In the past decade the trend in senior living has been moving towards assisted living and especially living in the community. While many seniors have found comfort living in a community of people in their same age range and enjoying minimal health services and specially designed activities, others have found greater comfort living in the home they've been in for years, in a familiar neighborhood where "everybody knows your name" and shopping is similar to what it's always been. There is a sense of security in the familiarity of everything, but this can be a false sense of security when seniors are frailer than in their passed years. Often with frailty comes an increased possibility of falling. Therefore, it's best to look around the house and see the hidden and not-so-hidden dangers that could cause a fall from a loose rug edge to a chair that doesn't quite fit the space, and even a staircase that doesn't have a railing.
There are many websites which give suggestions for safely living at home. Check out these sites for ideas and suggestions. At this site from the National Council on Aging, the organization has outlined 6 Steps for Preventing Falls Among Your Older Loved Ones. Specifically designed for caregivers, including children caring for their parents, the steps give practical advice to help prevent falls from medication checking to checking for potential dangers around the house. Another source is from the Centers for Disease Control, STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries) Materials for Your Older Adult Patients. It includes two brochures available in English and Spanish that can be printed out or ordered, Stay Independent (pointing out risks and how to prevent them) and What You Can Do to Prevent Falls (tips for staying safe and healthy in the home). Lastly, at SeniorCitizensGuide.com they have reprinted a checklist from the National Association of Home Builders on preparing the home for senior living, Aging-In-Place Design Checklists. Following even a few of these suggestions may mean the difference between having to live in a nursing home because of an injury and living in a safe environment in a familiar community.
The words in grey are links to the websites, click to go.
