Most seniors desire to keep living in their home for the rest of their lives. That’s why close to 30% of seniors live at home, including women older than 75. Obviously, independence is precious to most seniors, especially when it allows them to stay in a familiar place or remain part of their community.
But living alone becomes riskier with age. Seniors can become depressed and feel isolated. They may also experience memory problems, and they could be subject to many household hazards. This means that seniors must take a lot of precautions. So, we’ve put together the following information to reveal the risk factors seniors and their caregivers must be aware of and a couple of safety tips for the elderly living alone.
Why Seniors Are at Risk of Falls
Certain physical factors tend to work against us as we grow older. Our muscles get weaker, our joints get stiff, we may experience pains from arthritis, and the ligaments become shortened, hindering our ability to walk.
Other conditions that raise the risk of falls for seniors are:
Poor vision
Being overweight
Joint and bone conditions
Dehydration
Memory problems like dementia
Stroke and its effects
Blood pressure medications
Sitting down for too long
Loss of feeling in feet and toes
Fall-Proofing Your Home
Most falls occur at home where we tend to take our safety for granted. But these domestic falls can be prevented if we heed certain personal safety tips for the elderly and we try to fall-proof the home. Here are some ideas that may be used as an elderly home safety checklist to fall proof your home.
Remove all items that can make you trip or slip: This means removing pet bowls, small furniture, clutter, phone cords and electrical wires.
Rearrange furniture to give more walking space: Take away items from pathways, hallways and stairs.
Secure carpets to the floor: Remove throw rugs, use only non-slip rugs and attach your rugs to the floor using double-sided tape.
Install nonslip strips: Buy non-slip strips at a hardware store and place them on your floor and stairs as well as the shower or bathtub floor.
Avoid all wet surfaces: Stay away from wet floors at home and outdoors. When possible, get them cleaned instantly.
Take extra care when walking outdoors: Avoid going out alone when you need to walk on snow or ice. A slip on such surfaces can cause a major injury.
Install adequate lighting: Ensure that there’s enough lighting in all rooms, walkways and entrances. Light up the stairway and put night lights in the kitchen, bedroom, hallways and bathroom.
I hired Active Home Care to be with my mom a couple of hours every day and provide personal care assistance and medication reminders while I'm at work. I'm very happy with their services, the office team is compassionate and the staff is highly professional.
Bianca Benatar
9/24/2019
I hired Active Home Care to provide home care services to my uncle that lives in Miami FL, they have been wonderful and very helpful. The office staff is well trained and helped us navigate our options successfully. 100% recommended!
Jacobo Taurel
11/05/2019
My experience has been very positive. The company is responsible and responsive. Their employees are caring and attentive. I would recommend.
Shari Macey
3/18/2021
Everything about the process was professional including follow-up. Every detail was handled and the whole process of having help after an accident was effortless with Active Senior Care.
Bari Schanerman
3/04/2021
Amazing service. The office is always attentive to our needs and they treat us like family, we are very happy!
Leonardo Rostoker
3/26/2019
I was looking for in home care services for my mom in the Miami area and found Active Home Care. We started services a couple of months ago and are very satisfied with the staff and caregivers.
Max Rimeris
11/12/2019
Best home care agency in Miami FL, all staff is background screened, caring and professional. I have been an Active Home Care customer for a few years, they are wonderful, they come every day to help me with my morning routine, light housekeeping, driving me to my appointments and grocery...read moreBest home care agency in Miami FL, all staff is background screened, caring and professional. I have been an Active Home Care customer for a few years, they are wonderful, they come every day to help me with my morning routine, light housekeeping, driving me to my appointments and grocery shopping. My quality of life has definitely improved since I hired them.read less
Mina Rozenberg
11/12/2019
The most professional, helpful and amazing caregivers in South Florida!! Thank you for your service, definitely recommend for your loved ones.
Aimee Garden-Fernandez
12/08/2016
I was referred to active home care by a neighbor a couple of months ago. My mother in law is now 82 years old, she is very fragile and needs assistance with some activities of daily living like bathing, dressing and grooming. We have had many different caregivers with a...read moreI was referred to active home care by a neighbor a couple of months ago. My mother in law is now 82 years old, she is very fragile and needs assistance with some activities of daily living like bathing, dressing and grooming. We have had many different caregivers with a lot of turnover, until we found active home care. They came to our home before starting services and met my mother in law, after that they allowed us to interview different caregivers until we felt comfortable. We are very happy with the caregiver and the service provided by the company.read less
Lisbeth Fernandez Watson
8/30/2019
Active Home Care agency helped my father so much! They were so quick to respond and send two caregivers who go above and beyond in their service. I hope this review will help another family make a decision to use and trust Active Home Care agency to help their family...read moreActive Home Care agency helped my father so much! They were so quick to respond and send two caregivers who go above and beyond in their service. I hope this review will help another family make a decision to use and trust Active Home Care agency to help their family member in need.read less
Simona Kogan
12/07/2016
Compassionate, loving and caring. More of a second home to elderly , 24/7 care and attention. Doesn’t have to worry about older parent being alone at home.
