Caregiver Support

These Resources Can Help Seniors From Falling

You’ve seen the commercials so much now that it’s almost cliche – “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.” By now, everyone knows how serious a fall can be to a senior. According to the CDC, 36 million falls are reported among seniors each year. One in five falls causes an injury, and over 32,000 seniors die annually as the result of a fall. And as great as services are that assist seniors after they fall, it would obviously be much better if the fall never happened.

Well, there is help. In Ohio, two organizations have a specific goal of preventing falls for seniors. A statewide program, SteadyU, is a program run by the Ohio Department of Aging. They emphasize reducing falls by paying attention to the “Three H’s” – your home, your health and your habits. They offer tips and assistance in avoiding falls. They also offer a Falls Risk Assessment, an anonymous questionnaire designed to determine your risk of having a fall.

In Southwest Ohio, the Falls Prevention Taskforce seeks to “reduce falls and fall-related injuries in older adults though community collaboration, awareness, education and effective interventions.” Over 20 groups and organizations throughout Southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Southeast Indiana help find ways to keep seniors safe from falls in their homes. They offer screening tools, news, classes – such as Tai Chi and yoga – that help with balance, and much more.

Though both resources are based in Ohio, the information and tools provided can help anyone!

In addition to these state resource, the CDC also publishes a Stay Independent Brochure with helpful tips and a risk assessment.

All of these resources are free, and could help prevent a fall. So be sure to check them out!

Phone Tips for Seniors

With telemarketing and phone scams becoming more and more prevalent every day, phone safety is of the utmost importance for seniors. Additionally, it is important for seniors living alone to keep in contact with friends and relatives in case or a fall or health emergency. Here are some tips for seniors when dealing with unwanted calls, as well as ways to look out for each other.

• Start a buddy system. You and a friend or relative can set a special time when you call each other every day. It’s an easy way to keep track of each other and make sure you’re safe.

• People who live alone, especially women, have the ability list only first and middle initials in the telephone directory to avoid calls from people making harassing calls.

• Use answering machines for your land line to keep potential burglars guessing about who’s home and who’s not. Women living alone may ask a male friend or relative to make the recording using your telephone number only.

Stop telephone scams by keeping these tips in mind:

• Never give our any personal information to anyone who calls you. If they do, ask for their phone number and tell them you will call them back. If they hang up you know they are scammers. If they give you a phone number, verify it (either online or look at a former statement from the company that claims to be calling you). Only after verifying the number should you feel safe giving any personal information over the phone.

• Hang up if a telemarketer or someone you don’t know calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.

• If you suspect a scam, call your State Attorney General. If you have been the victim of a scam, call the National Fraud Information Center at: 1-800-876-7060.

• Resist high pressure sales. True businesses will respect the word “no.”

• If you tell the seller not to call back and he does, hang up. That’s against the law!

• Be sure to get written information before you commit to anything.

When you’re out:

• Make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you expect to return.

• Carry change for emergency telephone and transportation use.

• Carry a shriek alarm.

• When using a bus or public transportation, sit as near the driver as possible.

Sources: Federal Trade Commission, Bellsouth, Senior Citizens Against Crime

Safety in the Home: Questions to Consider

As we get older, the need to remain safe in our homes increases, and steps need to be taken to make sure injury risks are kept to a minimum. With that in mind, here are questions you should ask to make sure your home is as safe as it can be.

Lighting

• Is the lighting adequate but not glare-producing?

• Are the light switches easy to reach and to turn on?

• Can lights be turned on before entering rooms?

• Are night-lights used in appropriate places?

Hazards

• Are there throw rugs, highly polished floors or other hazardous floor
coverings? If so, where?
Can they be removed or made less hazardous?

• Do area rugs have non slip backing and are the edges tacked to the floor?

• Are cords, clutter or other obstacles in the pathways?
If yes, can they be cleared?

• Are doorways wide enough to accommodate assistive devices?

• Do door thresholds create hazardous conditions?

• How does the person obtain objects from hard to reach places? (chairs can
be hazards)

Furniture

• Are chairs the right height and depth for the individual?

• Do chairs have arm rests?

• Are tables sturdy and will not tip if leaned on?

• Is small furniture placed away from pathways?

Stairways

• Are there light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs?

• Are there securely fastened handrails on both sides of stairs?

• Are all the steps even?

• Should colored tape be used to mark the edges of the steps, particularly
the top and bottom?

Bathroom

• Are grab bars placed appropriately for the tub and toilet?

• Does the tub have skid proof straps or a rubber mat in the bottom?

• Is there a tub or shower seat available?

• Can the shower head be replaced by a hand held shower head?

• Is the height of the toilet appropriate?

Bedroom

• Is the height of the bed appropriate?

• Is the mattress firm enough at the edges to provide enough support for
sitting?

• If the bed has wheels, are they locked securely?

• Would side rails be a help or a hazard?

• When side rails are down, are they completely out of the way?

• Is the pathway between bedroom and bathroom clear of objects and well
lighted at night?

• Would a bedside commode be useful, especially at night?

Kitchen

• Are storage areas used to the best advantage-e.g. frequently used objects in the most accessible places?

• Are appliance cords in good condition and out of the way?

• Are non slip mats used in front of the sink?

• Are the markings on stoves and other appliances clearly visible?

Emergency

• Is an emergency response system available (911)?

• Does the person know how and when to use it?

• Would a private emergency call service be helpful?

• Is the person’s vital information listed in a place where it would be
accessible in an emergency?

Temperature

• Is the temperature comfortable for the person?

• Can the person read the marking on the thermostat and adjust it?

• Is water temperature less than 110 Fahrenheit?

• During hot weather, is there adequate ventilation?

• During cold weather, is the furnace working properly?