Safety for the Elderly

Stay at home longer...safely.

One of the major issues facing the elderly is being safe within their homes, and while going about daily activities. If you are the child, or caregiver, of an elderly person, you may be concerned about your loved one’s safety.
As we age there are certain considerations that should be taken into account, when helping a senior remain safe. Because falls are one of the most serious challenges that the elderly can face, it becomes of paramount importance to do everything possible, to help prevent falls, and make sure that if the worst does happen, that help can be contacted and respond immediately.

Here is what you need to know about safety for the elderly-

• It is important to realize that mobility is an issue-Many seniors can continue to live independently, despite limited mobility. If your senior requires a mobility aid there are several types that are available. Providing a mobility aid, can help your loved one have the confidence, to move around their home, or other locations safely. These mobility aids can range from a simple cane or walker, to a rollater (a walker with wheels), depending on the mobility needs of your senior. When your senior has the right mobility aid they lesson the chance of falling and experiencing serious injury, or other complications that can occur, because of falls. Here are a wide selection of mobility aids you can check out  Their knowledgeable sales staff can help guide you through the process of choosing the right mobility aid for the senior in your life.

• It is important that realize that lighting can be crucial-For people who are getting older, eyesight can dim without any real noticeable difference, except at night. For many elderly, this presents a problem, either when trying to move around in the evening or after rising from bed during the night. Falls can then occur because of poor lighting. A simple remedy to this is to install motion sensor lighting that will activate as a person approaches. These lights can be installed to light an evening path to the bathroom, kitchen or any other place your senior will want to safely move to.

• It is important to realize that furniture placement is important-One of the most important steps in determining if your senior is safe, is to spend some time inside their home. Look around and see if there is furniture that blocks a potential path, loose rugs that can slip, or cords that can cause tripping. These are problems that are waiting to happen in the light of day, and become even more serious at night, if an elderly loved one is trying to get to the bathroom, or move around the home. Sometimes all that is needed is a simple furniture re-arrangement and some home maintenance in order to make a senior’s home safer.

• It is important to realize that simple tools can make a big difference-Perhaps your senior just needs a little help throughout the day. There are a variety of products that can make reaching an object, getting out of bed or a favorite chair, or taking care of oneself, much easier. These simple tools can include a reacher with a pincher hand for grasping objects, or a bedside handle or railing for help and security when standing. At Caregiverpartnership.com they offer a wide variety of daily living aids, to fit the needs of your senior and make their life safer.

• It is important to realize that you can ask for help. It can be overwhelming to try and determine exactly what your senior needs, in order to be safe in their home.  There is no other place that you can caregiver resources in one, convenient, easy to use place. Simply type in a keyword or phrase to find the information that you need. 

About The CareGiver Partnership. The CareGiver Partnership helps caregivers and their loved ones with answers to their caregiving questions, including information about home health care products and supplies, from our Wisconsin-based team of Product Specialists who are all current or former caregivers. The company’s Web site provides the largest online library of resources on subjects most important to caregivers — from arthritis to assisted living, and Parkinson’s to prostate cancer — as well as access to more than 3,000 home care products for incontinence, skin care, mobility, home safety and daily living aids. The CareGiver Partnership was founded in 2004 by Lynn Wilson of Neenah, Wisc. Visit http://www.caregiverpartnership.com to learn more or call 1-800-985-1353.