Home Safety for Seniors

Ensuring home safety for the elderly is crucial to prevent accidents and promote their well-being. Here are some important tips to create a safe living environment:

1. Remove tripping hazards: Keep the floors free from clutter, loose rugs, or any other items that may cause the elderly to trip and fall. Secure loose cables and cords to the wall or use cord covers.

2. Install grab bars and handrails: Install grab bars in the bathroom, especially near the toilet and shower area, and handrails on stairways to provide stability and support.

3. Improve lighting: Adequate lighting is essential to prevent falls. Install bright lights in hallways, staircases, and entrance areas. Consider using motion sensor lights to ensure good visibility during nighttime.

4. Non-slip surfaces: Use non-slip mats or rugs with rubber backing in the bathroom and near entrances. Apply non-slip strips or decals to slippery surfaces such as bathtubs and showers.

5. Secure rugs and carpets: Ensure that rugs and carpets are properly secured to the floor to prevent slipping. Consider using double-sided tape or rug grippers.

6. Organize belongings: Keep commonly used items within reach to avoid the need for climbing or overreaching. Rearrange kitchen cabinets and storage areas accordingly.

7. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors: Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors throughout the home. Test them regularly to ensure they are functioning correctly.

8. Medication management: Set up a system to help the elderly manage their medications safely. Use pill organizers or automatic medication dispensers to prevent errors or missed doses.

9. Bathroom safety: Use a raised toilet seat to make it easier for the elderly to sit and stand. Place a non-slip mat or adhesive strips in the bathtub or shower to prevent slips.

10. Emergency response system: Consider installing an emergency response system that the elderly person can use to call for help in case of a fall or other emergencies.

11. Clear pathways: Ensure that all pathways in the home are clear and easy to navigate. Remove any obstacles, excess furniture, or clutter that may obstruct movement.

12. Adequate heating and cooling: Maintain a comfortable and safe temperature inside the home. Ensure that heating and cooling systems are functioning correctly and have regular maintenance.

13. Fire safety: Place fire extinguishers on each floor of the house and near the kitchen. Educate the elderly on fire safety procedures and how to use fire extinguishers.

14. Stair safety: Install handrails on both sides of the staircase for stability. Consider adding stair gates at the top and bottom to prevent accidental falls.

15. Regular home maintenance: Keep the home well-maintained by checking for any potential hazards such as loose handrails, broken steps, or faulty electrical outlets. Address these issues promptly.

Remember, every individual's needs may vary, so it's essential to assess the specific requirements of the elderly person in question and make appropriate adjustments to ensure their safety and comfort.

Emergency Preparedness for Seniors

When it comes to senior care, being prepared in the case of an emergency is vital. During an emergency knowing who to contact and having immediate access to pertinent medical info can save the life of your loved one.

Emergency checklist

• Keep a binder readily available with all relevant information regarding insurance contacts, physicians and emergency contacts, etc.

• Keep a list of important contacts in your emergency binder.

• Have medical information on hand – time is of the essence in an emergency. Being able to hand emergency personnel the information they need saves precious time. Abundant Blessings Homecare has an “Emergency Medical Information” resource available free to anyone who wants it.

We interviewed numerous fire departments regarding what information they would like to have handed to them in an emergency situation. This resource was put together based on their responses. Once you fill out the form, it then slides into a clear sleeve that adheres with magnets to the front of your refrigerator. In an emergency, you simply take the form out and hand it to the emergency personnel and they do not have to waste precious time asking all those questions. Please call our office at (603) 473-2510, if you would like us to mail one to you free of charge.

• If you or your loved one takes medication, make a list of the medications and their dosages. Don't wait until the last minute to refill prescriptions. Our “Emergency Medical Information” form, which is mentioned above, includes a place for current medications.

• If your loved one receives assistance from a home-care agency, contact the agency and find out how they respond to emergencies. Discuss your emergency backup plan with your family, loved ones and your home-care agency.

