Senior Home Safety

Some of the things we use every day are potential hazards. In fact, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says that each year, hundreds of thousands of people over the age of 65 need emergency room treatment for injuries associated with products they live with and use all the time. (Read about "Accidental Falls" "Hip Fractures") And CPSC says many of these injuries could have been prevented with some simple precautions:

• Keep cords and small items out of high traffic areas. Vision changes as we get older, making it harder to spot things we might stumble over. (Read about "Low Vision")
• All rugs and runners should have slip-resistant backing. Check the backings on the rugs periodically to see if they need to be replaced. The National Institute on Aging says falls are the most common cause of fatal injury for older people. It's essential to reduce your risk of falling wherever possible.
• Check all stair railings, both inside the home and on outdoor stairs, to make sure they're sturdy. Check all outdoor stairs for loose or broken edges and repair as needed.
• Use non-skid mats in the bathroom and in the tub and shower. Install railings or bars if needed in the bathroom area.
• Set the temperature of your water heater below 120 degrees to avoid scalding.
• Keep all electric appliances away from sink areas. Unplug small appliances when not in use.
• Check all electric cords to make sure they're not frayed. Replace as needed. Never overload extension cords.
• Keep a fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen. Check the gauge periodically to make sure it's still full and make sure you know how to use it if there ever is a small kitchen fire.
• Never cook with long, loose sleeves. If you're stirring a pot on a stove, for example, a loose sleeve can easily catch fire. (Read about "Burn Prevention")
• Keep a night light on for those late night trips to the bathroom. This is the most common cause of falls at night.

Emergency numbers

Make sure you also keep a list of emergency numbers by the phone. Dialing 911 can be the fastest way to get emergency help, but your list can also include the phone numbers for your doctor and your nearest poison control center, as well as nearby relatives and neighbors. Make sure the numbers are large enough to be read easily. You may also want to keep at least one phone in the house on a table that's low enough to the ground, so you could reach it even if you were to fall and couldn't stand back up.

Be aware too of how the weather outside affects the temperature inside your home or apartment. The National Institute on Aging says that as we get older, our bodies become more sensitive to temperature extremes of both heat (Read about "Heat Stroke") as well as cold (Read about "Hypothermia"). It can also be a good idea to make sure that someone - a family member or neighbor or social worker for example - is able to check up on you regularly in case there is a problem.