Safety checks reduce risks for elders in own homes

Mary Ann Goodman knows all about grab bars, throw rug dangers and junk-strewn homes.

As an elder care consultant for LivHOME, a Newport Beach, Calif. -based senior care provider, she routinely surveys homes for hazards.

Keeping elders in their own home is her No. 1 goal. Falls are the number one safety risk for older adults, Goodman says, and most falls occur in the home.

"June is National Home Safety Month and because LivHOME is concerned about potential risks for seniors, we are offering to send one of our experts to do a home check at no charge," she says.

The free home check, available in June, can be scheduled by calling 949-794-9470.

Seniors and their families might want to do their own safety review.

Home Instead Senior Care, which serves northern Orange County, Calif., suggests this checklist for senior homes:

_Examine dark pathways, corners and other areas where seniors regularly walk or read. Make sure all areas of the home have adequate lighting. Consider motion-sensor lights outdoors, and indoors use Ott Lights 7 bulbs, which provide a high intensity beam.

_Avoid monochromatic color schemes. Contrast can help seniors with failing eyesight better navigate their homes. Large red and blue buttons over hot and cold water faucet controls help prevent mistakes. A dark green or brown toilet seat and vinyl tape around the shower will make these fixtures more distinguishable.

_Look for ways to reorganize _ from cupboards to the refrigerator.

_Look behind closed doors. Many seniors will close off part of the house they no longer use and these rooms should be routinely checked.

_Look for ways to simplify the senior's life, from light-weight mops to grips instead of door knobs.

_Consider security. Lock-in switches on thermostats and stoves will keep seniors with dementia and Alzheimer's from harming themselves.

_Watch for damage like towel bars pulling away or torn shower curtains.

These might indicate the senior is grabbing on to fixtures in an effort to have stability.

_Make entries safe. Make sure railings into a home are in good repair and steps and sidewalks are not damaged. Consider eliminating steps altogether.

_Check for clutter. Messy conditions and broken items are important warning signs.

Goodman says grab bars are an important safety device for seniors "but they must be installed at the right height."

"It's also important to review all medications, prescriptions, over the counter meds, herbs and vitamins," she says. "Check with the doctor or pharmacist if necessary."

And she adds, "lots of times there's just too much furniture in a room. If someone is walking slowly or using a walker, the room can become an obstacle course."

She encourages families to use the free June home check because "keeping seniors at home _ safely _ is the goal."

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(Jane Glenn Haas writes for The Orange County (Calif.) Register. E-mail her at jghaas@cox.net)

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© 2008, The Orange County Register (Santa Ana, Calif.).