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Greg Feldman
Greg Feldman is Co- Owner of Always There Senior Care in Wichita. He moved from rural Western Kansas in 1979 to Wichita where he attended Butler County Community College and graduated in 1983 with an Associate Degree in Nursing and in 1996 he graduated from Kansas Newman University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing. After several years of intensive care nursing at Via Christie St Francis he left to accept a consulting position with Procter and Gamble in the long term care industry for ten years. The past 8 years have been spent in the Pharmaceutical Sales. Since becoming Co-Owner of Always There Senior Care in 1986, he is responsible for the day to day operations and directing attendant care services and care givers in homes of seniors. Greg Feldman can be reached at 316-946-9222 or on the internet at www.alwaysthereusa.com. You can email Greg at mail@alwaysthereusa.com.
Senior Living
2007-07-01 16:13:00
Preventing injuries in the home
As I become older how do I know that my home is safe to help prevent injuries such as falls so that I can maintain my independence at home?
As baby boomers plan for retirement years, they want housing and renovations that will allow them to remain at home as long as possible. Many are also caring for aging family members who continue to live at home. Falls are the number one safety issues facing seniors. Most falls occur at home. Each year 734,000 people over 65 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for injuries associated with stairs, bathtubs, furniture, carpeting and other products seniors live with and use every day. They account for almost two-thirds of injuries for which those over 65 are hospitalized, and 40 percent of admissions to nursing homes. Falls are also the leading cause of fatal injury among seniors. Stairs and steps considerations should be to make sure light switches are at both the top and bottom of the stairs. There should be enough light to see each step at the top and bottom landings. Install hand rails on both sides of the stairway and be sure to use them. Put non slip treads on each bare-wood step. Do not place loose area rugs at the bottom or top of stairway. Bathrooms are also a place that needs to be secured for safety. Grab bars should be installed on bathroom walls near the toilet and along the bathtub or shower. Place a slip-resistant rug adjacent to the bathtub for safe exit and entry and use nonskid adhesive textured strips on the bathtub or shower floor. Use a sturdy, plastic seat in the bathtub if you are unsteady or if you cannot lower yourself to the floor of the tub. Stabilize yourself on the toilet by using either a raised seat or a special toilet seat with armrests. The bedroom should be clear of clutter from the floor, a lamp and flashlight should be near the bed. Install night lights along the route to the bathroom from the bedroom or when ambulation is a problem place a portable commode at the bedside. Keep a telephone near the bed. In living areas, arrange furniture to create clear pathways between rooms and remove low coffee tables, magazine racks, footrests and plants from pathways. Install easy access light switches at entrances to rooms so you won’t have to walk into dark rooms to turn on the light. Secure loose rugs with double-faced tape or slip-resistant backing. Place carpeting over concrete, ceramic and marble floors to lessen the severity of injury in case of a fall. Loose wooden floorboards should also be repaired immediately. The kitchen also needs some attention to make sure it is safe. Remove throw rugs and clean up spills on the floor right after they happen. You should store food dishes and cooking equipment at easy to reach level. Use nonskid floor wax to bring down the risk of falling in an area that is already a large risk. There are various organizations that can assist with making the home safe such as the Department on Aging and the various home health agencies that employ occupational therapists who are trained in home safety. Equipment can be purchased from durable medical suppliers. Also resources such as medical alert monitoring, Life Line organization, and companies that will provide care givers in the home any where from 1 to 24 hours a day. The one thing to keep in mind when talking to these companies is that this service is not a way to take independence away but to help the senior to maintain independence at home.
 
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