Senior Safety Inside the Home

Your own home can be a dangerous place, especially once you get further in the years. The number of unintentional deaths within a residence continues to rise, and no home is truly safe.

Falls and Slips

Accidental falls are the number one cause of injury and death among seniors. Diminished musculature and weaker bones make seniors especially prone to injuries. 25 percent of seniors who fracture their hip from a fall succumb to the injuries and complications attributed to it within six months. Most of the accidental falls in homes occur in the bathroom. Make it safer by clearing clutter such as rugs and mats. They can trip your cane or slip from under you. Install grab bars and supports on one side of the wall leading to the toilet. You can also opt for a walk-in tub instead of the usual showers.

Suffocation

While most cases of suffocation in seniors involve food or other objects getting lodged into the respiratory tract, incidents of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning (which is more suffocation than poisoning) have been rising since the onset of winter. Just recently, close to 60 people were rushed to the hospital because of a broken boiler in a church. While this incident happened in Provo, Salt Lake City is no stranger to carbon monoxide-related emergencies. Get your furnace checked or repaired by a licensed technician and install CO monitors in specific rooms. As for food, cut portions into small pieces before taking a bite. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can sometimes lead to dysphagia or swallowing difficulties, so a nurse or relative should be around you when you’re eating.

Cases of poisoning are on the rise in Utah and across the country. These cases usually involve the ingestion of medication in large doses. Memory can be problematic, especially for seniors with Alzheimer’s. Taking mare than the daily dose of pills happens too often. Medication is specifically tailored and dosed and any deviance from the dosage can be harmful or deadly. Automated pill dispensers can keep track of medication and alert/remind seniors that they’ve already taken their pills for the day. Certain dispensers can even lock medication inside, releasing them only on a given schedule. 

Fire 

Fires are an ever-present risk in any community. Accidental fires are sudden and give no warning and the frail bodies and constitution of seniors make them more prone to the effects of an ongoing fire. The majority of fire deaths are attributed to smoke inhalation. Smoke from fires can limit vision, causing confusion and vertigo. Seniors with mobility problems already have problems navigating the world normally. Add smoke into the equation and it turns from difficult to deadly. Smoke alarms aren’t as effective for seniors – unless they’re hooked up to emergency services. Worn medical alert systems are safer. They allow seniors to immediately call for help regardless of the emergency with just a press of a button.

No home is accident-proof. Accidents will happen, but you can reduce their occurrence by taking measures that make your home safer.

You may like this

• 5 Ways to Prevent Falls in Seniors with Dementia
• Financial Tips for Seniors in Retirement
• The Benefits of Home Eldercare Services