LOVE DICTATES THAT WE SHOW WE CARE
Dee Taylor
“Sizzlin’ Seniors” Television and Radio
No matter how you see it, safety can sometimes be something we overlook in our daily lives and especially when it comes to our loved ones. But it is an issue that we must face today and for many of us, aging has brought the issue to our full attention. While we can't completely control our safety at airports and other high-profile public places, we can do something to make the homes of our loved ones a lot safer. It is a fact we say we love, but love dictates that we show we care.
A good place to start is to help prevent falls in and around the home. As I sit writing this article, I have to tell you I fell twice recently myself. I didn't hurt myself badly, but I could've prevented the falls by just taking a few extra pre-cautions. Falls account for 70 percent of the accidental deaths of those age 75 or older, according to information from the American Academy of Family Physicians. About 9,500 deaths in older Americans are associated with falls each year.
These numbers do not account for the disabilities caused by falls. More than 50 percent of older patients who survive a hip fracture get discharged to a nursing home where half remain for at least a year. Many never gain their mobility again.
As sobering as the statistics may be, the ways to prevent the aging population from falling in their own homes are surprisingly simple. "It's tragic in a way that we don't recognize the home as the real culprit here. Sometimes we just blame the elderly person, when in fact that may not be true," said Leon Harper, senior housing specialist at AARP in Washington, D.C.
The first step is to conduct a room-by-room safety check. Most falls occur in the bathroom, kitchen and on the stairs. The modifications needed to improve safely aren't usually expensive or difficult to implement. "Start with the simple things in the environment," Harper suggested. In the bathroom, wet floors and slippery tubs usually cause falls. This happened to my own mother, and she was never the same after her fall in the bathroom. Tile floors in the bathroom can be especially dangerous because they are so hard and often wet. Here are some suggestions in order to prevent falls:
- Install grab bars in the bathtub, shower and by the toilet. Don't reply on support from a towel bar, because they were not designed to carry the weight of a person falling down.
- Apply rubber strips to the tub to reduce the slickness of the surface.
- Use a hand held shower to eliminate the need to reach and bend in the tub.
- Consider replacing the tub with a walk-in shower that includes a seat. Climbing in and out of the tub is very hazardous. Eliminating that big step into the tub could prevent a fall.
- Buy a raised toilet. Tall toilets are available but there are also platforms to increase the height of the existing toilet about 6 inches.
People with mobility issues are prime candidates for slips and falls. You don't need to be elderly to start thinking about these things. I am in my late 60's and never expected to fall, but it can happen no matter your age. There are a number of platforms and seats that can make getting into and getting out of the bath area a lot safer.
Love dictates that we "show" we care. So why not think about a practical gift for the people you love this Valentine's Day. I guarantee you that one of the ideas mentioned above, more than flowers or candy, will please your aging loved one, assuring them that they are safe when you aren't around to help them.
Dee Taylor, multi-media talent may be seen daily at 12 noon and 7:00PM on AT&T Broadband Television, Channel 14 in Richardson and Plano, Texas discussing topics that are relative to the aging population.
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