Mobility and Safety

Like a missing child, a missing elder can be a family’s worst nightmare. Time is of the essence in these situations. The Silver Alert System is one way to help get seniors back before any harm can come to them.

For elders who want to continue living independently, home safety is essential. Among the home modifications that will help keep your parent safe, be sure to focus on those that help to prevent falls. As people age, their chance of falling increases significantly, and combined with medical conditions and medications, falls are even more likely. Falls are the number one cause of unintentional home injury death, reports the Home Safety Council, accounting for 5.1 million injuries and almost 6,000 deaths each year. The vast majority of these deaths are among people 65 and older — more men than women.

The bathroom can be a treacherous place, with so many hard surfaces and sharp corners. The National Aging in Place Council recommends certain modifications for making the three key elements in your home bathroom more senior friendly.

As time has gone by, your aging parent may have lost some steam regarding taking care of their home, self-care, daily chores and the organization of outside help. This is an area where you can be a great help to your parent. But, depending on your parent's condition and ability to take care of him or herself, be sure to offer your assistance carefully (think suggestions and recommendations rather than demands and ultimatums.) Here are our Top Seven Tips to help you stay on top of his or her in-home needs:

It is no surprise that, if given the choice, most of our aging parents would choose to stay at home (referred to as aging in place). Many seniors successfully age in place because their adult children and caretakers are able to provide them with home care solutions, which may include everything from a live-in companion to a nurse who checks in daily and administers medications.

With just a small investment in time and a few dollars, you can make your home safer and more comfortable by following these do-it-yourself tips.

There are certain mobility issues that can’t be resolved just by using a cane or walker—notably navigating stairs. Unless the house is a ranch style, there is at least one flight of stairs—usually up to the bedroom—and quite possibly two, maybe down to a family room in the basement. Fall prevention or managing with bad knees often means avoiding stairs and that might even prompt a move to a single-story housing option. One home modification that could allow for aging in place is the installation of a stairs chair.

Aging in place is the hope of virtually every senior, and the source of worry for many of their adult children. Seniors might be fully functional for a long period of time and then, almost imperceptibly, they might start needing a little help with their activities of daily living, whether it’s remembering to take their medicine or answering the phone when you’re calling to see if they’re OK.

Personalized services including healthcare technology for seniors allow for older Americans to remain independent at home.

Professional caregivers can safeguard seniors’ home to prevent falls and show you modifications to make in your own home for a safer senior visit.