Keep Older Americia Safe

As a handyman I have noticed a great deal of seniors living in their own homes.
In fact, 95 percent of seniors, aged 75 and older, prefer to stay in the privacy of their own homes, which exemplifies the need for home safety education. With this in mind, I would like to inform you of some simple, yet effective ways to increase the safety of seniors as daily routines like showering and cleaning the home become increasingly dangerous.

The two rooms that seniors spend most of their time in are the kitchen and the bathroom. Here are several tips and projects for these rooms to help keep our seniors safe.

For the kitchen:
· Fixed rugs: double-side tape or suction cups will securely fasten area rugs to the kitchen floor, where water and food are commonly spilled, creating slippery surfaces,
· GFCIs: replace existing standard outlets with ground fault circuit interrupters to reduce the risk of electric shock, and
· Hazard rack: construct an accessible rack to store a fire extinguisher, first aid kit and telephone for any unforeseen injuries.

For the bathroom:
· Hand-held showers: let seniors divert water from the existing shower head to one they can hold in their hand,
· Grab bars: allow seniors to grab onto a secure surface while entering/exiting the tub and using the toilet, and
· Elevated toilets: are positioned two to five inches higher than a standard toilet, putting less stress on seniors’ legs.

Another major concern is the risk of fire related deaths. Each year, more than 1200 Americans sixty-five years old and older loose their lives in home fires. The risk of fire related deaths is almost three times greater for people sixty-five and older. This can be contributed to slow reaction time in emergency situations, not only due to age, but various medications that may decrees their ability to make quick decisions.

Many seniors live alone, so practicing good house keeping and fire safety plans are even more important to help prevent the risk of fire related deaths. Here are some easy steps to help make a safer home environment:
· Install smoke detectors in all hallways and bedrooms
· Dust and test smoke detectors monthly
· Change batteries in smoke detectors annually
· Have at least one CO detectors
· Avoid the use of extension cords
· Keep space heaters three feet away from combustibles
· Have and practice a home escape plane
· Never smoke in bed
· Never leave smoking materials unattended
· Dump ashtrays into an old coffee can and never into the home trash can
· Avoid cluttered rooms and hallways
· Don’t use interior keyed dead bolts
· Keep cooking equipment clean and free of grease
· Never leave cooking unattended

In addition to good fire safety practices you must be prepared if you are caught in a fire situation. Since the large number of home fires happen at night it is important to be prepared to escape from your bedroom. Besides having an escape plan, you will need a back up plan if you are trapped in the bedroom. Here are some simple tips:
· Keep a pair of eye glasses on the night stand, so in an emergency you can see what you are doing
· Have a telephone in the bedroom
· Have a whistle or some kind of portable noise maker to help rescue people locate you in the case of a fire

Remember practicing good fire safety can save a life.

“Call Your Handyman and take a Senior Citizen Fishing”