A guide to help senior citizens stay safe at home

A guide to help senior citizens stay safe at home

That’s why it’s super important to make sure your loved one is safe in their home. There are many things you can do to help them stay safe at home, like making sure there are no loose rugs or cords on the floor and putting non-slip mats in the bathtub. Make sure they’re wearing shoes with good traction when walking around outside too!

These simple changes could help keep your senior loved ones safe this winter!

Did you know that most accidents happen at home?

Those accidents account for a lot of injuries and fatalities every year, but there are some easy ways to prevent them from happening at all. You should take a look at your loved one’s house and make sure there aren’t any rugs or cords lying around. If you have stairs in the home, make sure they’re extra safe by installing handrails and non-slip mats on each step.

A guide to help senior citizens stay safe at home

Make sure their shoes have good traction if they ever need to go outside too! This will help them stay safe in any weather condition.

There are so many ways to keep seniors safe these days, but most accidents happen in the home. The best thing you can do is look for potential dangers and prevent them from happening at all! It’s also important to keep track of your loved one if they’re living alone. Make sure you know where they are at all times and always ask them if they need help with anything.

Did you know that most accidents happen in the home?

That’s why it’s so important to make sure your loved ones are safe inside their own house! Of course, there are many things you can do to make sure they stay safe, like making sure there aren’t any rugs or cords lying around or putting non-slip mats on each step of the stairs for extra safety. You should also check their shoes for good traction before letting them go outside too! This will help protect them no matter what the weather is outside.

Most accidents happen in the home, which is why you should always keep a look out for potential dangers and take action before they ever happen. If your loved ones live alone, it’s also important to make sure you know where they are at all times. Always ask them if they need help with anything too!

That’s why it’s so important to make sure your home is as safe as possible for your senior loved ones. There are a lot of things you can do to help them stay safe, like making sure there aren’t any rugs or cords laying around that could trip them up. You should also install non-slip mats in the bathtub and on each step of the stairs if they have any! If they need to go outside, check their shoes for good traction before letting them go too.

Of course, most accidents happen at home. This means you should always take action before anything ever happens to keep your loved ones safe inside their home. If your loved ones live alone, it’s also important to know where they are at all times. Ask them if they need help with anything too!

Conclusion paragraph

We want to help you keep your loved ones safe this winter. If you or someone you know is a senior citizen, please check out our guide for staying safe at home! It’s full of helpful tips and tricks so that everyone can enjoy the season without worrying about getting hurt.

Considerations When Choosing a Home Care Service Provider

Considerations When Choosing a Home Care Service Provider

When it comes to hiring a home care service provider, there are many factors you need to consider. The most important factor is whether or not the agency can provide the type of care that your loved one needs.

If you’re just looking for someone who will sit with your loved one and watch TV all day, then any agency might do.

But if you want caring professionals who understand the effects of dementia on an individual’s behavior, then it’s best to choose an agency that specializes in memory care services. Here are some other things to keep in mind when choosing a home care service provider:

Experience

It is always better to hire an experienced professional than someone new because they have more knowledge about how best to serve people living with certain conditions.

Home Care Service Provider

Knowledge and Skills

A home care service provider should have the knowledge and skills to provide the type of care that your loved one needs. For example, if you need someone who can administer daily injections or give prescribed medication, make sure the agency provides this type of care.

Services Provided

The home care service provider should be able to provide a wide range of different services such as personal care, companionship, transfer assistance, etc. It is important to ask what types of services they offer because depending on your loved one’s condition and preferences in living arrangements, he/she may need certain types of care over others.

If the agency only offers toileting and bathing for instance then this may not meet all of your loved one’s needs and he/she may require an alternative living arrangement.

Staffing Levels

This is a little more complicated than most people realize because staffing levels can be different depending on the specific state regulations.

In some states, for example, nursing care requires that there is at least 1 caregiver per 5 residents whereas other states such as California only require one caregiver per 8-12 residents.

The reason this matters is because sometimes what you need most from a provider is help with daily tasks such as bathing and toileting and if they have enough staff to provide these types of services then this meets your loved one’s needs.

