Use these 10 quick safety checks to avoid accidents
Follow with four simple solutions
Case managers know that preventing falls is vital to keeping seniors safe and comfortable at home. One in three seniors falls at least once, with 60% of fatal falls occurring in the home, according to the Brain Injury Association in Alexandria, VA. The good news is that many falls can be prevented with minor home modifications.
"We strongly advocate the prevention of accidents," says Andrea Tannenbaum, president of Dynamic Living in Bloomfield, CT, an on-line catalog of products that promote a safe home environment for seniors and the disabled. She suggests that case managers ask seniors or their caregivers these questions to help assess home safety:
Is the lighting adequate, especially near stairs, hallways, and the front door?
Are light switches easy to turn on and off?
Are there a telephone and a lamp on the nightstand near the bed?
Is there a night light in the bathroom?
Is there clutter on the floors, especially around pathways?
Are there any broken floorboards, tears in the linoleum or carpet, or abrupt changes in flooring such as thresholds, that could cause tripping?
Are throw rugs secured to the floor?
Does the bathroom/shower have nonskid flooring?
Is there a tub/shower seat in the bathing area?
Are there sturdy grab bars where falls most frequently occur: by the stairs, by the bathtub, and by the toilet?
Most case managers are familiar with the use of grab bars in bathrooms, but Tannenbaum notes that grab bars should be installed in other areas as well. "Install grab bars throughout the home, especially in areas that require frequent sitting and standing," she suggests. "Many wall-mounted grab bars can be found at local hardware stores or pharmacies. However, because seniors rely on a grab bar to hold them as they exert pressure, we suggest a professional installation." (For information on how to find a qualified environmental access contractor, see Case Management Advisor, July 1999, pp. 113-115.)
There are now many grab bar options on the market, adds Tannenbaum. Two models with which she says case managers may not be as familiar are:
• SuperPole. This is a floor-to-ceiling tension pole that can be installed easily to aid in standing or sitting anywhere in the home. "Unlike the wall-mounted grab bars, you don’t have to be near a wall," she notes.
• Advantage Rail. This is a floor-mounted support bar with a handle that pivots to move with seniors in small, safe steps. "It can also lock in an instant to assist you to a seated position," says Tannenbaum.
Another potential hazard is inadequate light. "Because of the age-related changes in vision, more lighting is needed to do familiar tasks," she says. "It also takes the eye longer to focus when there are changes in lighting."
She suggests case managers recommend these two vision aids to seniors clients with failing eyesight:
• Voice-activated light switch. This device eliminates fumbling in the dark to turn on a light. The switch is activated by the human voice. It can also be used to activate fans and radios, she notes.
• MotionPAD. This device can be placed around the house to provide warning of an upcoming stairway or other obstacle. "Recordable messages are activated when someone walks by," she says.
Tannenbaum urges case managers to discuss home modifications with seniors while they are still in a healthy physical condition. "The financial burden is minimal compared to the potential risk of injury."
The Dynamic Living catalog can be accessed at www.dynamic-living.com. Or call (888) 940-0605. Dynamic Living also locates products in response to specific individual needs.
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