Independent Aging and Home Safety

Independent aging and home safety go hand-in-hand. For many seniors, it is extremely important to family and friends to prove that safety measures are in place. They will be constantly on edge that mom, dad, grandma, or grandma might fall and lay in pain for hours or days before help arrives.

Of course, their worries are probably justified. One in two people over the age of 65 will fall and break a hip. With age, it becomes harder to assume that pain and injury happens to the other guy.

In addition, it is nice to know that if any emergency arises, help will be on the way in a matter of minutes. For instance, a lot of elderly folks are able to stay home because they wear some sort of alert device. Then, family members quit nagging, lovingly of course, because the phone does not have to be within reach to get help.

Home Safety Ideas

Implement additional home safety ideas will also go a long way in convincing others that you are still capable of living alone at home. As long as you can prove you have the home safety aids in place, to help prevent a fall or some other injury, it will be a lot easier to experience independent aging.

To make sure your home is as safe as you can possibly make it, begin by going through every room in the house and determining what changes are necessary to make life easier. For example, if getting up and down from a sitting position has become a precarious adventure, a lift chair or lift cushion may be the answer to that problem.

For sure, you will want to make the bathroom a priority in home safety. To avoid slipping or falling in the shower or tub, hand grips on the wall will help steady your balance. You may also want a raised toilet seat, so getting down and up from the commode is simpler. A shower chair is also an excellent idea for those who may have difficulty standing for any length of time.

The bedroom can also be unsafe, especially if you have to get up in the middle of the night. If you are tired and half asleep, your balance is likely to be even more unsteady. A bedrail might come in handy for standing up or even switching positions in the night.

Alleviate your Own Fears

Independent aging and living at home for as long as possible is always preferable to residing in a rest home, where you are away from what is familiar and existing in a hospital-like environment. But, you may have some natural fears to being home alone, just in case something happens.

With any number of home safety devices implemented and the necessary equipment to make life a little easier and more comfortable, you can continue to enjoy your home in peace. Knowing you have done everything possible to make your house safer, and knowing that help is just an alert away, will give you the confidence to reassure friends, family, and yourself.

About the Author:

With his partner Hulet, Mike started Rehabmart in 1998 while practicing as Occupational Therapists. As therapists, we discovered that our patients did not always have access to high quality medical products and equipment. We decided to do something about this and began to make products and valuable information available online. We offered products that promoted independence, had functional uses, and made an innovative impact on the lives of those persons needing the products. For more information regarding equipment and devices to make aging in place a little easier, please visit http://www.rehabmart.com/index-rehabilitation.asp.

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Webpage by Paul Susic MA Licensed Psychologist Ph.D. Candidate