When my parents moved into a retirement community, I was surprised and disappointed that the controls for the stove were behind the burners. Burns are a common injury for seniors.
I was a bit amused when a friend of mine told me years ago that his 90 year old father had climbed up on his roof to do something like clean out the gutters. I admired his spunk but saw how terribly dangerous that was. Falls and accidents that may cause little harm for a younger person can be a life altering injury for a senior.
Common household appliances and arrangements in the senior’s physical environment often need to be re-evaluated, and an honest discussion with a senior about his/her physical limitations often needs to occur.
I looked through many safety checklists on the internet and chose the one below because it was the only one I found that included awareness of where your pet is, which I discussed in Part 1. The following is from http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/falls/fallprev4.pdf.
SAFETY CHECKLIST
INTERIOR
Floors
Small rugs are tacked down or slip-resistant
Flooring (rugs, tile, boards) in good repair
Cords are not stretched across pathways or under rugs
Door sills are low
Sleeping dogs are out of pathways
Exits, halls, and pathways are kept clear
Lighting
Exits, halls, and pathways are well lit [while we are encouraged to use smaller watt bulbs to save energy, seniors should use brighter bulbs for safety]
Lights can be turned on before going through a dark area
Night lights are used (hallways, bedroom, bath)
A working flashlight in case of power outage
Stairways are well lit
There is a light or light switch within reach of the bed [and possibly a “clapper” to turn on light by clapping]
Phone
There is a working phone [landline or cell phone] to call for emergency help [in different rooms – and take that cell phone with you when you leave the house or work in your yard]
They are aware of Lifeline/Alert link [and have one if risk factors exist]
There is a phone by the bed [I put my cell phone on my bedside table]
Emergency numbers are posted and can be seen [911 has made this easier]
Stairs [including cellar and attic]
Have secure handrails from top to bottom
Steps and their coverings are in good condition
Steps have non-skid surface
Steps are even to allow sure footing
Items are not stored on steps, even temporarily
Bathroom
Bathtubs and showers equipped with non-skid rubber mats or surfaces
Bathtub and showers have at least one grab bar
A shower chair is used
[Means to get on and off toilet safely]
[Footwear
I find that running or walking shoes provide more stability than other shoes - with velcro closure or you can remove laces, as I often do, for on and off convenience when in your home
Avoid slippers or “flip flops” that come off too easily]
Other websites with more comprehensive safety checklists can be found at:
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/services/aging/HomeSafety.html
http://assets.aarp.org/external_sites/caregiving/checklists/checklist_homeSafety.html
http://www.workingcaregiver.com/print/articles*safetytips*homesafetytips**
http://www.afb.org/seniorsite.asp?SectionID=65&TopicID=400
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