Picture Source:  Kaboodle.com

Checking your holiday lights can save time and prevent fires.  Use a light tester to test your lights before putting them up.  Prices range from $8 to $25 depending on its features.  They can be purchased online through sites such as Christmas lights etc. and Improvements catalog.

This article was originally posted on December 21, 2009

Home safety is essential to successfully aging in place.  Home safety can take many forms, from preventing falls in the kitchen and bathroom, to preventing accidental fires.  As the holidays approach, we need to continue to pay close attention to home safety and fall prevention.  This time of year, we love decorating our homes for the season,  however, in our desire to be festive, we sometimes overlook safety issues.  The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, 3,300 residential fires originate as a result of extension cords.  These fires kill an estimated 50 people and injure another 270.  The most frequent cause of these fires are overloading, short circuits, and/or misuse use of extension cords.

Important holiday safety decorating tips:

• When decorating, use a step stool/ladder, not a chair. If possible, get someone younger to help hang higher decorations
• When decorating your tree make sure you clear the pathway around the tree, moving  of boxes and extension cords If you have a real tree, don’t allow the water dry out
• Check your holiday lights before you put them on your tree, if they don’t work, don’t use them
• If bulbs on your lights are missing, replace them Use the right lights for the right area, some lights are just for indoors while others are for the outdoors, make sure yours are in the right place
• Don’t connect too many lights to one extension cord (no more than 3)
• The CPSC recommends that when disconnecting a cord you should pull the plug rather than the cord itself
• The CPSC recommends that you never use an extension cord while it’s coiled or looped. Also, you should never cover any part of an extension cord with newspapers, clothing, rugs, or any objects while the cord is in use.
• Unplug your tree before you go to bed and when you are not at home

Remember these important home safety decorating tips to make your holidays safer.  For more information, click here

Sources:  Consumer Product Safety Commission

Picture Source:  Shop Low Vision.com

Do you have low vision or, are you a diabetic that does a lot of cooking?  Well, keep your fingers safe as you slice and dice your foods by using a culinary finger protector.  It’s made from strong plastic and will keep your fingers safe while you prepare your meals.  A culinary finger protector can be purchased for $5 at Shop Low Vision.com

Last Thursday was Fall Prevention Awareness Day.  This week we continue in our 2 part series on fall prevention and discuss the prevalence of falls among men and women.

Did you know that among the elderly population, falls occur more often among women who have one or more medical condition and live alone?  They are also typically taking more than one medication, which may increase the likelihood of dizziness and fainting among the group.  Risk factors for falls can be categorized in 2 ways:  those that occur inside the body, and those that occur in the environment.  Issues that occur within the body can include:

• arthritis
• muscle weakness
• hearing and vision impairments
• high/low blood pressure
• balance and postural deficits
• dizziness

Issues that are due to environmental factors can include:

• home safety hazards
• poor lighting
• loose fitting clothing
• cluttered walking paths
• placing items on stairs

In their April 2004 report, The Center for Health and Long Term Care Research, stated that research indicates that a “multidisciplinary” approach to fall prevention and risk management demonstrated the best results.  This means addressing issues that occur within the body as well as environmental factors.  This multidisciplinary approach includes a risk assessment either completed by a professional or the individual, a thorough medical evaluation by the individual’s physician and follow up interventions.

Source:  The American Geriatric Society (AGS) Fall Prevention Panel

Fall is just around the corner.  When you think of fall, you may think of the leaves changing, cooler weather, and hay rides, but this year also think about fall prevention.  Fall Prevention Awareness Day is September 23, 2010, the first day of fall.  This year 34 states are participating Falls Prevention Awareness Day.  The day is intended to promote and increase public awareness of reducing and preventing falls in older adults.  To continue to do our part in fall awareness and prevention in older adults, The Aging Suite will be featuring a two part series discuss important fall prevention information.

It’s estimated that 77% of falls occur in the home, with people tripping over items and falling on the stairs as being the top two causes of falls.  An April 2004 report by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy, and ABT Associates, Inc, stated that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths in adults 65 and older.

