Published: April 25, 2007 12:51 pm            

Home Safety for Senior Citizens

April 25, 2007 — Home safety is a very serious issue as the result of an unsafe surrounding can often result in serious injury or death. The #1 risk for an independent living senior is a fall, which can have devastating effects. Falls account for 4 of every 5 injury-related hospitalizations by seniors and 20% of deaths related to an injury can be traced back to falls!



Each year, more than 1.6 million seniors are treated in hospital emergency rooms for fall-related injuries caused by incidents such as slipping on a wet bathroom floor, loss of balance on stairs, or tripping on a rug. Over 50% of seniors’ falls occur in or around the home.



Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help yourself or an aging loved one to be safer in their home. The simplest projects often offer some of the biggest benefits. These steps enhance your quality of life by enabling you to enjoy the full use of your home and maintain your personal independence.

¸ Remove tripping hazards such as throw rugs and clutter in walkways. Arrange furniture so that it creates open space and clear passage. Place bed, telephone, etc. where they are easily accessible. This may also assist emergency services access in the event of an emergency.

¸ Add bathroom safety features, such as non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors and install grab bars. Having a handicap accessible bathroom is an important element of home safety as many falls occur in the bathroom.

¸ Improve mobility into and throughout the home. This includes safety of outdoor walkways, entrances, doorways and stairs.

¸ Most homes don't have the features and conveniences to make them appropriate and safe for seniors. By planning ahead you can make more economical decisions on what and when to make changes in your home.

¸ If you choose to remodel to increase the convenience and comfort of your home, how you select, hire and manage the contractor often defines a successful project.

¸ For seniors living alone, a personal medical alert device is essential to call for help.

¸ Consider home health care to assist senior in higher risk activities, such as bathing. Many levels of personal, psychosocial and domestic care are available including live-in health care.

As we age, we all wish to maintain our independence and self-dignity. When building a home, think about the future. Prepare your home for mobility and convenience with wider hallways and doorways, fewer sharp turns and have at least 1 bedroom on the ground floor.



One final note, no matter what age the occupants of a home, don’t overlook installing smoke detectors on every floor, near sleeping areas and having at least 1 fire extinguisher available for use.

        

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