Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine October 2016

10 HOME SAFETY TIPS EVERY SENIOR (AND THEIR FAMILIES) SHOULD KNOW By: Amber Bagwell CP Home Care More than 2.3 million home accidents involve seniors each year. As you age, you may have more limitations than you are used to. Declining vision, hearing, sense of touch and smell, bone density loss, loss of balance are some examples of what you or a loved one may experience while getting older. These factors increase the risk of injury inside the home. There are several things you can do to reduce the risk of injury for yourself or your loved one right now. Here are the top 10 home safety tips every senior and caregiver should know: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Remove all scatter rugs, repair frayed carpet, tape or tack down loose carpet edges. Arrange furniture to allow adequate space for safe walking between and within all rooms. When using oxygen, do not smoke or use an open flame. Do not overload circuits – unplug appliances when not in use. Wear close-fitting sleeves to prevent spills and burns that could happen with loose, long sleeves. 6. Clean up spills immediately. 7. Use a step stool or reacher to reach high shelves – do not stand on chairs or stools. 8. Place safety strips or a non-skid mat in bathtub/shower and install grab bars – do not use soap dishes or towel racks for support when sitting or standing. 9. Keep closet doors and drawers closed to prevent bruises or tripping. 10. Keep walking aids within reach and keep a nightlight on or flashlight within reach of your bed. While all of these tips are good to follow, you should also consider bringing in a trained home health care provider to help with making seniors more physically able to remain safe in their home. Treatment could include ambulation training with and without assistive devices on various surfaces and stairs, re-training in safe bath techniques and dressing in various positions as well as strengthening and balance training. All of these treatments can reduce the number of accidents that occur within the home. MOMENTUM / October 2016 25

Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine October 2016 | Page 25