Ideas to Make Your Home a Safer Environment

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is a true statement especially when you become a senior. My best advice for anyone at any age living alone is to have some sort of emergency alert button that you actually wear when you are home alone that you can press if you are experiencing a medical emergency or are on the floor and cannot get up.   Things happen when you least expect it, that’s why they are called accidents! Some emergency alert systems can also be programmed to remind you to take your medications or give you other important reminders.

Please check your home inside and out for any type of trip hazards like uneven or raised concrete or slippery floor rugs. Falls are one of the leading causes of death amongst seniors.

Be sure to change your batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms annually, try to do it on the same day each year to make it easy to remember.

I would recommend that we all have a small emergency kit in a bag that can be grabbed quickly near our bedside with an extra pair of shoes, jacket, eye glasses, a flashlight, portable radio and extra batteries in case of a fire or earthquake.

Have a list of your medications or a “vial of life” attached to your refrigerator and put a sticker on your front door indicating that in case of an emergency.

Medic Alert bracelets are important to let emergency medical personnel know of any medical conditions or allergies that you may have. You can and should order a “Safe Return” bracelet from The Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org for anyone with a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia that may be a wander risk.

Make it a habit of not doing any business with people you don’t know over the phone or internet, seniors are prime target for phone and internet scams.

Lastly, be sure to install grab bars in your bathroom if needed, most accidents happen in the bathroom.

Home modification is now a big business, many seniors are hiring contractors to add ramps, grab bars, widening doorways, remodeling bathrooms and adding stair lift chairs to make their home more senior friendly.  It’s a great time to be a senior…..you have many choices and options!

Our next blog will feature a brief outline of the different types of Senior Living Facilities from Independent Living to Skilled Nursing and everything in-between.

Cathy Ellis
Senior Living Placement and Consultant
cathy@cathyellisconsulting.com
760-696-3542
www.cathyellisconsulting.com