On the other hand, if your loved one needs more specialized servicessuch as IV medication administration), it may be more important for them to have 1 caregiver per 2-4 residents.

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Caregiver Quality and Satisfaction

This is a major factor in determining if your loved one will get the quality of care he/she deserves.

A home care service provider with many satisfied clients can provide you with references, which may make it easier for you to choose an agency. Ask about their caregiver screening process and how they maintain high standards when hiring new caregivers.

Staff Communication Skills

Your loved one’s caregiver should communicate well (be able to clearly explain what they’re doing at any given time). They should also be able to answer any questions that you or your loved one might have about their condition and the services they provide.

Safety and Security

This is a major concern for people who choose home care service providers. It’s important to make sure the agency you choose has strict policies in place when it comes to protecting your loved one’s safety, especially if he/she lives alone or with someone else.

Ask the agency what they do to ensure their clients are safe at all times. Also ask if they have video cameras installed in common areas of their homes to monitor activity at all times.

Be wary of agencies that don’t take many precautions because this could be an indication that something is wrong or not quite right with how they operate.

Training Opportunities

Your loved one’s caregiver should always be learning new skills through on-going education and training.

A home care service provider with a very small staff or one that never offers caregiver training may not be the best choice for your loved one’s condition(s) because in order to provide quality services caregivers need to have up-to-date knowledge about how best to serve people living with certain conditions.

Resources

Ask if they have all of the equipment, supplies, medications, etc., your loved one needs when they are providing their services. Also ask what referrals are available in case he/she needs additional assistance from outside agencies with specialized services like physical therapy or wound care.

It is especially important that your loved one has everything he/she needs when you’re not there (and you’re the primary caregiver).

Location

This refers to how close the agency is located to where your loved one lives. Also, it’s worth mentioning that some agencies have more than one location which might suit you or your loved one better.

Make sure that you know what locations are available before making a final decision about which agency to choose because if their service area isn’t convenient for you then this may not be the best choice for your family.

Administrative Support

Find out how much time their administrative staff spends helping clients versus how much time they spend doing clerical tasks such as filing paperwork or keeping track of billing information.

If most of their time is spent on things other than actually providing direct services then this could indicate that they’re not running a good operation. A good agency will have a small administrative staff that does most of its work behind the scenes in order to serve clients better.

Personalized Care

You or your loved one should be able to request specific kinds of care from their caregiver(s). For example, if you want them to do certain exercises with your loved one then they should all be willing and able to accommodate this type of request.

Client/Caregiver Interaction

This means caregivers treat their clients with respect at all times, understand what’s expected during visits, follow policies and procedures they’ve been given by the home care service provider, etc.

Availability for Emergencies

When making arrangements for home care services it’s best to choose an agency that has 24/7 availability in case of emergencies or when they’re needed outside of their normal hours.

References

Ask for references and contact information from families who have used their services recently. This is especially important if you want recommendations from former clients because they will typically be more than happy to share details about the care they received and any problems or complaints they had which may help you make a more informed decision about how best to serve your loved one’s needs.

Once you speak with these people ask them questions like

  • What type(s) of services did you get?
  • How were the caregivers?
  • Did anything go wrong during visits?
  • Was there ever a time when it was difficult reaching their staff members? If something like this happened would they be willing to let you know on the record?

After your first conversation with these people follow up with a phone call or email asking if they can answer any more questions. This will help you get as much information from them as possible so that making the best choice for your loved one is easy.

These are just some of the things you should find out before hiring a home care service provider to take care of a family member, friend or loved one who needs assistance with daily living activities because being well informed will help ensure that it’s truly the best choice for everyone involved.

Conclusion paragraph

The most important factor when choosing a home care service provider is whether or not the agency can provide the type of care your loved one needs. If you’re looking for someone who will sit with your loved one all day and watch TV, then any agency might be okay.

But if you want caring professionals who understand dementia’s effects on behavior, it’s best to choose an agency that specializes in memory care services like ours does. It may cost more than some other agencies but we think it’s worth every penny!

