The idea of aging in place is very attractive to seniors today. To just put it, this is a dream come true for the majority of seniors. Well, who could resist the appeal of growing old at the comfort of your own home, stay in the same community you’ve grown accustomed to and being surrounded by familiar faces and people you love?
According to the studies done by Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, 1 in 5 people will be 65 years old and above in 2035, and a majority of these people plan to stay and receive care at home. In fact, they prefer to stay in their homes even if they would need assistance in their daily living activities or round-the-clock supervision.
Just because seniors want to receive care at home should also mean that this is a great option for them and is it safe for them?
Yes, aging in place is a great option for seniors and it’s safe for them to age independently. But it would entail proactive planning with the help of a health care and long term care planning tool and by fully embracing home modifications.
Growing old is inevitable but not falls, injuries, accidents and fatal mishaps in your homes. So, here are home safety tips for people who prefer to age in place.
Prevent Falls
Falls are in fact the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for people who are 65 years old and above. According to CDC or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1 out of 4 senior fall each year and falling once doubles your chances of falling again. To prevent falls here are some home safety tips you could do.
- Ask your physician to evaluate your risk of falling and ask for advice on things that you can do. Also, ask your doctor to review your prescription or over-the-counter medicines to find out if any of these medicines make you dizzy or sleepy and might contribute to your risk of falling.
- Have your eyes checked at least once a year and update your eyeglasses if needed.
- Exercise regularly and focus on routines that improve your strength and balance.
- Make your home fall-free by adding more lights to your home, putting railings on stairs, adding handles inside and outside your shower or tub and near the toilet, tape rugs to the floor to keep them in place, keep the floor free from clutter or anything you can trip over like cables, shoes, books, etc.
Display a List of Emergency Numbers
Always keep a list of emergency numbers handy in case you need to call the authorities or your family members. Make sure that the numbers are large enough for you to read in case you are frightened or in a rush. Here are some of the numbers you should have.
- 911
- Fire Department
- Local Emergency Services
- Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
- Immediate family members, relatives, and neighbors
- Doctor’s Office
Prevent Fire and Related Dangers
Your body changes as you grow older, your senses are not that sharp anymore, and you are no longer as agile as when you’re younger. So, to keep fire accidents at bay and to keep yourself safe in case of fire emergencies, here are a few things you could do.
- Install a smoke detector.
- Change old or damaged electrical cords.
- Avoid putting too many electric wires into an extension cord or into one socket.
- Put functioning fire extinguishers in the kitchen and near the fireplace.
- Avoid smoking inside your home and don’t leave candles burning even for a short time.
- Place heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn like furniture, bedding or curtains.
- Know where the emergency exit is.
Prevent Poisoning
Prevent any kind of poisoning by following all these reminders that would help you age safely at home.
- Make sure to keep your medications in their original containers to avoid mixing them up.
- Ask your pharmacist to make the labels of your medications bigger to make them easier to read.
- Read the label of your medications first before taking them.
- Don’t mix cleaning liquids like bleach and ammonia when you are cleaning because they create deadly gases when mixed.
- Install carbon monoxide detector near bedrooms.
- Don’t heat your home with your stove, grill or oven because they give off carbon monoxide – a deadly gas that you cannot see or smell.
Create an Abusive-Free Environment
Seniors who prefer to live independently at home should be vigilant and to consider all home safety tips to keep you and your home safe since they are an easy target for burglars. Don’t give strangers a chance to take advantage of you and to inflict harm on you by doing these security measures.
- Never let a stranger come inside your home especially when you’re alone and late at night.
- Make sure your windows and doors are always locked.
- Do not entertain offers made through phone calls especially when you are home alone.
- Ask for written information about offers and prizes and go through it first before making a decision.
- Do not make a purchase, sign anything or make donations without discussing your actions with a close friend or family members.
Aging in place might seem daunting and costly but based on this study, more seniors are taking measures and modifying their homes to make aging in place safe and comfortable. Thankfully, insurance policies like long term care insurance provide an allowance for home modifications such as wheelchair ramps, railings and grab bars. Moreover, it provides cash benefits that you can spend in any way you want.
If you want to age in place safely and comfortably rather than spend your days in a small and unfamiliar room in a nursing home or assisted living facility, then you should be proactive when planning for your future.