It is a fact of life that people get old eventually and the older they get, the more help they need in their daily routines.
Sadly one of the biggest problem that elderly face is falling which may cause severe injuries and might even lead to death.
According to the National Safety Council falling is a major cause of death in individuals over 65 and older.
While some elderly are quite understanding of the fact that they need supervision, other remain very independent, as they were their whole lives.
They thrive on their independence and will not give it up very easily.
Yet they still need help.
This is why doing something simple for them might mean the difference between ensuring their safety or not.
Identifying and reducing health hazards due to accidents is one of the best way to help a person who wants to maintain their stubborn independence.
If the person has problems getting up from the toilet, make sure they get an elevated seat.
There are many such seats available, some with attached armrests that fit exactly over the seat making the act of standing up a breeze.
Very easy to install, they will not get in the way when other people are also using these seats.
Proper lighting in the room is crucial as the older a person gets the more their eye light diminishes.
Make sure that the light switches are working properly and are very easily reachable when needed.
Pathways from one room to the other should be clear and small night lights should be placed in every place that is rather dark and has no adequate lighting.
A phone line should be in the bathroom to be easily reachable should the need arise.
Many elderly have problems in the bathrooms and even get sick, and having a fast way to dial you or somebody else that can help can be a life saver.
Older people prefer showers instead of bath tubs.
If the bathroom has a bathtub, it would be advisable to replace it with a safe comfortable shower that one can easily get in and out of.
It can be difficult for people to get up from the tub just as it is to get up from the toilet seat.
If replacing the tub with a shower is not feasible, an adequate non skid tape should be placed in the tub so the person can stand on it without slipping.
They will still need help getting out of the tub so finding a solution to this added problem is equally important.
The danger of slipping and falling is very high in older people and one way to avoid such accidents is by using a non-skid tape at door entrances, on the stairs and any slippery surfaces, or those that can get slippery when wet.
By using these tips you will help an independent older person continue enjoying their life without accidents and they will also appreciate your small gestures of help while knowing that you are not trying to interfere in their lives unnecessarily.
Sadly one of the biggest problem that elderly face is falling which may cause severe injuries and might even lead to death.
According to the National Safety Council falling is a major cause of death in individuals over 65 and older.
While some elderly are quite understanding of the fact that they need supervision, other remain very independent, as they were their whole lives.
They thrive on their independence and will not give it up very easily.
Yet they still need help.
This is why doing something simple for them might mean the difference between ensuring their safety or not.
Identifying and reducing health hazards due to accidents is one of the best way to help a person who wants to maintain their stubborn independence.
If the person has problems getting up from the toilet, make sure they get an elevated seat.
There are many such seats available, some with attached armrests that fit exactly over the seat making the act of standing up a breeze.
Very easy to install, they will not get in the way when other people are also using these seats.
Proper lighting in the room is crucial as the older a person gets the more their eye light diminishes.
Make sure that the light switches are working properly and are very easily reachable when needed.
Pathways from one room to the other should be clear and small night lights should be placed in every place that is rather dark and has no adequate lighting.
A phone line should be in the bathroom to be easily reachable should the need arise.
Many elderly have problems in the bathrooms and even get sick, and having a fast way to dial you or somebody else that can help can be a life saver.
Older people prefer showers instead of bath tubs.
If the bathroom has a bathtub, it would be advisable to replace it with a safe comfortable shower that one can easily get in and out of.
It can be difficult for people to get up from the tub just as it is to get up from the toilet seat.
If replacing the tub with a shower is not feasible, an adequate non skid tape should be placed in the tub so the person can stand on it without slipping.
They will still need help getting out of the tub so finding a solution to this added problem is equally important.
The danger of slipping and falling is very high in older people and one way to avoid such accidents is by using a non-skid tape at door entrances, on the stairs and any slippery surfaces, or those that can get slippery when wet.
By using these tips you will help an independent older person continue enjoying their life without accidents and they will also appreciate your small gestures of help while knowing that you are not trying to interfere in their lives unnecessarily.
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