Most seniors are so attached to their home that they are reluctant to leave under any circumstances, but this attachment comes at a cost. More seniors are injured and have debilitating falls in their own home than any other location. At Sunrise, we are experts in creating living environments that reflect the safety requirements of seniors. Many of our practices are easily adaptable to individual residences. Get a piece of paper and pencil, and walk around your house, looking for areas where you can make small improvements that might help prevent a fall. Start with these points in mind.
Bathrooms
The bathroom is an area of special concern because it can be slippery.
- Our practice is to install well-anchored grab bars near the tub, shower and toilet.
- You should also use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
- You might also consider purchasing a bath seat, which allows a person to take a shower sitting down. These are often installed with a hand-held showerhead.
Living Areas
At Sunrise, we make sure that our living areas are well lit and free of clutter.
- We never let papers, magazines or books to accumulate on the floor.
- Electrical cords are always routed away from pathways.
- Spills are cleaned up immediately.
- We don’t use scatter rugs.
- We make sure that there are solid handrails on both sides of our stairways.
Bedrooms
People spend more time in the bedroom than in any other place in the home, so taking precautions here is particularly important.
- It is a good practice to have a lamp close to the bed where it is easy to reach.
- Our suites are equipped with nightlights so residents can see where they are walking after dark.
Your Safety Inventory
Making a few simple changes can go a long way toward increasing your loved one’s ability to live at home without serious accident. For your peace of mind and their security, it only makes sense to take a safety inventory of their home.
Web Resource
The Center for Injury Prevention and Control, part of the Centers for Disease Control, offers a helpful brochure that contains many specific suggestions to prevent falls at home: www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/pubs/English/booklet_Eng_desktop-a.pdf