Falls can result in injuries such as rib, hip and wrist fractures, decreased independence with everyday activities, fear of getting around one’s home, and even having to live outside the home with relatives or in a nursing home.    There are however, some simple things you can do to decrease the likelihood of falls in your home.  Some of these things include:

• Having a health care professional check your medications
• Assessing your home for safety risks
• Getting your vision checked annually
• Exercising regularly to maintain agility

For more information on aging, check out the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) website, www.cdc.gov

To read the April 2004 report by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Disability, Aging and Long Term Care Policy, and ABT Associates, Inc, check out this link

Rebuilding Together is certainly very busy these days.  The organization just completed their The Fifty for Five project, where they planned to rebuild 50 homes in 5 days in New Orleans, between Tuesday August 24^th to Saturday August 28^th,, in honor of the 5 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Rebuilding Together is a nonprofit organization that provides free home rehabilitation and vital repairs for low income Americans.  Being able to age in place is a staple of Rebuilding Together.  They believe that the aging population as well as those with disabilities should be able to live safely and comfortably in their homes as long as possible.  They strive to revitalize communities and work so their clients can have affordable homeownership.  They also provide free home modifications and repairs and work to make homes more accessible and energy efficient.

Rebuilding Together has several National initiatives, they include

• National Rebuilding Together Day:  Volunteers and local affiliate leaders work together to fix and restore homes while non-profit facilities help to revitalize communities.
• Safe at Home:  The goal of the program is to address home repair and maintenance issues that can limit access to the home or cause safety hazards.
• Disaster & Relief Recovery:  The goal is to rebuild houses of low-income homeowners during times of disaster.

Veterans Housing:  The goal is to help veterans with needed housing modifications and repair services. Green Housing: The goal is to provide energy efficient, money saving repairs that result in safer homes. To learn more about Rebuilding Together and how you can help, visit Rebuilding Together.

Picture Source:  Tornado Body Dryer

After Shower Safety and Privacy

Finished showering? Individuals with arthritis pain, balancing issues, or limited mobility and dexterity find it a challenge to towel dry. Contorting to reach their back and legs is frustrating, painful and a safety hazard.  Those who submit to assistance, suffer the loss of privacy and dignity.

Don’t reach for a towel or ask for an assistant. Instead, stay in your warm shower and simply activate the Tornado Body Dryer to be wrapped in a blanket of soothing, swirling, warm air that gently and completely dries you from head to toe.

– Also great for those with ultra-sensitive skin –

Benefits

*Dry the hard-to-reach areas   * Reduce chance of falling   * No more damp/smelly towels

* Reduce condensation & mildew   * Green: 70% less energy compared to towel usage * Safe to use with a wheelchair

* See www.tornadobodydryer.com FAQ’s for more info!

It  typically costs between $2 and $3,000 to buy and install a body dryer

The Aging Suite strives to provide people with information to help them age in place safely at home.  In keeping with our previous discussions on fall prevention, this week we’re highlighting various fall A Matter of Balance, a unique and effective fall prevention program.

A Matter of Balance is a nationally recognized fall prevention program developed by the Roybal Center at Boston University.  The program was designed with several purposes including: helping to reduce the fear of falling, stopping the fear of falling cycle, and improving the activity levels of older adults living in the community.  The program consists of eight classes, each 2 hours long, that are run by trained coaches.  Class size may range from 8-12 people.  Strategies incorporated into their sessions include group discussions, problem solving, exercises to improve strength, coordination, and balance, and a home safety evaluation.

A Matter of Balance also has good outcomes supporting their program.  After completing the program, participants demonstrated improvements with areas including their levels of fall control and fall management.  A Matter of Balance research indicates that after completing the classes:

• 98% of participants would recommend the program to others
• 97% felt they were more comfortable discussing the fear of falling
• 99% planned to continue exercising

To learn more about A Matter of Balance and states/organizations that currently offer this program click here.

Picture Source:  Maxi Aids.com

Do you get tired standing while showering in your tub/shower?  Or, do you have balance issues? Consider using a tub bench/shower chair.  They come in various shapes and sizes and with and without back support depending on your needs.  Tub/shower benches increase safety inside the bathtub/shower by allowing you to sit instead of stand while showering, which reduces the likelihood of falls.  They can be purchased at local medical supply companies and through websites such as, Sammons Preston.com ,  MaxiAids.com and RehabMart.com.  Prices can range from $60 to $200 depending on their features

Picture source:  Home Depot

High contrast tape can be a great tool for someone with low vision.  Using this tape around doorways allows for high visual contrast, making it easier for the person with low vision to identify the doorframe from the wall.  It can also be used on other items in the home including pot handles.  It can be purchased at stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s and cost about $4.