How to Check Your Home for Senior Safety - Part 1

Live more confidently in your own home by recognizing and eliminating hidden dangers in your home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A notebook & pencil is all you need surveying your home for safety.

1. At most risk for injury, are the aging. According to the Home Safety Council, slips and falls are the leading cause of home injury death in the United States. Each year, more than 7,000 adults age 65 and older die from unintentional home injuries. Falls alone account for 66% of all home injuries for adults age 65 and older, totaling over 2.3 million accidents per year.
   
   Taking precautionary steps to prevent accidents has been shown to reduce injuries in the aging. In the past, grab bars and other safety features were unsightly and institutional. Now, safety features are available in many models and finishes, to fit any decor. Most can be easily installed by a handyman or relative.
   
   Let’s examine a key area for preventing falls and maintaining security, the entrance ways of your home. Check the following items to assess your home’ s level of safety:
2. Are the stairs on any of your walkways chipped or broken?
3. Measure the width of your walkways – would they be wide enough for a wheelchair? (standard wheelchair is 30 inches wide, 48 inches long)
4. Check all steps inside & out for steep height between risers. You may want to consider replacing steps that are too steep with a ramp, or installing a bypass ramp to your entrance.

Tips & Warnings

• Taking precautionary measures now will help you to stay in your home, safe and secure for many years to come. For more information about identifying hazards in your home, visit the Home Safety Council website www.homesafetycouncil.org.
• It may be necessary to seek professional assistance with some of the items suggested. Senior centers and contractor referral services can be useful resources when searching for a reliable contractor.