Bedroom Safety for Seniors

Being safe and comfortable in their own home is important to every senior. One way to help ensure the senior in your life remains safe is to evaluate every room for possible risks. Several common risks in the bedroom are outlined below and the suggestions listed may help prevent falls, and ensure a longer, more comfortable stay at home. 

• Is there a long reach from bed to a light? Moving the bedside lamp closer or mounting a light on the headboard may help prevent falls out of bed.

• Is there a telephone within easy reach of laying in bed? A phone extension, or portable handset, kept within easy reaching distance of bed can help prevent falls and make it easier to call for help when necessary.

• Is it necessary to get out of bed or reach far to get eyeglasses? Storing glasses within easy reach may makes it easier to avoid obstacles and may help prevent falls.

• Are there telephone, television, extension, or other cords running along the floor? Cords can pose a tripping hazard. Its is a good idea to route cords so they do not cross walking paths or to have an electrician install additional outlets to reduce the need for extension cords.

• Is there clutter (clothes, shoes, books, etc.) on the floor? Removing clutter from the walking paths and floor helps reduce the chances of tripping over it.

• Are late night, or multiple, bathroom runs common? A portable commode near the bed can decrease nightly wandering; or nightlights can be used to help light the way.

One of the Ingredients of Longevity

Jeanne Louise Calment, the world’s oldest person who died at the age of 122 once stated, “If you can’t do anything about it, don’t worry about it”. While Besse Cooper, the world’s oldest living person at the age of 114 answered when asked how she got to live so long, “I mind my own business, and I don’t eat junk food”. We all know that proper diet is one of the keys to healthy living. What we don’t usually pay attention to is managing stress. Often times, we worry ourselves even with issues that don’t even concern us which results to stress that greatly affects our health. Absence of stress management can lead to distress, most especially with seniors. Distress can lead to physical symptoms which include headaches, chest pain, elevated blood pressure, upset stomach, and problem sleeping. In addition, research shows that stress can worsen symptoms and/or existing disease.

 Besse Berry Cooper

We can’t avoid stressful situations but what we can do is learn how to deal with stressors.

 Stressor is an external stimulus that causes stress. Being able to identify your stressor will help you figure ways to deal with it (You can’t solve a problem if you don’t know the problem) --- that’s just one of the things that you learn from stress management.

 Stress management has played an important role in increased seniors’ health and well-being. Some of the following effective methods of stress management include meditation, cognitive puzzles, yoga, breathing exercises, and cognitive restructuring.

 In addition, one of the important factors in successfully managing stress is learning to accept things that you can’t change – learn it from Calment.

Keeping Seniors Away from Hypothermia

This rainy season is tough for everyone, especially for seniors. It is not just cold weather and wind that everyone has to deal with but also cold water pouring down from dark clouds up above. Do you know that getting even just a small part of your body wet could lead to (25 times faster than the air) heat loss in your body, which can seriously reduce or destroy the insulating value of clothing? This type of coldness can lead to Hypothermia (commonly known as Cold Stress). Although everyone are vulnerable to coldness that rainy season brings, the seniors are more susceptible to develop low body temperature after being exposed to conditions of mild cold. For that reason, seniors are at risk of Hypothermia. The good news is we can avoid it to happen. We have come up of things to know about cold stress…..

 What is Hypothermia?

            Hypothermia or cold stress is a condition common to seniors marked by an abnormally low internal body temperature. It develops when heat from the body escapes faster than it can be replaced.

Hypothermia is a silent killer so to recognize the symptoms would be a matter of life and death. Here are the symptoms of Hypothermia or cold stress:

1.      Unusual stiffness of the muscles accompanied by a fine trembling

2.      Shivering (it is important to note that seniors tend not to react to cold so absence of shivering doesn’t mean they are not cold)

3.      Puffy or Swollen Face in combination of cold skin and signs of confusion

4.      Poor coordination and Jerky movements

5.      Slow Breathing and Heart Rate

6.      Pale Skin Color usually along with large, irregular blue or pink spots

7.      Growing Mental Confusion

8.      Strange Changes in Attitude (most common change in attitude: becomes Apathetic)

9.      Sleepiness (Difficulty in Waking Up)

10.    Slurred Speech

How to Reduce the Risk of Hypothermia?

