Safety home accidents are a major source of injuries and can even cause death. In fact, research indicates that injuries and subsequent complications due to falls are the leading causes of. According to the american association of retired persons aarp, by the year 2020, the number of people in the united states aged 65 and older is expected to increase to 55 million. The good news is that there are simple and easy steps that families can take to protect their children. As you age, the spine begins to settle and the discs may get a little squished. What are the most unsafe areas of the home for seniors. If you live in a house with a gate, always keep your gate locked. Several factors contribute to the fact that seniors fall more frequently than younger people. Some older adults are homebound and must rely on delivered food. Senior home safety assessment extended family home care. To maximize safety for seniors at home, we must ensure a long list of conditions are met in each room. Specialized elder care products can help seniors extend their independence and improve their safety and comfort as their needs increase.
It is not intended to address every potential home safety issue present in the recipients home before, during or. Please visit our page on a home safety checklist for seniors for additional information. Home safe home new york state department of health. A simple fall can become a serious, disabling injury that limits independence.
Place plexiglas or security film on the inside to increase safety and make it more difficult for the glass to be broken. Improving home safety for seniors windows are easily opened from the inside but have secure locks that can prevent someone from entering from the outside. People can be poisoned by food, household cleaners soaps and bleaches, lead, carbon monoxide gas, or medicines. Guide to senior safety at home national council for home. This collaboration can take many forms, which are outlined in the fire safe seniors implementation guide.
The vast majority of this age group, 87 percent, wishes to age in place, meaning they plan to stay in their own homes and communities as they grow older. Safety for older consumers home safety checklist cpsc. Food safety information united states department of agriculture food safety and inspection service older adults and food safety knowledge of safe food handling helps older adults stay healthy. Here are some basic steps you can implement to reduce the chances of being victimized.
If you think youre shorter than you used to be, you may be right. Seniors have done nothing to prepare their homes for aging 65% u. How about light switches at the top and bottom of the stairs. Aug 24, 2016 14 simple safety tips for seniors who live alone for many seniors, living alone is ideal. Handrails or a shower seat will provide support in potentially slippery environments. With a growing number of older adults living independently, its increasingly important to make sure that theyre safe at home. Older bones are often less dense, more brittle and break more easily. A home safety checklist, particularly, may be the ounce of prevention that will keep you or a senior loved one from needing that proverbial cure.
Accidental poisonings at home cause many hospital stays for all age groups. The guide explains the importance of food safety for seniors, causes of foodborne illness, handling and cooking food safely, and symptoms of foodborne illness. In this guide, we cover everything from fall prevention and home security to avoiding phone and email scams. Other safety tips keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone. The fire safe seniors tool kit is designed to help you effectively implement a smoke alarm installation and fire safety education program targeting older adults. The program is intended to assist low and moderate income seniors who have difficulties with daily living activities by providing financial assistance to carry out minor modifications to help them stay in their home. Aarp is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that empowers people to choose how they live as they age. Home safety for seniors while there are roomspecific instructions for a few important areas in the average home, there are also general rules that can be applied throughout the entirety of the home. Criminals intent on robbing peoples homes often see seniors as easy prey. P safety check centers for disease control and prevention.
Many of these and other injuries result from hazards that are easy to overlook, but also. Physicians say that injuries are most likely to happen in these areas of the home. The checklist asks about hazards found in each room of your home. You can add an escape route through portable ladders or chutes. For questions about your benefits, aarp the magazine or the aarp bulletin, visit the aarp contact us page or call 1888ouraarp 18886872277. Falls, burns, and poisonings are among the most common accidents involving older people. Safety is a key factor in seniors maintaining an independent lifestyle. Bathrooms and bedrooms lead the way, according to a survey of er doctors in the u. Make home safe are mom and dad really safe at home. As you know, our physical capacity deteriorates as we. Within this age group, the rate of injury is the highest for people 75 years of age and older.
In fact, research indicates that injuries and subsequent complications due to falls are the leading causes of death in seniors age 65 and older. Fill unused outlets with plastic safety plugs if there are toddlers in the house. Whether they want to continue driving, caring for themselves, or interacting with their friends and communities in the ways that they always have, living alone is. Older adults and food safety food safety and inspection.
This home safety check is being provided solely for the purpose of raising the recipients awareness of any potential home safety issues. First, we asked if they have saved or spent any money on modifications e. There are certain precautions you can take that will help keep you safe. The safe living guidea guide to home safety for seniors.