• Put together a plan of emergency communication — Disasters are never predictable, and there’s a possibility you may not be able to get to your loved one to physically check on their well-being. Plan ahead to have a way of contacting them in case of a major catastrophe. Home-care agencies can assist with planning. If necessary, don’t hesitate to contact a local fire department to conduct a wellness check.

• Make emergency supplies easily locatable. Everyone involved in the care of your loved one should know where emergency supplies are located.

• For those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s: Even those who have severe cases of dementia or Alzheimer’s understand when something is wrong. Explain the situation calmly and very simply to your loved one.

• Wheelchairs: If your loved one uses a wheelchair, have a plan for how to evacuate the home in case of an emergency.

• Meals: If your loved one relies on home-delivered meals such as Meals on Wheels, always stock nonperishable food at home in case meal deliveries are not possible during an emergency.

• Hearing aids: Those who have a hearing disability should keep an extra pair of easily accessible batteries at home.

• Reliable medical equipment: In an emergency, reliable medical equipment such as oxygen tanks and walkers are of the utmost importance. You cannot rely upon an emergency shelter to have the exact medical equipment you need. Think these details through in advance and have a plan in place and communicate any plan to all caregivers involved.

• Invest in a fall detection device. One major concern for seniors is falling when no one is around. When seniors cannot help themselves up, they could potentially be on the floor for hours or in worst-case scenarios, days. Fall alert systems are essential if a senior is at risk of falling. Alternatively, you can have a home-care agency check in on your loved one on a daily basis.

Remember, time is of the essence whenever you face an emergency. We have free resources available to help you “be prepared.” Please call our office at (603) 473-2510, and we will send you the “Emergency Medical Information Form,” which includes the magnetic sleeve, so you can complete the form and post it on your refrigerator. You will be ready if the unthinkable happens.

Shelley Jarl is the owner of Abundant Blessings Homecare offering personal care, living assistance and in-home care in New Hampshire and Maine. For more information, go to abundantblessingshomecare.com or call (603) 473-2510.

This is a reprint of an article which originally appeared in the Conway Daily Sun.

Questions to Ask When Hiring Homecare Services

Providing care for a loved one can be stressful. Hiring homecare services should help relieve stress, not add to it. We made the following list to help make hiring a homecare service easier. 

Things to consider:

1.  Reputation:  Ask around. Ask your hospital discharge planner about any agency you are considering.  Rehabs or Nursing homes will usually provide you a list of agencies to consider. Senior centers and government services such as Service Link in New Hampshire are also great place to get information. Ask specifically about more than one agency for comparison purposes. 

2. Check out their website: The agency’s website should be thorough, informative and professional.

3. Ask to have a free in-home assessment. Any reputable agency should be willing and able to provide an assessment of your loved one’s needs. This meeting should be one that is not only for admission purposes, but also to answer the family’s questions or concerns. The homecare representative should be willing and able to answer and help guide the family toward the options they have, without pressure. They should be willing to be a resource for you whether you use their services or not. 

Questions to ask an agency:

1. Is your agency licensed by the state?

The states of Maine and New Hampshire require homecare agencies to be state licensed. New Hampshire also requires a state license for independent caregivers. If your family is considering hiring privately for care for your loved one please read our article on this topic "Use Caution When Hiring Independent Caregivers".

2. Will you take care of all required payroll paperwork for my loved one’s caregiver? Are your caregivers all employed by the agency?

The states of Maine and New Hampshire consider you an employer if you independently hire someone to work in your home. There is a large amount of paperwork involved in being an employer. This paperwork covers such matters as taxes, Social Security, workers compensation, disability, and liability insurance. One benefit of hiring an agency is that the agency normally does this for you. Even so, it is good to ask, as some agencies do use independent contractors as caregivers.

