Wednesday, December 09, 2015

By John Voket In this second segment of two, I dig deeper into the Home Instead Senior Care® network home safety checklist for seniors and others planning to "age in place."

In the first segment, we learned that according to ER doctors across North America, bathrooms produce the most (69 percent) senior home-related falls and related accidents (56 percent in Canada). So the Home Instead report suggests taking a good look at seven things in your aging in place loved one's bathroom:

1. Loose towel and curtain rods could be a sign that an older adult is grabbing on to these for support. Adding grab bars near shower/tub units and the toilet can help prevent falls and other accidents.

2. Add a rubber mat or adhesive non-stick decals to the bottom of a tub. Check online or at a bathroom or discount store to find what you need.

3. If the bathtub is too high, such as a claw foot tub or antique tub, add a tub transfer bench. Check online or at a medical supply store for various options.

4. Add a raised toilet seat for stools that are too low. Contact a plumber about installing a lower profile stool if your senior’s toilet is too high.

5. Set the water thermostat to 120 degrees F so the water in the shower and sink faucet does not exceed dangerous or uncomfortable levels. Another good idea is to make sure the hot- and cold-water faucets are clearly labeled. Painting parts of them red or blue will help distinguish them.

6. Make sure medications are stored in cabinets that are easy to reach. If the cabinet is too high, an older adult might have problems reaching into it. If it is too low, the senior could have trouble bending down to find the medication. Consider a medication organizer for pills that can be set on a counter top or shelf.

7. Perhaps your senior could use assistance at home if the effects of aging are making personal care difficult.

Since 100  percent of the emergency physicians agreed a senior is less safe living alone than if they are visited regularly by a trained caregiver, a non-medical in-home care company may provide just the support needed to keep an older adult independent for as long as possible.

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