An annual home safety inspection and risk assessment from a Certified Senior Home Safety Specialist ® is important to add to our calenders to keep up to date on home issues and changes we may not see that occur in our everyday routines as we age.
Physically, having a Senior Home Safety Assessment we may find several changes we can make dramatically and quickly and changes we can plan for over time within our homes and living spaces to adapt with us over time to meet our aging needs. These are safety changes that can be made based on the state of a person’s mental state or physical mobility or limitations.
Another important factor to consider in keeping seniors safely living at home is health assessments, physical activity and mobility. Keeping up with annual preventative health screenings are important as well as flexibility and strength in keeping active. Fear of falling is often just as dangerous as a burnt out lightbulb or those pesky throw rugs. Annual screenings of our health are important to plan ahead each year and get on the calendar.
These can include:
Annual eye exam to monitor vision changes that may cause falls.
Annual hearing tests that can affect balance and also cause falls.
Annual medication reviews with physician or gerontologist that can monitor any medication changes that may have interactions that can cause dizziness, balance issues, affect sleep.
Annual health visits and bloodwork that can monitor health problems like diabetes, blood pressure, neuropathy and osteoporosis. Bloodwork can also determine if infections are present.
Staying active doing exercises like walking or swim classes can keep our muscles and bones strong so that fractures may be mitigated if there is a fall. There are many gyms and specialty senior physical therapy programs and senior activity locations that have specific senior seated yoga to help with flexibility or balance classes to help maintain strength and posture as to avoid falling on uneven surfaces. There are also classes that teach Tai chi which is shown to also help with balance and coordination.
Staying active in itself is beneficial in maintaining heart health, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure and blood glucose levels. This can help avoid strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and cancer. Remaining as healthy as we can as we age helps us stay strong, balanced and mentally well.
Staying active safely is also important for many health benefits. If someone has neuropathy in their feet and has trouble feeling the ground, perhaps walking with a cane or walker may be safer. If someone has sustained an injury or has a weakness that makes them unstable, talking to a doctor about an aide or brace that may benefit by providing a proper positioning to be active despite a condition.
Sleep is very important to maintain health but also lack of sleep can cause sleepiness, dizziness and balance issues. Having a healthy sleep routine, such as less screen time or TV before or in bed, sleep hygiene, staying on a schedule and limiting or eliminating alcohol can help keep sleep patterns regular.
Finally, diet and hydration is important in maintaining a healthy and strong body. Diet can affect blood sugar or blood pressure if there is too much sugar or salt, which can in turn create dizziness. Falls are a major cause of seniors no longer being able to live in their homes and needing additional care in nursing facilities. Injuries from falls also create the same limitations to mobility which can downward spiral activity levels and create more health issues that we are all trying to avoid. Keep safely active and let's avoid those falls.
Age Safe ® America is a national organization that provides membership, training and updated good standing referrals for those Aging in Place professionals providing home safety evaluations to older adults. Senior Home Safety Specialists ® can be any medical or
non-medical professional working with aging individuals, including Physical Therapists, Care Managers, Firefighters, Interior Designers and Property Managers. Up to date Annual training is required to remain up to date on new protocols and safety needs within homes.
“Aging in Place” is a concept to plan ahead and accommodate homes prior to mobility or aging memory issues that allow us to postpone any nursing home care transitions as long as possible. This allows each individual to remain as independent and more importantly safe for as long as possible. This is important anywhere safety is concerned and seniors or aging individuals may be present, and that is EVERYWHERE!
Our own homes in preparation as we plan to retire and remain residents
Homes a senior or mobility impaired family member may be cared for
Places of employment of seniors
Mother-in-law quarters
Summer or Vacation Homes
No one wants to live in a nursing facility. We would all prefer to live comfortably in our own homes or the home of a family member. Making accommodations early to prevent prematurely needing additional care or safe living quarters all too often makes the transition less dramatic.
Mobility issues can sneak up on us with arthritis, slow loss of eyesight or hearing or vascular issues or they can knock us down much more quickly like a fall or a stroke that will need us searching for stability in hailrails, easy transitions to rooms or furniture or better lighting and less clutter.
Aging can also include memory issues and dementia. These require a different set of safety concerns and measures that involve judgment and decision making that can lead to additional physical injuries. Taking too much or the wrong medications, going through a wrong door and falling down stairs, leaving the stove on and setting fire to a home are examples that have solutions.
The broad scope of aging in place safely includes so many topics that include not just home modifications and remodeling suggestions like grab bars in the shower and removing throw rugs to avoid tripping and falling.
Regular home maintenance suggestions for things like HVAC maintenance, changing smoke detectors and batteries, cleaning chimneys and draining sediment from hot water heaters.
Remote home monitoring or Emergency Response Systems to alert Emergency services of a fall or medical emergency.
Referrals to vetted and insured handymen, contractors, home care providers, Financial Advisors, HME (home medical equipment) companies and interior designers that are familiar with safety needs and can add style.
Online safety and Elder Fraud Avoidance
It is well worth the assessment of a home or living space to become aware of some of the areas of concerns and find possible solutions to prepare for future goals and planning for Aging in Place.
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