3. What kind of training do you provide for your caregivers?

To expect experienced and trained caregivers to work in homecare should be the minimum. However, it is important to ask if the hiring agency is training the caregiver themselves in addition to any formal training or schooling which the caregiver has had. What do they require for continuing education? Abundant Blessings Homecare’s new hire training and continuing education exceeds the state requirements in every area. Our RN is continuously adding and improving our training. We believe providing the very best training and continuing education will assure that our caregivers are the very best caregivers!

4. Do you conduct drug testing on your caregivers?

The states of Maine and New Hampshire do not require drug testing for home healthcare workers. Many homes in which home healthcare services are provided contain controlled substances, therefore we believe drug testing should be a vital part of the hiring process for any home care agency.

5. What kind of background check do you conduct on your caregivers?

Having peace of mind that your loved ones are in good hands is vital when hiring homecare services. The state of NH requires that homecare agencies in New Hampshire conduct only a State of New Hampshire criminal background check, not a Federal background check. They also do not require a motor vehicle driving record check. At Abundant Blessings Homecare we believe that State, Federal and Motor vehicle record checks are all essential when hiring homecare for a loved one. We run all three checks on all our caregivers. These additional checks are an added expense during the hiring process but we feel they are essential for peace of mind for your family. It is possible for someone to have a criminal record in another state which would show up on a Federal check and yet their New Hampshire background check would return "clear". We also believe motor vehicle background checks are imperative because often times home healthcare workers provide transportation for their clients.

6. Are your employees insured and bonded? 

The state of New Hampshire requires insurance of homecare agencies, but not bonding. However, insurance does not cover theft; bonding does. Also, not all liability insurance is the same. You could ask the agency for a copy of their policy or ask what their liability insurance covers. 

7. If at any time my loved one needs more hours of care (eg: 24 hour a day), or if a caregiver should call in sick, do you have the staff for coverage? 

Any agency you hire should have enough staff to cover these situations should they arise.

8. What is your policy regarding sending a caregiver to my loved one’s home whom my loved one has never met?  

It is not safe for an elderly person to be answering the door to total strangers. An agency should have a policy in place regarding the meeting of new caregivers. Abundant Blessings Homecare never sends new caregivers to a home blindly; we always conduct a “meet and greet”.

9. What kind of supervision do you provide? 

Once a caregiver is placed in the home of your loved one, ongoing supervision of that caregiver needs to be provided. How often can you expect a Care Manager/Supervisor to be available? Your family is assigned a Care Manager who you will get to know and trust as your go to person. At Abundant Blessings Homecare our phone number is always answered 24/7 by a real person and if your Care Manager is off when you call, you will be connected with whomever is providing coverage. In addition, we conduct drop in visits just to see how things are going on a regular basis. 

10. What kind of service agreement is required? What are your minimum number of hours?

All agencies have different policies. Find out what is required to be sure it will work for the needs of your loved one.

11. What is your method for tracking a caregiver’s arrival and departure from a clients home?

The agency should have a system in place for this that works for you and your family.

12. What are your hours of operation, and how are phone calls handled during odd hours? 

Abundant Blessings Homecare is available by phone 24/7, and is always answered by a real person!

13. Do you provide a written plan of care which clearly describes any rates and fees?

The state of New Hampshire has requirements which must be on the plan of care. The plan of care should be thorough and well    explained to your family.

14. How soon can you start services?

Your family may need homecare right away, yet the homecare agency may be too busy or too small to handle a quick start. They may need time to schedule services. This is a very important question to ask.

Home Safety Month - Home Fall Prevention for Older Adults

Because June is Home Safety Month, we though it might be a good time to make available our Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults. This document is something which we provide to our home care clients and we thought it would be a helpful resource for family caregivers.  Click here if you would like to download a PDF version of the following article. It is also available in the "Home Care Resource Library"

If you would like more information and resources on Home Safety Month visit the website for the Home Safety Council.

Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults

KEY SAFETY TIPS:

• · Keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone

• · Put a phone near the floor in case you fall and can’t get up

• · Think about wearing an alarm device that will bring help in case you fall and can’t get up

FLOORS:  Look at the floor in each room.

