Health and Safety Training

Is your loved one a little wobbly on her feet these days?  Eyesight and hearing just not what it used to be?  Does joint pain make it difficult for her to open containers and turn door knobs?  Is your loved one starting to show signs of senility?  Then it is time to elder proof your home!  

 Falls are the leading cause of injury related deaths among the elderly.

Here are some simple steps to help you make sure that your loved one is safe in her own home.

• Remove rugs and runners that do not have a slip resistant backing or purchase non-slip rubber matting from your local hardware store to place under all rugs, runners and mats.
• Are there electrical cords stretched across the walkway?  Time to rearrange the furniture to make sure that lamps, telephones, and appliances are safely plugged into outlets without needing to stretch their cords.  
• Time to remove all clutter!  Piles of magazines, boxes, and unnecessary furniture greatly increase your loved one’s chances of tripping.  
• Check out the home’s lighting.  Open curtains and blinds where possible to allow for natural lighting.  Install light bulbs of the highest watt allowed for each light fixture.  Install inexpensive night lights in each room.  
• Install non-skid mats and textured strips in the bathroom shower/tub.  Install grab bars too!  Make sure that the hot water heater is set below 120*F to prevent burns.
• Purchase a high quality, stable step stool that has handrails to prevent your loved one from using a chair, box, or other makeshift device to reach out of the way objects.
• Post emergency numbers in a very large, easy to read font by all telephones in the home.
• Make sure that all medications are clearly labeled and are not expired!  Throw away all expired medications.  Remind your loved one to keep all medications in one easy to locate location in a container that can accommodate multiple prescription bottles.  Your loved one should bring her medications with her in their original containers to doctor appointments and any emergency room visit if at all possible.  If that is not practical, carefully type a list of all medications.  Be sure to include the following:

Name of medication exactly as it appears on the bottle

Dose of medication

Number of times the medication is to be taken each day 

How many hours between doses

Route of medication (is it taken orally?  rubbed on the skin?  rectal suppository?  injection?)

Prescribing doctor

Expiration date

• Make sure that all small appliances (toasters, hair dryers, etc.) are all in proper working order without frayed electric cords.  Replace any frayed electric cords immediately!
• Check out devices that will make your loved one’s tasks easier.  There are many assistive devices available to make turning knobs, opening containers, and picking up small objects much easier.
• Is your loved one having a hard time hearing the phone?  Check out equipment that will make it easier for her to know that you are trying to call!
• Purchase an alert system that your loved one can wear at all times in the event of a fall, medical emergency, or accident.
• Develop an emergency plan with your loved one that can be implemented if an emergency occurs.  Post the emergency plan in easy to read, large font next to each telephone in the house and on the refrigerator.  Review the plan on a regular basis with your loved one and any caregivers who are assisting her.  

Tags: elder proofing, fall prevention, safety for elderly, senior living at home, senior safety