Safety Tips for Senior Citizens

Preventing Falls in the Home

Falls can occur at any age, but the rates of injury and death resulting from falls are greatest among seniors. This can happen because of changes in muscle and bone strength, vision, hearing, and coordination that take place with aging. Seniors are also more likely to have other health conditions and use more medications. These factors can affect balance and coordination. Falls can limit the ability to lead an active, independent life. But there are steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of falls.

The following are guidelines you can use to make your home safer:

Bathroom:

* Apply non-skid appliques on tub and shower floors.

* Install grab bars in tub and around toilet. Consider a shower chair.

* Avoid throw rugs or tack rugs down securely with double sided tape.

* Keep bathroom well lighted.

All Areas:

* Contrast in paint, furniture and carpet colors is helpful.

* Ensure that stairways have sturdy handrails.

* Keep halls, stairways, and pathways well lighted and free of clutter and obstacles. Keep walk areas clear.

* Apply slip strips on the edges of steps to reduce slick stair surfaces.

* Remove throw rugs or tack down securely with double sided adhesive tape. Tape down carpet edges.

* Place electrical cords and telephone wires away from walking paths.

* Post emergency numbers at every telephone. Carry a portable phone.

Kitchen:

* Keep commonly used items within easy reach.

* Avoid using floor polish or wax to reduce slick surfaces on floors.

Bedroom:

* Keep a telephone and light within easy reach of the bed.

* Rise slowly from bed to sitting position. Dangle legs for a few minutes prior to standing and walking.

Outdoor Home Safety Measures:

* Keep walk areas clear of clutter, rocks and tools. Keep well lighted at night.

* Keep walkways clear of snow and ice.

* Make sure walkways are level, free of cracks, loose gravel, holes, and constructed with slip resistant materials.

Other Steps You Can Take To Reduce Your Risk Of A Fall:

* Have regular vision and hearing check-ups.

* Clean eye glasses often to improve visibility.

* Wear proper fitting, supportive shoes with low heels or rubber soles.

* A proper diet and moderate exercise are essential. Females need an adequate intake of calcium.

* Use walking aids when necessary.

* See your doctor for the diagnosis, management, and treatment of underlying diseases.

* Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the side effects of the medications you are taking.

Tips for Medication Safety:

1) Bring current prescription medications at least once a year to your

primary care doctor’s office and have them reviewed to verify that

each medication is still useful and appropriate, and to ensure that

the combination of medications is safe.

2) Store medications properly at home. Most people keep medications in

the bathroom medicine cabinet, where they can get damp and lose

potency. A dry place such as a kitchen cabinet or bedroom is a

better storage location as long as the medications are out of reach

of children or safely locked away.

3) Keep the appropriate medication in the correct bottle. Don’t mix

different medications in the same bottle to save space or for

traveling, for example.

4) Check medications several times a year to make sure they have not

expired.

5) Dispose of old and expired medications properly by flushing them down

a toilet. Don’t throw them in the trash where a child might find and

ingest them.

6) Develop a relationship with your local pharmacist to consult with

questions about the proper use of medications and possible drug

interactions. If you are using a mail order pharmacy, you can

consult with one of the pharmacists by phone.

7) For chronic conditions, find out if your benefit program offers a

mail order pharmacy for refills of medications used to treat them.

Mail service offers a number of attractive features for seniors, such

as:

* Safety. Because the mail service facility will have a record of

other prescriptions that you are taking, pharmacists can check

for potential drug interactions before a drug is dispensed.

* Cost savings. By ordering from mail service, seniors can

receive a 90-day supply of medications for treatments of

chronic conditions versus the typical 30-days supplied by local

retail pharmacies, thus saving money by having fewer co-pays

when prescriptions are filled.

* Convenience. Drugs can be ordered from the mail service

pharmacy by telephone, mail or online – a great convenience for

many seniors whose mobility may be limited.

Find out from your pharmacist or physician about the possibility of

taking generic drugs as opposed to brand-name drugs. A generic drug

that is deemed therapeutically equivalent to a brand-name drug may be

considerably more affordable.

9) Check with your health plan or pharmacy to see if they offer other

cost-saving opportunities such as discount cards for prescriptions or

over-the-counter medications at the local pharmacy.

10) Although it may appear to be an attractive way to save money, do not

order drugs from unknown Web sites. Order only from a Web site

through your own health plan or retail pharmacy that provides

password protection for its members. Unknown Internet pharmacies may

not be licensed or staffed by actual pharmacists, and there are no

guarantees that the medications will be effective, be the correct

dose, or even be the drug they are advertised to be.

Caregiver and Family tips:

1. Educate yourself about the disease. Read books, attend workshops and consult with healthcare professionals.
2. Learn caregiving techniques. Key areas are communication skills, safety concerns, and managing behavioral challenges and activities of daily living.
3. Understand the experience of your loved one. Adjust your expectations. Be patient and kind.
4. Avoid caregiver burnout. Make time for yourself. Join caregiver support groups. Pursue interests beyond your caregiving role, such as exercise, hobbies, journaling and art.
5. Maintain your own physical and mental health. Exercise, respite and other activities can reduce stress. Seek medical help if there are signs of depression.
6. Discuss the situation with family and friends. Support systems are critical.
7. Do cognitive stimulation activities with your loved one. Listening to music, word puzzles and memory games can easily be done at home.
8. Foster communication with physicians. Be involved in your loved one’s medical care. Ask questions about the progression of the disease, express concerns and discuss treatment options.
9. Take care of financial, legal and long-term care planning issues. Try to involve your loved one in decision-making, if they are still capable of providing input, and consider their wishes related to future care and end-of-life issues.
10. Smile. Kindness, humor and creativity are essential parts of caregiving. Hugs, hand massage and other gentle physical contact will help your loved one feel connected and loved.

Think positive. Focus on your loved one’s remaining strengths and enjoy your relationship while you are still able to.