1.  When you walk in a room, do you have to walk around furniture?  If yes, ask someone to move the furniture so your path is clear.

2.  Do you have throw rugs on the floor?  If yes, remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or non-slip backing so the rugs won’t slip.

3.  Are papers, magazines, books, shoes, boxes, blankets, towels, or other objects on the floor? If yes, pick up things that are on the floor and keep objects off the floor.

4.  Do you have to walk over or around cords or wires (cords from lamps, phone, or extension)?  If yes, roll up or tape cords/wires next to a wall so you can’t trip over them.  Consider having an electrician put in another electrical outlet.

      STAIRS & STEPS:  Look at the stairs you use both inside and outside your home.

1.  Are papers, shoes, books, or other objects on the stairs or steps?   Pick up things on the stairs, and keep objects off the stairs.

2.  Are some steps broken or uneven?  Fix the loose or uneven steps.

3.  Are you missing a light over the stairway?   Have a handyman or electrician install an overhead light at the top and bottom of the stairs.

4.  Has the stairway light burned out?  Have a friend or family member change the light bulb.

5.  Is there only one light switch for your stairs (either top or bottom)?  Have a handyman or electrician install a light switch where it is needed.  Consider a switch that glows in the dark.

6.  Are the handrails loose or broken?  Is there a handrail on only one side of the stairs?  Fix loose handrails or put in new ones so they are on both sides of the stairs and as long as the stairs.

7. Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?  Make sure carpet is attached to every step or remove carpet and put in non-slip rubber treads on stairs.

       KITCHEN:  Look at your kitchen and eating area.

 1. Are the things you use on high shelves?   Ask friends or family to place things on lower shelves or cabinets (about   waist high).

  2.  Is your step stool unsteady?  Get a stool with a bar to hold on to, not a chair.

BEDROOMS:  Look at all your bedrooms.

 1.  Is the light near the bed hard to reach?  Place a lamp close to the bed.

 2.  Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?  Put a night-light so you can see where you’re walking. Consider night-lights that go on by themselves after dark.

       BATHROOMS:  Look at all your bathrooms.

1.  Is the floor in your tub or shower slippery?  Put in a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips.

 2.  Do you have some support when you get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet?  Have a handyman put in grab bars next to and inside the tub, and by the toilet.

 OTHER THINGS YOU CAN DO TO PREVENT FALLS

1.  Regular exercise makes you stronger and improves balance and coordination.

2.  Have your doctor/pharmacist look at all your medicines, even over the counter medicines. Some medicines can make   you sleepy or dizzy and some should not be mixed with others.

3. Have your vision checked at least once an year.  Poor vision can increase your risk of falling.

4. Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.  Some medicines/conditions can make you feel lightheaded or dizzy with quick position changes.

5. Wear sturdy shoes with non-slip soles and avoid slippers and athletic shoes with thick soles.

6. Paint a contrasting color on the top front edge of all steps, so you can see the stairs better.

7. Improve the lighting in your home by using brighter bulbs.  Use lamp shades to reduce glare.

8. It is safest to have uniform lighting in a room.  Add lighting to dark areas.  Hang light weight curtains to reduce glare from bright windows and doors.

Abundant Blessings Homecare provides home care for NH and home care for Maine

Family and Friends, Familiar Smells, Nana's Apple Pie....

...The Blessings of Home.

Founded on a belief in old fashioned values, Abundant Blessings Homecare can help you or your aging loved one be blessed by remaining in the safety and comfort of home.

Watch for our "Blessings of Home" apple spice cards with a packet of apple pie spice mix inside. When you receive the card and packet of spice mix, why not bake up an apple pie and bring it to a senior in your life and take the time to reminisce with them about the "blessings of home".

If you would like to receive a free apple spice card and information about Abundant Blessings Homecare, call or email us today.

(603) 473 - 2510 

info@abundantblessingshomecare.com