Home health care agencies – Senior safety tips for the home

Home health care agencies – Senior safety tips for the home

Many seniors are living independently in their homes, which is a great way to maintain independence and avoid the cost of assisted living. But there are some safety risks that have been known to cause serious injury or death. Here’s how home health care agencies can help senior citizens stay safe at home.

(A) Home health care agencies offer a variety of services including medication reminders, meal preparation, transportation for appointments and errands as well as personal hygiene assistance such as hair washing and dressing for those who need more support with these activities. These services can be scheduled on an hourly basis or by the day with rates determined by level of service needed (i.e., light housekeeping).

(B) Some additional safety precautions you might want to consider are: Have a professionally installed quality Emergency Alert system in the home. These systems can be worn on a wristband or pendant, while some models use fall detectors that will automatically send emergency responders to your location when you have fallen and cannot get up.

Home health care agencies

  • Put special locks or latches on all cabinets where medications are kept to keep them away from children and pets.  Make sure everyone in the house knows where these locks are located so they too can take medications responsibly.
  • Place signs by doorways leading outside advising family members not to leave doors open for people who might be tempted to walk out without thinking about it, including children playing outside or neighbors visiting who may enter through an unlocked door.
  • Reposition the stove and other appliances that could cause a fire if they should fall against or become entangled with anything.
  • Test your home smoke alarms monthly and replace batteries at least once every year, since older batteries typically don’t last as long.
  • Install sturdy handrails on both sides of staircases for safety when going up and down stairs.

(C) Home health care agencies can also provide in-home physical therapy which is especially helpful for individuals who’ve had an injury, surgery, stroke or loss of strength in their limbs. A highly trained therapist can show you exercises to improve balance (a key factor in avoiding falls), walking ability (important for preventing loss of mobility  and fracture). The therapist may also teach you deep breathing techniques to reduce the effects of chronic illness such as COPD, asthma and congestive heart failure.

(D) Another safety measure you can take is to modify a bathroom, bedroom or any other area that could present a hazard due to a slip or fall. Here are some ways these areas can be made safer: Install grab bars next to where you enter and exit the tub, shower and toilet. This will provide support for those who have trouble getting up from a sitting position. Place non-slip mats in both the bathtub and shower floor. If your home lacks sufficient lighting in dark hallways or staircases consider installing night lights throughout the house so there’s no need to turn on overhead lights at night. Place handrails next to both sides of the bathtub and shower. Install treads on steps so they don’t get slick when wet.

(E) To help you get around your home, consider getting an elevated toilet seat or one that has bars attached so it is easier to get up from the toilet. You might also want to use a raised toilet bowl if you have arthritis in your knees, which makes it difficult for you to sit down and stand up easily off the regular-size bowl.

(F) Lastly, although seniors can live safely at home with all of these safety precautions, sometimes bad things happen no matter what we do. That’s why having a plan in place  to manage a crisis  or emergency situation is so important. The Red Cross offers a FREE app called First Aid that you can download to your cell phone or tablet that may be helpful in an emergency. There are also many other resources available online that offer additional information on emergencies, what to do ahead of time and how to get help if it’s needed, for example:

Know the Signs – Emergency Preparedness  – CDC Senior Safety Center

So there’s no need to live “in fear” about staying at home when aging parents or loved ones are getting older. A little planning ahead of time can go along way towards keeping everyone safe and secure…just the way they deserve!

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The Senior Safety Center  is a one-stop source of information on medical and non-medical products and services that can help older adults remain safely in their homes. The Center offers a website with downloadable reports on more than 200 different medical conditions, along with an extensive list of videos from experts about those specific diseases or conditions.

The site also has reports for caregivers as well as home safety guides. In addition to the free-of-charge information available online, the Center publishes Consumer Reports on Health , which summarizes some of the best product reviews covering health care and safety issues compiled by its editors.

This is another great resource specifically designed for older adults and caregivers – all at no cost! If you know someone who has a hearing loss, Over-the-Phone Interpretation Services  (OPI) may be helpful. OPI is a service through the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that provides free telephone interpreting services for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Visit their website to check out this important resource.

