Here’s What You Should Know About Senior Safety at Home

Falls, burns, poisonings are among the most common accidents involving seniors. Home safety becomes more important when parents or loved ones hit their senior years, even more so when they are living independently. In view to poor eyesight and hearing, arthritis, dementia and side effects from medications, the need to implement safety measures at home becomes all the more urgent. Aging is inevitable, but the power to prevent accidents, injuries and fatal mishaps in the house from occurring totally lies in our hands. Caution should be used at all times, particularly when someone is home alone, with falls being the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injury to the aged. It is just a matter of practicing good safety habits and staying alert, which can go a long way towards ensuring safety of yours or your senior loved one. If you’re an older adult living by yourself, or care for an older person living alone, here are some essential elderly home care tips to stay safe:

Fall prevention safety tips- Remove fall hazards around the house even if you have little to no difficulty with balance or walking. Remove obstacles in the house that could lead to tripping, such as shoes and stray electrical cords, from hallways, stairs, and paths. Install non-slip floor mats, and safety bars and tub grab bars in the bathroom, around the toilet and the tub. All walkways should be well lit. Install handrails on staircases, and tape area rugs to the floor so they don’t shift.

Safety against poisoning- Take necessary precautions to protect yourself or your loved one against poisoning. Make sure there is a carbon monoxide detector near all bedrooms, and test and replace batteries at regular intervals (every six months is recommended). Place all medications in their original containers so that you don't mix them up. Take your medications in a well-lit room, so that you can clearly see the labels. Properly dispose of all old or unused medication. Label the cleaning products and store them far away from food and other eatables. Avoid mixing bleach and ammonia together, or any other cleaning liquids—when mixed, they can give rise to lethal gases.

Keep emergency numbers handy- Beside 911, you should have numbers for poison control and your primary doctor’s office within reach. You should also have a number of a family member or friend designated as an emergency contact, and a trusted neighbor, in case family or friends can’t be contacted. It’s also advisable to schedule regular check-ins with your friend, family member, or neighbor.

Aroga is one of the best home care York County agencies. We keep our client base small to ensure high quality care and attention in the form of matching the best caregivers with a client to ensure there is no laps in care, and the experience is as smooth and comfortable as possible.

For more info, check out: https://www.arogahomecare.com

Learn About How You Can Prevent Common Infections in Older Adults

 

We all experience infections like UTI and pneumonia occasionally, but older adults over 65 years of age are at a higher risk of infections due to their deteriorating health conditions.For older adults, especially ones who choose to age in place in their homes, these common infections can be more difficult to cure and may lead to chronic health issues, hospitalization or even death. Early detection is the key to reducing the risk of more severe diseases, and even death.

It is important for caregivers to learn how to recognize the signs and symptoms of sometimes hard-to-detect infections, hard-to-detect primarily because the elderly do not typically experience a heightened fever with infection the way younger people do, and other times they present with nonspecific symptoms like a reduced appetite, a change in mental status or functioning, or incontinence. It means caregivers will also have to stay alert to any changes in the health of the person for whom they provide care.

Here are the most common infections that affect seniors, and ways to prevent them:

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) –A urinary tract infection (or UTIs) is the most common infection in older adults, especially true for seniors who are diabetic. The infection occurs when bacteria in the bladder or kidney multiplies in the urine. If left untreated, UTIs can cause a person to hallucinate, to feel dizzy, and can also lead to falling, kidney infection, kidney failure, or even sepsis. The common symptoms include the frequent need to urinate and pain or burning with urination.

As a preventative measure, one should consume 2 to 4 quarts of fluid every day. Also, wear cotton underwear and change it daily. Cranberry juice or cranberry tablets can also be helpful provided you don’t have a family history of kidney disease.

Skin Infection- Viral skin infections are common among the elderly. Skin changes as we age, and aging skin takes longer to heal and it gets more difficult to fight infection and resist disease. Even small wounds don’t heal quickly, and may turn into complications when not treated right away. Common skin infections in older people includeshingles, ulcers, cellulitis and bacterial foot infections.

Make sure to help your loved one practice good hygiene and frequent hand washing. Also, get them vaccinated for herpes zoster (shingles).

Influenza- Older adults are susceptible to severe complications from influenza due to several factors, including weakened immune systems and other chronic illnesses which can raise their risk of severe complications due to influenza, such as pneumonia.

According to the best home care in Charlotte, NC advisors, seasonal flu shots are the best way to prevent it. Make sure your loved one doesn’t come in close contact with people who are sick, and practice good hygiene to avoid catching or spreading the flu.

Other common infections in older adults areBacterial Pneumoniaand Gastrointestinal Infection.

For more info, check out: https://www.arogahomecare.com