15/Jan/2009
Is your loved-one safe at home?
Learn In-Home Senior Safety For Yourself and Loved Ones
By Bill Freshwater
Homewatch Caregivers
Most seniors want to age at home, where they feel safe and close to the things they value. However, falls are the leading cause of death and injuries among Americans over 65 years of age.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than one-third of all seniors—about 11 million people—fall each year, resulting in almost 12,000 deaths. Of those who survive, 50 percent lose their mobility and 40 percent can no longer be independent.
The elderly are also 2.5 times more likely to die in a residential fire than the rest of the population. Cooking, open flames, smoking and heating caused more fires that resulted in elderly injuries than other sources of fire.
But with appropriate supervision and consistent in-home safety evaluations, you can make it safe for your senior loved one to live at home.
Evaluating your loved one’s environment should be done on a regular basis because a senior’s ability to live independently will continue to change as he or she ages. Maintaining a safe environment can greatly reduce the likelihood of unplanned hospitalizations and enable a healthier, more independent lifestyle for seniors.
To received more information and your free copy of the In-Home Senior Safety Guide contact Homewatch Caregivers at 225-246-8537 or www.homewatchcaregivers.com.
Learn In-Home Senior Safety For Yourself and Loved Ones
By Bill Freshwater
Homewatch Caregivers
Most seniors want to age at home, where they feel safe and close to the things they value. However, falls are the leading cause of death and injuries among Americans over 65 years of age.
According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, more than one-third of all seniors—about 11 million people—fall each year, resulting in almost 12,000 deaths. Of those who survive, 50 percent lose their mobility and 40 percent can no longer be independent.
The elderly are also 2.5 times more likely to die in a residential fire than the rest of the population. Cooking, open flames, smoking and heating caused more fires that resulted in elderly injuries than other sources of fire.
But with appropriate supervision and consistent in-home safety evaluations, you can make it safe for your senior loved one to live at home.
Evaluating your loved one’s environment should be done on a regular basis because a senior’s ability to live independently will continue to change as he or she ages. Maintaining a safe environment can greatly reduce the likelihood of unplanned hospitalizations and enable a healthier, more independent lifestyle for seniors.
To received more information and your free copy of the In-Home Senior Safety Guide contact Homewatch Caregivers at 225-246-8537 or www.homewatchcaregivers.com.