1.      Insulate your home properly (if you live by yourself)

2.      Dress warmly

3.      Proper diet and Physical conditioning

4.      Get enough rest

5.      Drink adequate amounts of liquids

6.      Use extra blankets and/or Turn On the Heater

7.      Avoid exposure to cold

What To Do in case you believe someone is a victim of Hypothermia:

 1.      Call 9-1-1 immediately

2.      Handle the person gently

3.      Gradually warm the person

4.      Provide warm, DRY clothing

5.      With available covering such as blankets, newspapers, pillows, scarves, towels, etc., INSULATE the person

 What NOT TO DO in case you believe someone is a victim of Hypothermia:

1.      DO NOT bathe NOR give the person a shower

2.      DO NOT feed the person hot food NOR give the person hot drinks

3.      DO NOT give the person a massage NOR rub the person

 Talk to your doctor for more information about Hypothermia. It is better to be ready than be sorry. After all, information about prevention is always available--- you just have to ask. 

Bathroom Safety for Seniors

Being safe and comfortable in their own home is important to every senior. One way to help ensure the senior in your life remains safe is to evaluate every room for possible risks. Several common risks in the bathroom are outlined below and the suggestions listed may help prevent falls, and ensure a longer, more comfortable stay at home. 

• Is the path from the bedroom to the bathroom dark? Nightlights can be helpful in lighting the way.

• Are towel racks used to balance or grab onto while getting in or out of the tub/shower? Towel racks may not be mounted well enough to support a person's weight. Install grab rails in the appropriate places instead. 

• Are the shower doors used for balance when getting into or out of the shower? Shower doors can move and may not provide enough support. A grab rail in the shower is safer.

• Is it difficult to stand during a shower? A shower seat allows older adults to shower without getting tired of standing or risking a fall because of dizziness.

• Is there any water on the floor after a bath or shower? Use a bathmat with a slip resistant backing and check the tub/shower for leaks or missing caulking.

• Is it necessary to reach far or turn around to get towels, shampoo, and soap? A bath caddy that reduces the need to twist in the tub can help prevent slips and falls.

• Is it difficult to get on and off the toilet? A higher seat or handrails near the toilet can assist with standing and help prevent falls.

Safe Medication Practices for Seniors

     Recent studies show that seniors take between one and seven prescribed and over-the-counter medicines daily--- this is why it is no surprise that an estimated 58% older adults experience medication errors. It is alarming that up to 23% of admission in a nursing home is due to an elderly person’s inability to self-manage his prescription medications at home. Also, over 21% of all drug-related health complications of seniors are due to failure to adhere on their medication regimens, whether by accident, negligence, or intent. Moreover, 26% seniors out of the 58% are making mistakes that have potential serious consequences.

Fortunately, medication errors can be avoided. Here are some tips that will help you take your medicines properly:

 1. When a doctor prescribed you a medicine always make sure to be informed with the following:

           - Name of the medication

           - Indications

           - Possible Side effects

           - Directions on taking it

           - Any dangerous interaction with other drugs or with certain foods

           - Medication duration

           - Storage information

           - Cost (with/without insurance)

*It is a good habit to get all prescriptions filled by a single pharmacy. This way, any potential drug interaction will be brought to their attention.*

2. When buying over-the-counter medicine always do the following:

            - Read the label first! The label informs you the Indications, Directions, active

            and inactive Ingredients (ANY DANGEROUS INTERACTION WITH PRESCRIBED MEDICINES OR

            FOODS), Unusual reactions, and Precautions for use.

           - When in doubt, consult a pharmacist or a doctor. When unsure of how much

           medicine to take, ask a pharmacist or a doctor. Remember More is Not Better

           when it comes to Medicines.

          - Check the expiration date. Don’t take medication after its expiration date.

3. If forgetting is the issue, there are:

            - Reminding Gadgets available at your local drugstore

            - Reminding/Dispensing Systems available online

            - Telephone Services private companies that will call you to remind you to take

            your medication

            - Registered Nurse or Licensed Vocational Nurse that is employed by a licensed

            home health agency can administer medications or organize pill boxes

            - Med Management which is offered at some Assisted Living like Waters Edge Lodge. Included 

              in this service are inventory and ordering of medications for both new prescriptions and refills.

If you follow these tips, it can lower the chance of you and your loved ones making medication errors. If we spread the word, it can lower the number of seniors committing the same mistakes as the other 58% did. Start today with yourself, tomorrow with your loved ones, then another day for someone else.

Help our seniors live better, spread the word.