Keeping Your Live Alone Senior Safe
Over half of all senior citizens in the United States have been living in their same home for 20 years or longer.
Its common, as they become less agile and active, that furniture, flooring, stairs and other things around the house are left in some state of disrepair.
Left uncorrected, these things can eventually lead to serious falls or other injuries.
Here are some things you can watch out for to keep your senior who is living alone safe.
Assist With Minor Repairs - Be proactive and don't wait for an accident or serious injury to happen first.
When visiting your senior keep an eye out for things that need some attention and help get them fixed.
This could be by doing it yourself, or by paying a handyman.
When I was younger this was a great way that I could help my grandparents out.
I enjoyed doing little things around their place.
Normally, its not very difficult stuff and just requires someone with a steady hand to hold a hammer or screwdriver to tighten up something, or to climb up on a step ladder or chair to replace a light bulb.
Check Smoke Detectors - Make sure that there are smoke detectors in the house and test them periodically to make sure that the batteries are charged and that the units are in working order.
Make a point when visiting to have batteries on hand and change them out once a year.
Today's smoke detectors are very inexpensive and effective, and they can provide that early warning needed to save lives in the event of a fire.
List of Emergency Numbers - Have a list of emergency numbers, 911, numbers of family members, and close friends and neighbors who may be looking out for your senior.
Make sure that the list is in large print and located next to the telephone.
This way if an emergency occurs or they need assistance in a hurry, they don't have to try to remember a number or fumble through phone books to find it.
Heating and Cooling - When visiting your senior take special note of the temperature.
Is it too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter? Older people sometimes like to keep the house a little warmer than you might, but be aware of any dangerous situations that may be caused due to lack of finances.
Seniors on a fixed income may try to cut expenses in this area, and if taken to an extreme this can be dangerous.
If you are unable to help financially, the U.
S.
Department of Energy sponsors a couple of programs that can be helpful to low income seniors.
One helps with the cost of weatherization and the other helps to pay utility bills.
There are many other things to be on the look out for that can make your senior's home and living conditions safer.
As we all age and become less agile or our eye sight is not what it used to be, we become more prone to falls or accidents.
Hopefully, this short list has given you some ideas on ways that you can help those special seniors in your life and keep them safer.
Its common, as they become less agile and active, that furniture, flooring, stairs and other things around the house are left in some state of disrepair.
Left uncorrected, these things can eventually lead to serious falls or other injuries.
Here are some things you can watch out for to keep your senior who is living alone safe.
Assist With Minor Repairs - Be proactive and don't wait for an accident or serious injury to happen first.
When visiting your senior keep an eye out for things that need some attention and help get them fixed.
This could be by doing it yourself, or by paying a handyman.
When I was younger this was a great way that I could help my grandparents out.
I enjoyed doing little things around their place.
Normally, its not very difficult stuff and just requires someone with a steady hand to hold a hammer or screwdriver to tighten up something, or to climb up on a step ladder or chair to replace a light bulb.
Check Smoke Detectors - Make sure that there are smoke detectors in the house and test them periodically to make sure that the batteries are charged and that the units are in working order.
Make a point when visiting to have batteries on hand and change them out once a year.
Today's smoke detectors are very inexpensive and effective, and they can provide that early warning needed to save lives in the event of a fire.
List of Emergency Numbers - Have a list of emergency numbers, 911, numbers of family members, and close friends and neighbors who may be looking out for your senior.
Make sure that the list is in large print and located next to the telephone.
This way if an emergency occurs or they need assistance in a hurry, they don't have to try to remember a number or fumble through phone books to find it.
Heating and Cooling - When visiting your senior take special note of the temperature.
Is it too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter? Older people sometimes like to keep the house a little warmer than you might, but be aware of any dangerous situations that may be caused due to lack of finances.
Seniors on a fixed income may try to cut expenses in this area, and if taken to an extreme this can be dangerous.
If you are unable to help financially, the U.
S.
Department of Energy sponsors a couple of programs that can be helpful to low income seniors.
One helps with the cost of weatherization and the other helps to pay utility bills.
There are many other things to be on the look out for that can make your senior's home and living conditions safer.
As we all age and become less agile or our eye sight is not what it used to be, we become more prone to falls or accidents.
Hopefully, this short list has given you some ideas on ways that you can help those special seniors in your life and keep them safer.
