check list suggests adding a light that flashes when it rings for seniors with hearing loss. Your loved one may qualify for a free new phone through the Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Program (DDTP) that will accommodate their need. Emergency numbers should be posted near a phone in large print so elders won’t have to hunt for them during an emergency.
Seniors are especially sensitive to heat so turn down that water heater to 120 degrees or lower. Check out smoke detectors to make sure they’re working properly. There should be one in or near the bedroom where your elder sleeps. If your elder uses an electric blanket make sure it’s in good shape by checking it for exposed wiring.
Outside areas should not be overlooked when doing your inspection. Steps and walkways should be free from clutter, overgrown plantings and in good repair. For low income seniors, financial assistance may be available.
We all are intricately linked to our environment, or homes. Home is the place where we can be ourselves and the structure itself is often a reflection of ourselves and our lives. But, as we grow older, many of us will have to consider moving to another home. The reasons can vary. Yard work and home maintenance might become too much for us to handle.
Our physical abilities might change and our home might become harder to live in. We might even suffer a health crisis and need help in our everyday activities of life. We might consider moving to free up the equity in our home. Change is hard, but sometimes necessary.
Another thing to consider about a possible move is how connected you are to friends and family. Isolation can be deadly, so if you’re not socializing on a regular basis, a retirement community could bring you friends and activities that will enrich your life.
Karen
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Isn’t Karen a sweetie? She knows so much about caring for the elderly, and I listen to and usually adopt everything she tells me to do at San Clemente Villas by the Sea.
Find even more senior home safety tips by clicking here.
For more info about caring for your elderly, please contact me at (949) 289-1534.Or call and join me for lunch and a tour of our facility. San Clemente Villas by the Sea is located at 660 Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente, CA 92673. Phone: | Fax: (949) 234-0081. Contact: Aileen Brazeau, Co-Owner of San Clemente Villas by the Sea. www.SanClementeVillas.com.