Experts in Your Home tried to cover all the basics in a recent article, “Stay on top of home safety with this list.” But we wanted to go one step further and make sure we covered the full extent of our audience.
Specifically, we know that some older residents in the Chico area have safety in mind – and for good reason: More than one in four people age 65 and older fall each year, though less than half of them tell their doctor, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Many Seniors Suffer in Silence
This fact alone presents a huge risk factor since 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falling. Another 20 percent of falls cause other broken bones and head injuries. So in other words, many seniors are walking around with untreated broken bones and other injuries – and so are suffering in silence.
The Experts don't want any of Chico's seniors to suffer – in silence or otherwise. Falls can be prevented once the risk factors are eliminated. Let the Experts show you how it can be done – and how we can help make a senior's home safer and more secure, room by room.
Home Safety Tips for the Bathroom
- Install grab bars near the shower, bathtub and commode to provide a steadying force in this most slippery of rooms. The Experts can install them on any surface.
- Evaluate the height of older bathtubs. Those that pose difficulty to get into and out of can be made more manageable with a ramp or step that can be customized.
- Intensify the wattage in existing fixtures or consider adding new fixtures. Add night lights, too.
- Place mats with anchored rubber matting on the bottoms of bathtubs and the floors of shower stalls.
- Cover tile with heavyweight throw rugs and secure them in place with carpet mounting tape.
Home Safety Tips for the Bedroom
- Remove throw rugs placed over carpet. They look attractive but pose a tripping hazard.
- Evaluate the the height of the bed. Like a tall tub, it may sit too high off the ground and pose a falling hazard that can be remedied with a wide, custom step.
- Arrange furniture and accessories so that they hug the perimeter of a room, not necessitate awkward moves around them.
- Bundle up loose cords and wires from appliances and gadgets. Ensure that they sit close to an electrical outlet and are not draped across the floor.
Home Safety Tips for the Kitchen
- Optimize cabinet heights. If you find yourself reaching for items that are too high or struggling to grab items that are too low and out of sight, your kitchen might benefit from some cost-effective safety enhancements. For example, the Experts can install a pot rack to hang pots and pans within easy reach or lower cabinets to eye level. Efficient kitchen design is one of our specialties, so you can count on us to find a solution to any dilemma.
- Ensure that the smoke detector is functioning since most fires occur in the kitchen.
- Replace all items with smooth, slippery surfaces with those that grip – from throw rugs to pot holders and oven mitts.
Home Safety Tips for the Living Room
- Stabilize furniture; it shouldn't wobble even if you lean on it.
- Remove sharp-edged furniture and pieces made of glass.
- Minimize clutter – or at least confine it to an out-of-the way place. Many falls occur over such harmless-looking objects like stacks of magazines, so put them in a safe place, such as an ottoman with built-in storage.
Call Experts in Your Home if we can make a home safer for you or a senior you love. Falls threaten a senior's safety and independence – and the Experts are ready to bolster both.
