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. 

Kitchen 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 possible for risks. Several common risks found in the kitchen are outlined below and the suggestions listed may help prevent falls, and ensure a longer, more comfortable stay at home. 

• Are there floor mats or rugs in the kitchen? Removing floor rugs, or securing them to the floor with a slip resistant backing, may help prevent tripping and falling.

• Is it necessary to reach far, bend over, or climb on a stool to get commonly-used kitchen items and foods? Rearranging cupboards and drawers so the most-used items are waist high can help prevent strain. When reaching for higher items, using a sturdy stepstool with a grab bar may help prevent falls, Never use a chair as a stepstool.

• Is there liquid, food, grease, or other clutter on the floor? Sweeping often and wiping up spills immediately help reduce the chances of slipping.

• Is there enough clear counter space? Storing those items used less often off the counter will provide more useable workspace, which can help prevent spills and cuts from improperly balanced objects.

• Are pantry/cupboard supplies current and unexpired? Expiration dates can be difficult to find and/or read; regularly checking and removing expired food can help prevent illness.

Safe Travels!

Dashing through the snow...

Dashing through the snow doesn't always seem like the safest route one can take while traveling during the holidays. While this time of year can be a great time to visit with friends and family from both near and far, traveling is not always easy for seniors. Below are a few simple things everyone can do to help make traveling as a senior a little easier, safer, and more comfortable. 

5 ways to stay Safe and Healthy while traveling

Health: As a senior, your health is very important and no one ever wants to get sick or injured on vacation. Schedule a checkup with your doctor before any major trip to discuss the activities you plan to do, and get written prescriptions for any medications you may need. Keep your prescriptions in their original containers so that they can be identified properly.

Flying: If you plan on taking a plane, talk with your physician, he or she may be able to provide you with documentation you need in order for you to pre-board the flight and avoid the rush and tumble of pushy passengers in a hurry. Also, if you travel with prescriptions, keep the important ones in your carryon! That way, just in case the airline looses your luggage, you will still have your meds.

Luggage: When shopping for new luggage, look for a sturdy, light, high-quality and transportable piece, preferably one with wheels and a handle. New luggage is being made with 4 wheels that free rotating, which means you can push or pull the luggage and save your elbow, shoulder, and back from some strain.

Financial: Take an extra credit card for emergencies as an added precaution in case the main card you are using gets lost or stolen. Large charges or non-local transactions can cause your account to close temporarily for fraud detection until you verify the charges are legitimate. Notify issuers there maybe heightened card activity in your destination cities before you travel.

Clothing: Comfortable clothing will make travel more comfortable, it also allows blood to circulate more easily during periods of inactivity. Sitting for long periods of time is associated with blood clots, especially for people with poor circulation. So make sure that you check with your doctor to see if compression stockings are appropriate for you. They can stimulate lower leg circulation and may be helpful for some seniors when flying. Always avoid tight socks or stockings.

New Prevention Program Supports Seniors and People with Disabilities

The Alameda Fire Department, working with the Housing Authority, Mastick Senior Center, Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, and Alameda Hospital has developed a new program that combines support for seniors and people with disabilities. The Housing Safety and Accessibility Program blends the City’s existing Accessibility Modification Program with key elements of the former Senior Safety Program. This new program assists low-income seniors and people with disabilities with making minor fire and safety modifications to their homes, as well as accessibility repairs to help individuals attain greater mobility within their homes. Modifications range from wheelchair ramps, doorway widening, walkway construction, bathroom grab-bars, strobe indicators, and so on. In addition, the Boy Scouts will make adult-accompanied visits to the homes of those seniors who have already had smoke detectors installed in order to replace batteries in the detectors. Alameda Hospital and Kiwanis Club partners will help with program outreach.

“This program plays a vital role in creating a safer environment for our seniors and residents with disabilities and also reduces the emergency calls to which the fire department responds,” said Fire Chief Mike D’Orazi.

The Housing Safety and Accessibility Program is open to residents age 62 or older or persons with disabilities, with an annual household income of less than 80% of the median. Prospective applicants must call (510) 337-2133 to confirm eligibility and request an application. Once the application is approved, an evaluation will be scheduled in order to assess the required work.

The Housing Authority is investing $49,895 in CDBG funds, which will be leveraged with $5,000 in Home Depot grant funds. Together, this funding will cover the salary of a part-time Housing Safety and Accessibility Assistant in the Fire Department, as well as the installation of fire and fall safety devices and small grants for minor accessibility modifications. The Housing Safety and Accessibility Program is currently funded on a yearly basis.

The former Senior Safety Program, a community outreach hazard mitigation program for low-income senior citizens, established in 2010, lost a majority of it funding at the end of FY 10-11. During the 18 months that the program was in place, it provided home visits for more than 350 seniors. During these home visits, safety plans to lessen safety and fire hazards were implemented, and smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, night lights, and other safety devices were installed. This Housing Safety and Accessibility Program is the result of six months of collaboration and is intended to enhance the services provided by the former Senior Safety Program.