HOME SAFETY be eliminated.Tape area rugs to the floor. Commercially available carpet tape will help ensure the rug stays down This month is national safety and lessens the opportunity to month, a good time to remind trip. Keep heating ducts free us that there are always from clutter. Space heaters steps we can take to improve should be at least 3 feet from our well-being and lessen anything in their vicinity and the chance of an accident never be left unattended. happening. This is particularly Seniors are particularly true as we age. According to vulnerable to burns due to the CDC, every 20 minutes skin changes and decreased an older adult dies as the sensation as we age. Set your result of a fall. As we age it hot water heater no higher is important to proactively than 120 degrees. Use heating take a fresh look at our pads with extreme caution, homes and habits, and make on lowest settings. Outfit your modifications to improve bathroom with grab bars safety. Environmental factors in the tub, and by the toilet. account for approximately Ensure all steps and stairways one-half of all falls at home. have solid railings. A home While seniors may resist safety assessment can identify making certain changes, the many risks and suggest importance of doing so cannot modifications to put in place be emphasized enough. The before accidents happen. steep stairs that we skipped Many free checklists are down at age 30 take on a available online. A room-bywhole new dimension and room home safety assessment risk at 65. can be found at: https://www. First, let’s start with the basics. seniorsafetyreviews.com/. Good lighting is essential, particularly in hallways and bathrooms. Install nightlights or motion sensor devices to lessen fall risk. Keep up on vision care with regular eye exams. Wear solid, nonskid footwear.Wearing only socks or going barefoot increases the likelihood of a slip and fall. Throw rugs are potential hazards and should Submitted by Patricia Avery, Caregiver Resource Center Program Coordinator
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Extension Connection
June 2022
Technology assists in many ways to keep us safe at and away from home. A Personal Emergency Response System is a tool that enables a person to summon help at home in the event of an emergency. The Office for the Aging’s EISEP program may provide or help with the cost of a PERS. Call (845) 807-0241 for information. Smartwatches include GPS systems which can be invaluable if a senior becomes lost or wanders. Google home or similar devices enable lights and TV to be turned on with a voice command. Use a portable or cellular phone for easy access, eliminating the dash to answer the phone and subsequent fall in the process. Driving safely can present special challenges for seniors. Changes in vision, slowed reaction time, reduced mobility, and cognitive difficulties all can result in unsafe driving. A friend tells the story of his family’s recognition it was time for Dad to stop driving. Dad had driven the wrong way on a one-way exit ramp and was met with many angry drivers. He was oblivious to the fact he was in the wrong lane and commented that people were being very friendly and waving at him as he exited the mall. Mom explained that yes, they were waving,