Aj Pisces
12/22/2021
Was referred to Active Senior Care by the hospital my mom was staying at so I found them to be trust worthy. Luckily, they were able to find someone who was exactly the kind of person I was looking for to look after her. Great service and would recommend.
Ari
11/04/2020
Active Senior Care has been a huge help with caring for my 96-year-old Mum! They offered friendly, professional, caring services beginning with Blima the representative that I first met in September 2020 all the way to the staff that she organised to help me! I’d had previous experience...read moreActive Senior Care has been a huge help with caring for my 96-year-old Mum! They offered friendly, professional, caring services beginning with Blima the representative that I first met in September 2020 all the way to the staff that she organised to help me! I’d had previous experience working with other agencies. There was no comparison with the outstanding care and concerned that was given by Active Senior Care! I recommend them without hesitation!read less
Thomas Cram
1/22/2021
Selecting care for my wife was one of the most stressful decisions I have ever made. Blima came to our home and really listened to our situation and developed a profile that worked for us. Within days she found the perfect fit and myself and our family will...read moreSelecting care for my wife was one of the most stressful decisions I have ever made. Blima came to our home and really listened to our situation and developed a profile that worked for us. Within days she found the perfect fit and myself and our family will be forever grateful.read less
Lloyd Masukawa
6/15/2021
When I first called Active Home Care, I had been taking care of my mom on my own for several months. I knew I needed help but I didn't know how to find it. My mother's physician recommended Active Home Care, so I called them. They sent a couple of...read moreWhen I first called Active Home Care, I had been taking care of my mom on my own for several months. I knew I needed help but I didn't know how to find it. My mother's physician recommended Active Home Care, so I called them. They sent a couple of caregivers for interviews and I decided on the one I liked the most. I'm using their services 6 hours every day and I'm very happy and relieved now.read less
Camila Roizental
11/12/2019
My mother suffered an accident right before the Holidays and required additional care. I contacted Active Senior Care and they went to work. They paired my Mom with great caregivers, at a truly affordable rate, in a very short time. The empathy and compassion they have shown have made this...read moreMy mother suffered an accident right before the Holidays and required additional care. I contacted Active Senior Care and they went to work. They paired my Mom with great caregivers, at a truly affordable rate, in a very short time. The empathy and compassion they have shown have made this very difficult situation easier. Active Senior Care has great communication and is always there for questions or concerns. They have made what is a hard decision & process, comfortable in a way words cannot accurately express.read less
Evan C
3/09/2021
My mom is a current client at Active Home Care, we are extremely happy with the services she is receiving. Anita is wonderful with her, she really cares for my mom. She comes in every day at 9:00 am to assist her with breakfast and getting her ready and stays...read moreMy mom is a current client at Active Home Care, we are extremely happy with the services she is receiving. Anita is wonderful with her, she really cares for my mom. She comes in every day at 9:00 am to assist her with breakfast and getting her ready and stays with her until 3:00 pm. My mom loves Anita, she keeps my mom safe and takes her out to socialize on a daily basis.read less
Meyer Waich
7/02/2019
Everyone involved is exceptionally professional. All of the home health aides did a wonderful job with my mother. We had a crew of (4) caring for my mom. I would highly recommend this company!!!!
Wayne Higgins
12/17/2020
What to Do After a Fall Occurs
No elderly person should attempt to stand up on their own when a fall happens. If any bone has been broken, they will cause more harm to their bones and muscles while trying to stand up.
Every senior needs to call for help as soon as a fall happens, especially if they have pains or experience injury. To make it easy to call for help during an emergency, seniors should put a small cell phone in their pockets or wear an emergency pendant.
It is also important for seniors to be taken to their doctor for an evaluation after any fall. Sometimes, the fall is a result of other health issues that may not be obvious.
At Active Senior Care, we provide compassionate in-home nursing care and personal care for seniors. We also offer help for the elderly to perform daily activities like bathing, eating, dressing, using the bathroom and mobility. We have a team of professional caregivers that offers service to clients in Miami. We also provide service in surrounding areas including North Miami, Coral Gables, Aventura, Cutler Bay, Bal Harbour and the whole of South Florida.
Give us a call now to get more information about any of our services. We’d be happy to give you a free consultation on improving safety for your beloved senior.