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.

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.

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

Universal design refers to architectural techniques used to design and build homes that accommodate all lifestyle requirements, young and old.