Make a home safer for senior citizens: Health Matters - cleveland.com

Q: What are some easy and inexpensive ways to make homes safer for seniors?

A: There are many things that can be done to help seniors avoid home accidents, such as decluttering, adding lighting and replacing doorknobs with levers.

It’s also a good idea to be ready for emergencies by drawing up a contacts list and keeping a flashlight by the bed.

Tips aimed at reducing the chance of falling are especially important, said Theresa Foster, director of aging and disability resource center of the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, which is based in Cleveland. It’s easy for older people to lose their balance and injure themselves, Foster said.

The Geauga County Department on Aging offers help to keep seniors safe at home, said director Jessica Boalt, by offering reduced-cost installation of bathroom grab bars, and smoke alarms, and gently used medical equipment.

Here are some ideas that don’t require remodeling or expensive equipment. They come from the Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging, the Geauga County Department on Aging and the AARP website.

Kitchen:

· If an older person is unable to use the stove due to physical or cognitive impairment, arrange for a meal delivery service, or ask family members to provide pre-prepared meals to warm in the microwave.

· Use a crock pot or countertop grill; they are less likely to start a cooking fire.

· If you are trying to keep a person with memory problems from using the stove, unplug the stove or remove burner knobs.

Living room:

· Use nonslip wax on floors.

· Put nonskid treads on steps.

· Take wheels off of chairs.

Bathroom:

· Install two or three grab bars in each bathroom.

· Use rubber-backed bathmats.

· Add textured, no-slip strips in the bathtub and shower.

· Replace the toilet with a raised or high-profile toilet.

· Put a waterproof seat or chair in the shower, or use a transfer bench that extends over the rim of the tub. A senior can sit on the dry end of the bench, then shift over to the portion of the bench that’s inside the tub. “You’re not stepping up and into a wet tub,” Foster said.

Clutter:

· Declutter to keep pathways clear.

· Don’t leave items on the stairs; put them where they belong.

· Pick up pet toys.

Doorknobs:

· Change doorknobs to levers that can be opened with an elbow or finger.

Entryways:

· Install door threshold entry ramps to eliminate steps or places where floors are uneven.

https://www.ezaccess.com/residential/door-threshold

Alarms:

· Seniors on medications that make them sleepy might not wake up to the smell of smoke from a fire. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.

· Check that existing alarms are working properly.

Trip hazards:

· Don’t allow extension cords to stretch across walkways.

· Get rid of throw rugs that can be a tripping hazard, or stick rugs securely to the floor with double-sided tape.

No “furniture walking”:

· This is the term when seniors lean or push against a sofa or table to be able to stand up or walk. This practice can cause falls. A walker should be used if extra stability is needed when walking or standing up.

Lighting:

· Be sure the routes from the bedroom to bathroom and kitchen are well-lighted.

· Keep a flashlight and phone by the bed.

· Use track lights positioned low on walls, or nightlights, to illuminate floors.

Contact List:

· Draw up an emergency contact list and share it with family, friends and neighbors.

· Post a copy of the contact list on the refrigerator, so it can be easily located in an emergency.

In her new column, patient advocacy writer Julie Washington will answer readers’ questions about navigating health-care systems. (She will not address individual treatments.) Your comments may be published in a future story. Send questions and comments for publication — including your name, city and daytime phone number — to jwashington@plaind.com. You can also find Julie on Twitter @JulieEWash.

Recent Health Matters columns by Julie Washington:

Pregnant women should get flu, whooping cough vaccines

Hospitals say leave meds at home; readers say otherwise

Where to get help paying your medical bill

Men’s risk of breast cancer is low, but mortality is high

Tips for a smooth transition to a skilled nursing facility

Backyard deer raise concerns about spread of disease

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Make a home safer for senior citizens: Health Matters - cleveland.com
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