Elderly Care: How to Correct the Top 3 Safety Issues

Safety Issues Related to Elderly Care

According Medicine.net, general safety measures both at home, and away from home are recommended and encouraged for seniors and their family members. However, confusion, medication errors, burns, poisoning, falls and injuries, and adherence to medical instructions  are among the concerns pertinent to elderly care.

Therefore, when opting to provide home care for your loved ones, it entails various safety considerations on the care giver’s part to ensure that you are not posing any threat to their health and safety. Due to the reduced sensitivity and lack of coordination/mobility, some elderly individuals may lack the capacity to assess their environment on whether it poses a hazard to them. Therefore, the responsibility lies mainly on the caregiver to modify and monitor the individual’s health and safety wellbeing.

About Safety Issues

When talking about safety issues involved in elderly care, it does not refer to the inefficiency nor incapacity on the part of the elderly care provider. Instead, it focuses on the reduced capacity of aging individuals to performing daily chores or activities independently. Therefore, providing assistance for an elderly individual to complete a task is extremely important not just to ensure that the task is accomplished but that they do it without harming themselves in the process.

Aside from the safety concerns within the house, you also need to consider their physical ability when navigating in the community. If you’re an older adult living on your own, or care for an older person living alone, here’s what you need to do to assist them with staying safe.

Safety on Medications

Most elderly individuals with in-home care take medications for certain health conditions that they are experiencing. Therefore, medication safety is a major concern when it comes to elderly home care. Here are some tips to avoid complication involved with medications

According to HealthinAging. org, a few tips related to medication are:

• Verify with your doctor when taking vitamins or other supplements along with other medications that the doctor has issued for your elder parents. This will help avoid possible complications
• Take the medication as prescribed by your doctor to get maximum results. If possible, avoid missing doses.
• If you cannot afford a particular medication, be truthful to your doctor. They can suggest generic brands that will help produce the same results with less the financial burden.

Keeping Your Home Safe

Most elderly individuals insist on maintaining the same level of freedom and mobility that they are used to, so when discussing this issue with your loved ones,  you need to assess the level of safety within the home. Be open and flexible in your approach when discussing safety concerns, but as needed it may be necessary to be firm on making modifications in the home

According to HealthinAging. org, Medicine.net and parentgiving.com, a few tips related to home modifications are:

• Update light switches, so that they are in accessible spots, so they can be easily turned on when entering a dim room
• Make sure all hallways, stairs, and paths are well lit and clear of objects such as books or shoes
• Use rails and banisters when going up and down the stairs. Never place scatter rugs at the bottom or top of stairs
• Remove or Tape all area rugs to the floor so they do not move when you walk on them
• Set the thermostat on the water heater no higher than 120° F to prevent scalding
• Have grab bars installed in the shower and near the toilet to make getting around easier and safer
• Put rubber mats in the bathtub to prevent slipping
• If you are having a hard time getting in and out of your tub, or on and off the toilet, ask your provider to help you get a special tub chair or bench or raised toilet seat

Transportation Safety

Transportation is another concern regarding safety for elderly care. Most aging individuals start to have some challenges with walking unassisted, or without using any walking or transporting devices. When your elderly parents go outside the house, you need to have proper transportation devices for them.

According to HealthinAging. org, Medicine.net and parentgiving.com, a few tips related to transportation are:

• If you or your loved one is having difficulty with walking or balance, or have fallen in the past year, talk to the healthcare provider about having a special falls risk assessment
• Ask your provider if you would benefit from an exercise program to prevent falls
• Using canes or walkers for fall prevention if unsteady on feet instead of holding onto walls and furniture
• If you have fallen before, think about buying a special alarm that you wear as a bracelet or necklace. Then, if you fall and can’t get to the phone, you can push a button on the alarm that will call emergency services for you
• When walking on smooth floors, wear non-slip footwear, such as slippers with rubber/no-slip bottoms or flat, thin-soled shoes that fit well
• Utilizing assist devices such as walkers, wheelchairs, scooters to promote safe mobility and independence if difficulty getting around in the community

By utilizing some of the tips noted, it may assist you or your loved ones with remain safe in the home and community.

DISCLAIMER: This information is not intended to diagnose health problems or to take the place of medical advice or care you receive from your physician or other healthcare provider.

In closing, the above post discussed some strategies to assist with staying safe in your home, but always consult your healthcare provider about your medications, symptoms, and health problems to ensure the tips noted are appropriate for you or your loved ones.   Remember to share this post on social media and read more related articles.

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Sources:

HealthinAging. org:http://www.healthinaging.org/resources/resource:home-safety-tips-for-older-adults/

Medicine.net: http://www.medicinenet.com/senior_health/page6.htm