June is National Home Safety Month
Home safety is vital to aging in place. Aging in Place is defined by the National Aging in place Council as the ability to continue to live in one’s home safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level. Being able to live safely at home can contribute to our sense of self worth, being part of a community and provides us as well as our family members with peace of mind. Because of its importance in aging in place, The Aging Suite will be doing a series this month on Home Safety.
Home safety encompasses a wide variety of areas. Our series will focus on the various aspects of fall prevention.
Fall Statistics:
- Falls occur more often among women who have one or more medical condition and live alone
- Falls are the leading cause of Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- In adults 65 and older, falls are the cause of an estimated 60.7% of TBIs
- Direct medical costs related to falls in the population age 65 and older is over $16.4 billion annually
- The CDC projects that by 2020, annual spending as a result of falls is expected to reach $54.9 billion
- 77% of falls occur in the home
Risk Factors for falls:
Include those that occur inside the body like,
- arthritis
- muscle weakness
- hearing and vision impairments
- high/low blood pressure
- balance problems
- dizziness
Issues that are due to environmental factors include:
- home safety hazards
- poor lighting
- loose fitting clothing
- cluttered walking paths
- placing items on stairs
Simple things you can do to prevent falls include:
- Having a health care professional check your medications
- Exercising regularly to maintain agility by using techniques such as Tai Chi
- Getting your eyes checked
- Getting a thorough home assessment performed by a trained professional
Join us next week as we continue our discussion on home safety.
Sources: The Effect of Tai Chi on Health Outcomes in Patients With Chronic Conditions A Systematic Review
Fight arthritis pain.org, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy, and ABT Associates CDC
