Helpful Bathroom Safety Tips for Seniors

Most people fail to realize just how much danger is located under the roof of their home. As people begin to age, the danger in their home will grow because of mobility issues or poor eyesight, for example. For seniors who still live in their own home, finding a way to safe proof things should be a top priority. Finding a way to remove the dangers in a home can really help a senior to feel safer and can help the people providing home care have a much easier job. Among the most dangerous areas in a home is the bathroom. The following are a few safety tips for a senior to use in their bathroom.

Pay attention to the hot water settings

One of the first things a senior or their home care provider will need to check when trying to increase the safety in the bathroom is the settings on their hot water heater. In some cases, a senior’s ability to feel the heat of the water is diminished due to various medical conditions. The last thing a senior needs is to be scalded by water. By taking the time to check the temperature settings on the water heater, the senior will be able to have the peace of mind of knowing that they are not in danger of being scalded.

Install adequate lighting

Most of the slip and fall accidents that occur in the home will happen in the bathroom. However, there are a number of things that a senior can do to prevent falls in this area of the home. One of the best ways to do this is by installing additional lighting in and around the bathroom. Being able to see a clear path to the bathroom at night will help the senior to avoid falling. Hiring a professional to install this lighting is the best way to make sure it gets done the right way.

Make the bathroom more accessible

For some elderly, doing things like getting in and out of a tub will be hard to do without the help of an elder care professional. The best way to prevent accidents when getting in and out of the shower or tub is by making them more accessible. Having the bathtub and shower handicap accessible will make it much easier for the senior to get in and out without any incidents.

Make all surfaces slip proof

The bottom of a shower can become very slick when wet and soapy. Not having skid proof mats down in the shower can increase the chance that a senior will slip and fall. There are so many different products out there that can make the floor of a bathroom or shower slip proof. Finding the right one will be easy when using a supplier with experience in senior bathroom safety.

 

Should Home Health Care Be Part of Your Preventive Care Plan?

“I feel fine.” Living in the moment, wanting to enjoy the good health we have now is understandable. “I don’t want to think about that right now” is a common (and understandable) sentiment when it comes to planning for the “what ifs?” in life.

We should enjoy our health and make the most of it without anxiety over what could happen. But an important step in eliminating that anxiety is to make sure that there’s already a plan in place so you don’t have to worry. By doing so, you’ll know what resources are available for you or a loved one to continue enjoying life in the event “what if” becomes reality.

The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70% of those now turning 65 will require some form of long-term care. In the US, annual spending on long-term care costs families, Medicaid and Medicare hundreds of billions of dollars. Long-term care is not only an expensive proposition, but it can be daunting when it comes to choosing the right care for your needs.

Learning about the advantages of home health care now can help you and your family prepare, as there will be a plan in place for managing care at home when the need arises. If, for example, you know that you’ll need hip or knee replacement surgery, and are also aware of the fact that patients have seen recovery benefits from home health care, you can effectively plan your at-home recovery. Planning for your at-home needs following surgery in advance can help make the process less stressful.

Implementing home health care early in managing a health issue (rather than waiting) can help reduce the chances of a condition getting worse. Just as a home visit from a physician is advantageous for patients, having a nurse or health care aide visit a patient’s home on a regular basis (based on need) can help patients stay well for longer.

As explained by the National Planning Council in regard to physician house calls: “A very important benefit is that a physician can see the environment in which his patient is living and have a better understanding of how that environment may affect his patient’s health. By seeing it first-hand, he can make recommendations for care that would have been impossible in his office. In essence, the doctor learns much more about a patient in her home and he can achieve a personal connection that would have been difficult to establish in the office. The ultimate outcome of a house call is that the doctor can provide a greater degree of holistic medicine.”

Home health care aides who are present in the home to assess medical needs will have greater insights into working with your or your loved one’s medical team in developing the right at-home recovery plan. The personal connection between the home health care aide and the people they visit in the environment they feel most comfortable in is a key differentiator, setting home health care apart from other models of health care.

The Oregon Department of Human Services notes: “It is important to provide health care in a way that maximizes an individual’s independence and promotes their wishes.” A key part of this is ensuring that patients are happy in their environments. A poll of US adults over 50 shows that 80% say they prefer to remain at home as they age.

Additionally, the Oregon Department of Human Services also notes: “All persons, whether active or frail, can benefit from health promoting behavior and aggressive preventive care. Preventive care includes making sure nutrition, exercise, immunizations and routine screening tests are attended to.”

Home health care aides can play a vital role in preventive care. Whether a patient is managing diabetes, looking to implement a new and safe exercise routine, or have help in returning home from a hospital stay (as examples), a home health care aide can help manage daily tasks, monitor health and implement diet and exercise plans for you or a loved one.

Have questions about home health care? Our Starter Guide can help. You can also subscribe to our Newsletter to begin receiving more information about Premier. To speak to us now about the Premier difference, please call