It is worth taking the time to establish habits and sharpen up your environment in order to maintain a high level of safety. Enjoy senior living while staying safe!
There are a number of rather simple precautions seniors can take to keep them safe. Having lived this long, don't let simple preventable accidents take your quality of life.
Inspect Your Home and Make it Safe
Just as you clean the house regularly, it will pay off to inspect your home for safety problems. Here are a few of the things you can look for:
- Locks should be in place on doors and windows.
- No hiding places for keys – someone watching can see you get the key.
- Use an alarm system, smoke detectors, fire extinguisher and carbon monoxide detector.
- Install a peep hole on front door, and see that area is well-lit.
- Answering machine should say "we" even if living alone.
- Organize electric cords so they will not cause tripping, putting by wall and/or behind furniture.
- Steps must be kept clear to avoid falls. Paint edge of steps to help with visibility.
- Avoid storing things on the floor to prevent falling.
- Avoid area rugs as they are known to cause falls.
Give Special Attention to Kitchen Safety
- When finished with a meal or when leaving kitchen, develop a routine of walking around the kitchen after each meal, doing a safety check for turning burners and appliances off.
- Clean up any spills on floor immediately to avoid falls.
- Unplug unused appliances.
- Use timers and buzzers loud enough to hear from another room. When timing, do not turn on radio, TV, or earphones as they can keep you from hearing timer. You could stay in kitchen reading while waiting on a timer or carry a timer with you in your pocket.
Practice Habits Which Keep You Safe
- Use your deadbolts and locks – they won't help if they are not used faithfully.
- Have key ready when entering house.
- Leave spare key with a trusted neighbor you know quite well.
- Don't be predictable; change things up so someone watching stays confused.
- Befriend your neighbors; they will look out for you.
- Never share personal information on phone or in public: schedules, last name of self or friends, or say you won't be home at a certain time or day (that invites burglars).
- If you have an electric garage door, do not unlock the car door until garage is completely shut.
- As you drive or walk up to house, glance around before you turn into the driveway to assure no one is nearby. If you see something amiss go on by and seek help.
- Carry a cell phone when in or out of the house. Have important numbers in phone's memory for quick dialing.
Seniors Staying Safe Going Out and About
- Be sure someone knows where you are going and approximately when you should return, especially at night.
- Ask security or trusted friend to walk you to your car (which you parked in well-lit area).
- Avoid ATM's, especially if in closed-in area, someone is close around, or at night. (If a car or person is nearby, drive around the block till they're gone and try again.)
- If walking, use a buddy system by walking with another person or persons.
- Leave valuables and anything that might look like a purse or valuable in trunk to avoid theft.
- Use fanny pack or similar device or front pockets only to avoid valuables dangling in purses or in a back pocket.
- Limit credit cards to one if possible, and have the number to call if stolen clearly findable.
- Avoid uneven surfaces when possible. Use walking stick or cane as extra caution when you must walk on such places.
- Carry at least the minimal medical and emergency information with you at all times.
- Trust your instincts!
Older people can keep themselves safe by inspecting the home (especially the kitchen) for unsafe areas or situations, practicing habits of caution, and taking measures to stay safe when going out and about.
The copyright of the article Safety for Senior Citizens in Senior Safety is owned by Hildra Tague. Permission to republish Safety for Senior Citizens in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