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Aging Parents and Safety

5 Ways to Protect Your Loved Ones This article from The Senior List outlines five steps you can take to help your aging parents maintain their independence and remain safe! I am including them here in case you don’t have time to read the full article which is filled with more great tips about how families can work together ensure everyone’s safety.

AARP – Aging at Home Ramps, Handrails, Stairlifts, Wheelchair Lifts, Walk-In Bathtubs and More. Everything you need to “age in place” at home! Check out this article from AARP. It offers a ton of valuable information about products and services that can help older adults remain safe in their homes.

For example, they have a list of five handrails designed to assist seniors whose hands shake when holding on to a standard rail. In addition, AARP shows seven types of stairlifts that may help your aging loved ones climb stairs more easily or safely if they have difficulty going up and down stairs.

The article also shows you how to choose a walk-in tub that will make taking a bath or shower much easier for someone who is weak, unsteady on their feet, has trouble bending over at the waist to bathe or can’t step into a standard tub. Plus, they have a great list of eight common household items that can help prevent falls in the home which is a major cause of injury and death for older adults.

The Senior Centers  help older adults find services to support their wellness goals. Some centers have experts on hand who can answer questions about aging parents, financial options, caregiving issues, long-term care/assisted living, legal concerns or even how to cook healthy meals at home.

In addition, some senior centers offer educational programs such as yoga classes or cooking demonstrations. Not only are these events great opportunities to meet new people in your area but they may also provide additional information on how to deal with any safety concerns you may have.

For example, some of the events may include sessions on falls prevention or home safety inspections. It’s definitely worth checking out what your local senior center has to offer and attending one of their community events as soon as possible!

What safety measures should be taken at home?

In general, making a few simple changes at home can go a long way in keeping your loved ones safe and independent for as long as possible. For example, you can check all water lines leading to the toilet or kitchen sink on a regular basis to make sure they are free of leaks.

Also, it’s important to be aware of any ongoing repairs nearby which may cause excess dust to enter the air ducts causing respiratory problems for someone who already struggles with breathing related issues such as COPD or asthma . You should also remove throw rugs that could slide out from under someone.

According to Home Safety Checklist , some other safety tips may include:

Walking safely by using assistive devices like walkers, canes, or raised toilet seats.

Moving around your home safely by using safe lighting, non-slip mats in the tub or shower and rubber handrails on staircases

Going up and down stairs safely by installing sturdy handrails on both sides of the staircase

Getting dressed safely by purchasing clothes that are easy to put on and remove

What do elderly need the most?

According to the article Elderly People Need More Help in Caring for Themselves , such products and services may include:

Assistive devices that help with daily living, such as walkers, shower chairs, raised toilet seats or heating pads that provide warmth without requiring someone to move from a cool spot on the couch.

Home modifications like ramps instead of steps leading up to the front door or handrails along hallways so they can go more places unassisted.

Medical equipment like bedside commodes which are used during nighttime hours when toileting is necessary but getting out of bed is not an option.

Personal emergency response systems which allow them to live independently by pressing a button on their wristwatch if they need assistance with anything such as getting up from the couch or going to the bathroom at night.

Home care services which include visiting nurses, personal care assistants and caregivers who can help with cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping and laundry in order to free up some of your loved ones’ time so they can focus on enjoying their hobbies and socializing with friends when possible.

Community resources that provide transportation to doctor’s appointments for older adults who may no longer be able to drive themselves around town.

These products and services are just a few examples of what your loved one might need in order to maintain their independence and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. However, sometimes all it takes is a little bit of patience and creativity in order to come up with solutions that will help them maintain their independence for as long as possible.

For example, if they no longer feel safe using the stairs in their home, you can look into installing a chairlift to help them get up and down more easily. If they struggle with hand coordination or arthritis, consider buying low-vision products which will make it easier for them to prepare meals without worrying about cutting themselves while cooking.

Conclusion paragraph

The safety of seniors at home is often overlooked, but it’s very important. Home health care agencies can offer a number of services to help you stay safe and independent in your own home. These tips from the experts will hopefully help offset some of the risks that come with living independently as an older adult. If you’re looking for more information on how we may be able to support you or your loved one, please don’t hesitate to schedule a complimentary consultation today!