senior care

Guest Blog: Tips for Making a Home Safer for Seniors

With growing age, keeping up with daily activities can become difficult. Aging seniors cannot do basic chores like cooking and cleaning and even moving around in their homes can sometimes become difficult. Taking care of your aging parents is a noble task, but due to current lifestyles, it has become challenging for children to take care of parents. Since you cannot be with them 24/7, you can change at home to make their lives easier and to avoid accidents. The good news is, now you can get help with your senior care in Dallas or any other city across cities across the nation. There are great options for senior care to simplify and improve your life, putting everyone’s mind at ease.

Here are five of the top things you can do to make life easier for seniors living in their own homes.

  1. Create a fall free zone.

Older people have increased risks of falling or slipping even from the smallest things. The following simple changes can reduce the chances of tripping:

  • Install a cordless or cell phone instead of using a traditional telephone.
  • Remove throw rugs from the home, as they can be hazardous for people using walkers.
  • Place electrical cords for the TV, modem, and telephone should correctly to avoid tripping.
  • Obtain an alarm bracelet or necklace that sends alert to emergency services with a push-button.
  • Encourage the use of a cane or a walker at all times instead of holding onto walls and furniture.
  • Purchase non-slippery footwear or flat, thin-soled shoes that fit well.
  • Change floorings from tiles to wooden.
  • Create a secure place for pets, so that they do not clutter things in the hallway or the living room.
  1. Teach older adults fire safety tips

The kitchen is a potential area where seniors are at risk of getting burnt. Here are things you can do to prevent danger from fire:

  • Set up the kitchen so that everything is easily accessible.
  • Install a smoke detector and check its battery regularly.
  • Replace faulty appliances.
  • Avoid putting too many electrical wires in one socket.
  • Instruct them to call 911 to put out a fire.
  • Instruct them to avoid smoking in bed.

In case you feel that getting a caregiver is a better resource for your aging parents, you may contact a trusted provider for senior care in Dallas or your local area.

  1. Reduce the risk of bathroom slips and falls. 

A risk assessment of the bathroom identifies the potential dangers of slips and falls and highlights any further controls needed to ensure seniors’ safety.

  • Set the water heater at no more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent scalding.
  • Add support and grab bars in the bathing area and near the toilet to assist more natural movement.
  • Place a rubber mat in tubs to avoid slips due to water.
  • Install chairs and bars in the tubs to reduce the risk of falling in the bathroom.
  • Install better lighting or sensory lights in hallways and bathroom areas.
  1. Protect them from strangers.

Older adults are an easy target for scams and crime. You can protect them from these risks by teaching them a few tips:

  • Don’t welcome strangers in the house for any reason.
  • Don’t be fooled by strangers in uniform or with an identification badge. Call 911 immediately.
  • Install security cameras and an alert system so they as well as you can check who is at the door.
  • Teach your loved ones the emergency contact information.
  • Tell them not to give personal information on the phone.
  1. Arrange for in-home caregiver services.

 Most cities and towns across the United States (New York, D.C., Seattle, Phoenix, etc.) now offer in-home caregiver services through agencies like Ultimate Home Health Care in Dallas, Texas. This is a convenient service, because you can simply call to arrange 24/7 caregiver support, just when you need it. That means your aging parents or grandparents can maintain their independence and stay in thir home longer, getting expert care with all of the comforts they enjoy.

Senior care in Dallas is only a phone call away and is always available for your aging parents or grandparents. Ultimate Home Health Care is a great agency to consider for seniors in the Dallas area. Ultimate provides the best 24/7 caregiver services sent directly to the homes of seniors in need of help throughout the DFW area in North Texas. From cooking meals to providing transportation to social events, you can trust Ultimate Home Health Care’s caregivers to assist your parents with love and care.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By |2023-01-30T17:01:39-05:00January 30th, 2023|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off on Guest Blog: Tips for Making a Home Safer for Seniors

Guest Blog: How to Find the Most Engaging Senior Living for Your Loved One

Making the decision to place your loved one in an assisted living community is never easy. Whether this option was carefully considered over a period of time or a sudden change in health has culminated in this necessary change, it’s important to take the time to find the right community for your loved one. Fortunately, there are ways you can increase your chances of finding a wonderful senior living facility that will tend to your aging loved one’s needs.

●    Talk to Your Loved One’s Health Care Provider

Usually, the best people to give recommendations on senior living facilities are physicians and nurses who specialize in providing geriatric care. Because their clients are of advanced age, they will be familiar with the local senior living homes. They can also provide you with information on which facilities tend to provide more engagement and enrichment activities, as well as which ones might only provide basic care. Others in your local community or church group might also have the information you need to get started on your search for the perfect assisted living community.

●    Consider Ratio of Providers to Residents

While it’s not impossible to provide an enriching environment within larger assisted living facilities it can be quite difficult, especially if they are understaffed or staffed with underqualified employees. If the ratio of staff to providers is too large for your liking you may want to consider placing your loved one elsewhere. If there are too many residents and not enough caregivers your loved one may not receive the amount of personal attention they need to truly thrive in their new community. You should always go with your intuition when choosing the proper assisted living facility to take care of your loved ones.

●    Check Out Their Events Calendar

A good sign of an enriching senior living facility is a full events calendar. Regardless of age, many seniors enjoy having a robust social life. A sense of community and a lively atmosphere can even help loved ones who are living with dementia cope better with their prognosis and disease management. Other countries emphasize the importance of community and inclusion within their care homes. For example, Japan is known for its thriving older population. A Japanese retirement community usually offers a wide range of activities for their residents to participate in, which promotes wellness and a better quality of life. If the facility you are considering offers social outings, group exercise classes, pet therapy, and other opportunities then that is a good sign of a caring and compassionate place for your loved one.

●    Take a Tour and Talk With Other Residents and Families

One of the most effective ways to decide if a senior living home may be a good fit for your loved one is to take a tour and observe a typical day at the facility. You will get a pretty good idea of what their sense of community is like, as well as whether most residents are happy and socializing with others throughout the day. Another sign to look for is if the caregivers seem to be engaged with their residents or whether they seem to simply perform their duties as needed. Enriching senior living facilities will usually feature brightly decorated spaces, common areas, games, and other amenities for residents to enjoy.

●    Assess Facility for Proper Security Measures

As your loved one ages you want to ensure that the facility you choose for them meets safety standards. Age-related issues like dementia, Alzheimer’s, and memory loss can all lead to unfortunate accidents and tragedies that are usually preventable. Before selecting a senior living community for your loved one be sure to run down a safety standards checklist. You’ll want to see that the facility has brightly lit hallways, multiple fire detectors throughout the premises, secured entrance and exit points, as well as handrails and CCTV. While it’s important to provide residents with enriching and stimulating activities, your loved one’s safety is tantamount.

Finding the right senior living facility for your aging loved one can be challenging, both figuratively and emotionally. Fortunately, with a bit of time and patience, you can find a wonderfully engaging senior living facility to meet your loved one’s health needs and provide them with a wonderful quality of life.

 

By |2022-07-13T19:07:31-05:00July 13th, 2022|Dr. Mauk's Boomer Blog, News Posts|Comments Off on Guest Blog: How to Find the Most Engaging Senior Living for Your Loved One
Go to Top