HOME CARE SAFETY FOR SENIORS

Mass Senior is sponsoring the issue of Home Safety by urging our City ,
State and Federal legislators
to remind all of our citizens of the obligation to ensure the Independence with a proclamation
Declaring July Home Safety Awareness Month
GIVE SENIORS THE CHOICE OF HOME OVER NURSING HOMES

One-third of all injuries in the United States happen accidentally, at home. Seniors over the age of 70
are among the highest risk group of unintentional home injury, both fatal and non-fatal.
“Seniors over the age of 80 are twenty times more likely (than the younger generation)
to have an accident at home turn deadly,
“Just like you baby proof your home for an infant, you must take extra
steps to provide a save home environment for your elderly loved one.
This isn’t difficult but often times it takes a trained eye to recognize
danger zones for the elderly; that’s how our caregivers can help.
Top Five Leading Causes of Senior, Accidental Home Injury Death are,
1. Falls; 2. Fire/Burn;3.Poisoning; 4. Natural/Environmental (such as extreme heat/cold or a natural disaster);5. Choking/Suffocation
Falls alone account for 52.5 percent of all home injury deaths for adults age 65-74.
That percentage spikes by more than 25 percent for seniors age 85 and older. Below
are some vital tips to follow to prevent your senior from taking a fall in or around the home:
n Have handrails on BOTH sides of stairs and grab bars in bathrooms.
n 1/3 of households in America with stairs DO NOT have banisters or handrails.
n Only 19 percent of households in America have grab bars in tubs/showers.
n Have a lot of light at the top and bottom of stairs. Also, keep hallways well lit.
n Paint the bottom basement step white to make it more visible.
n Secure rugs to the floor to prevent tripping.
n Outside – be sure to check steps and walkways for loose bricks, cement or stone.
Fire/Burn Prevention:
n Always stay in the kitchen while cooking. And, roll up your sleeves when cooking/baking.
n Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels or curtains, at least three feet from the range.
n Test fire alarms monthly. Install fire alarms on every level of your home, specifically near or inside all bedrooms.
n Consider having a fire sprinkler system installed in your home.
n Keep outside grills at least 10 feet away from the house and any bushes.
n Keep space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn.
n Have chimneys, fireplaces, stoves and central furnaces inspected once a year. Clean as needed
.Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace.
n Keep your water heater set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember, seniors have
thinner skin than middle-aged adults and can burn more easily.
“Studies show that seniors would much rather live at home versus in a nursing home
, so home safety is the key to accident prevention,
. “Sometimes seniors may take offense if family members try to
safety proof their home.
That’s why it often makes sense to bring in a third party, like a professional caregiver,
to make changes so there are no hard feelings in the family.”

Assisted Living and Health Center for Elderly

Seniors Guide Online Unveils Social Media Resources For Seniors and Marketing Professionals
PRWeb Thu, 12 May 2011 06:13 AM PDT
Seniors Guide Online, the leading online and print resource for senior retirement housing options, home health care, senior products and services is now participating in several social media platforms. Baby boomers and seniors alike will find Seniors Guideâs Twitter @SeniorsGuide , Facebook.com/SeniorsGuideOnline and YouTube.com/SeniorsGuideOnline fun to follow and watch. (PRWeb May 12, 2011 ...





San Francisco Senior Center Receives Grant to Help Local Seniors
Marketwire Wed, 11 May 2011 14:09 PM PDT
SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - May 11, 2011) - As part of a $10,000 grant from The Home Instead Senior Care Foundation, San Francisco Senior Center will support its Homecoming Transitional Care Program (HTCP). Each year, the HTCP provides services to more than 200 low-income, isolated seniors and people with disabilities who need hospital-to-home transitional care that includes case management ...















See more health stories that match my keyword