Keeping seniors safe at home is a huge issue and many families worry because they feel as if they face that problem alone. A safe living environment reduces the risk of accidents and injuries, including falls. There are a lot of different reasons seniors might have more trouble with safety at home as their health issues change. Being proactive about safety can address issues before they become a true concern. Home care assistance can be a huge help as family caregivers try to keep seniors as safe as possible.
Risks Associated with Aging in Place
Aging brings a lot of challenges like decreased mobility, vision changes, and cognitive issues. All of these can increase the risk of accidents at home. Seniors need to be aware of the risks related to falls, fire hazards, and medication side effects. Home care providers can help families to stay on top of all of these issues so that they have less of an impact.
Fall Prevention for Seniors
Preventing falls involves a variety of techniques. Clearing clutter and removing obstacles is one of the easiest first steps families can take. Adding brighter lighting by either adding new light fixtures or brighter bulbs also helps. It’s especially important to check lighting in bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, and stairways. If there are existing handrails anywhere in the house, they need to be secured to the wall. New handrails can go in bathrooms, hallways, and anywhere else they might help prevent a fall.
Assistive Devices
Using assistive devices significantly helps seniors be safer. That doesn’t mean that seniors get excited about needing a cane or a walker, though. Mobility aids help aging adults move safely through their homes as long as they’re used properly. Elder care providers can help seniors to remember to use assistive devices consistently and properly. Technology, like wearable devices, can also help seniors to stay connected to family members and emergency services.
Home Safety Assessments
Home care providers understand a lot about keeping seniors safe. They can also very quickly recognize potential hazards and problems that could lead to injuries. Doing these home safety assessments regularly ensures that families can stay on top of the changes that naturally occur in seniors’ homes.
Education and Practicing Safety
Sometimes what seniors and families need most is education about being safer at home. Seniors often don’t know how they can make some changes themselves that can keep them safer as they age in place. Knowing as much as possible about issues like medication side effects, fire safety, and fire prevention helps seniors to have the information they need to make better choices.
Finding Resources to Help
Home care assistance can also help families find other resources and support that they might need. Many communities offer home safety programs that can modify homes for seniors to help them be safer. Knowing where to go for that assistance is half the battle.
Creating a safe environment at home is a big part of helping seniors to stay independent and avoid accidents. Home care assistance offers valuable support in so many areas related to senior safety at home, ensuring they can age in place confidently.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care assistance in Suwanee, GA, and the surrounding areas. Call (770) 965-4004 for more information.
We provide elder care in Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Oakwood, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Barrow County, Forsyth County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Jackson County, North Fulton County.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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