Home safety tips pdf download everything you need to know about home safety. Home sweet home, home is where the heart is there are manyvariations of these old sayings, but the meaning never changes. The consumers guide to home safety for seniors firstlight home. Bathroom safety tips for seniors falls can be devastating for the elderly because they often result in serious injury and recovery is usually very expensive. Providing buying advice on the things that matter most in life is serious business. General safety standards 4 preventing falls 5 kitchen safety 6 stairway and hallway safety 8 living room safety 8 bathroom safety 9 bedroom safety 9 outdoor safety 11 pathway and garden safety 12 fire safety safe footwear 14 the material in this brochure is for informational purposes only. In part two of home safety for seniors, home improvement expert brad staggs provides some simple tips on how to keep your house safe.
A pdf guide from the food and drug administration about food safety and people over the age of 65. Senior home safety aging in place age safe america. Carbon monoxide detectors can warn you of a problem, but it is still. In fact, statistics show that millions of adults over the age of 65 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for accidents that occurred in their own homes. If you are a family care provider for elderly loved ones, you should spend some time observing their routines. Consumer product safety commission safety for older.
Pdf home safe, safe bahaviors of elderly people, and fall. A way around this home safety hazard is to have mats or carpets in those areas, or to buy comfortable footwear that have slipproof soles. Falls are the main cause of injury, hospitalization and invalidity among canadian seniors. For seniors, however, the home is where many injuries occur, and most of. Visit home safety smart check for a variety of safety checklist for toddlers, adults. The elderly are especially vulnerable to serious injuries from home accidents. The survey of er doctors, seniors and adult children reveals that home isnt always the safe haven that seniors and their loved ones dream about. Jun 20, 2016 home safety for seniors while there are roomspecific instructions for a few important areas in the average home, there are also general rules that can be applied throughout the entirety of the home. Older adults also are at greater risk than others of dying in a house fire. When you hear a knock at the door, bring your phone with you in case you quickly need to call for help. This revised edition of the safe living guide presents a stepbystep guide to making your home safer and reducing your risk of falls, injury and loss of independence. Home safety checklist for seniors household hazards.
Gi mw mrhitirhirxp srih erh stivexih otes f do throw rugs create a tripping hazard. Pdf the present study analyzed home safety and safe behaviors against fall accidents of elderly people living at home. Determining if your loved one is safe at home can be overwhelming and frustrating. For each hazard, the checklist tells you how to fix the problem. Whether they want to continue driving, caring for themselves, or interacting with their friends and communities in the ways that they always have, living alone is a major benefit for many seniors around the country. Recipients of this home safety check should always consult with their medical or other health care professionals for any medical diagnosis and treatment, as well. Read home safety tips to learn how to make small changes for a healthy and independent life. It is not intended to address every potential home safety issue present in the recipients home before, during or after this home safety checks administration.
Because of this, it is important to recognize that one of the most common dangers seniors face is falling. Fatalities and injuries can be avoided if you take the right steps in ensuring your loved ones safety. Aging in place is a growing trend in which seniors plan to continue living in their own homes for as long as possible. Maintaining independence is important to all adults, but as people age, living alone can become dangerous. Fire safety tips in this booklet will start with a picture like the one on the left. For added safety, use groundfault circuit interrupter power strips cords that turn on and off instead of extension cords.
Think about wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case you fall and cant get up. Home safety checklist this home safety check is being provided solely for the purpose of raising the recipients awareness of any potential home safety issues. For more resources for seniors, call 8332388856 or visit. Talk to them about any hindrances they have noticed in being able to effectively and safely provide for. Home safety tips every parent wants their children to grow up healthy and strong in the place where they deserve to feel safest. Seniors are hesitant to spend money on home safety we ran a survey of americans age 55 and older who plan to live the rest of their lives either in their own home or that of a relative. See more ideas about home safety, elderly care and home safety tips. Consumer product safety commission cpsc estimates that on average 1. Modifications must relate to the applicants loss of ability. A home safety checklist to help you make your home safer for older adults. In this guide, we cover everything from fall prevention and home security to avoiding phone and email scams and more so older adults can lead safer, healthier lives. Home safety assessment for seniors complete the safety assessment below to see if the home in question is the right environment for your aging family member or friend there are so many considerations to make when setting up a safe, comfortable home for your parent, senioraged family member, or elderly friend. The 240point comprehensive home safety assessment is performed by a trained advisor and includes the exterior of the home, all entry areas, every room including bathrooms, bedrooms, laundry room, garage, basement, kitchen and dining room, lighting evaluation, fire safety and electrical safety.