Bring Mom to the Fall Prevention Fair on Saturday!
Saturday, October 25
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
North Park Mall - south end
(NW 122nd Street and May Avenue)
DON'T FALL DOWN, OKLAHOMA!
Opinion Editorial in the Daily Oklahoma!
Please click the title of this post to read our editorial, which appeared on page 9A in the October 22, Daily Oklahoman. This link is to the Oklahoma's NewsOK site, http://www.newsok.com.
Many thanks to the editors at the Oklahoman for helping us raise awareness about this major public health issue!
Sincerely,
Virginia Harbour
Many thanks to the editors at the Oklahoman for helping us raise awareness about this major public health issue!
Sincerely,
Virginia Harbour
Home Prevention Checklist for Older Adults
Information Source: Centers for Disease Control
FALLS AT HOME
Each year, thousands of older Americans fall at home. Many of them are seriously injured, and some are disabled. In 2002, more than 12,800 people over age 65 died and 1.6 million were treated in emergency departments because of falls.
Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix. This checklist will help you find and fix those hazards in your home.
The checklist asks about hazards found in each room of your home. For each hazard, the checklist tells you how to fix the problem. At the end of the checklist, you’ll find other tips for preventing falls.
FLOORS: Look at the floor in each room
Q: When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture?Ask someone to move the furniture so your path is clear.
Q: Do you have throw rugs on the floor?Remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or a non-slip backing so the rugs won’t slip.
Q: Are there papers, books, towels, shoes, magazines, boxes, blankets, or other objects on the floor?Pick up things that are on the floor. Always keep objects off the floor.
Q: Do you have to walk over or around wires or cords (like lamp, telephone, or extension cords)?Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them. If needed, have an electrician put in another outlet.
STAIRS AND STEPS: Look at the stairs you use both inside and outside your home.
Q: Are there papers, shoes, books, or other objects on the stairs?Pick up things on the stairs. Always keep objects off stairs.
Q: Are some steps broken or uneven?Fix loose or uneven steps.
Q: Are you missing a light over the stairway?Have an electrician put in an overhead light at the top and bottom of the stairs.
Q: Do you have only one light switch for your stairs (only at the top or at the bottom of the stairs)?Have an electrician put in a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get light switches that glow.
Q: Has the stairway light bulb burned out?Have a friend or family member change the light bulb.
Q: Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?Make sure the carpet is firmly attached to every step, or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs.
Q: 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. Make sure handrails are on both sides of the stairs and are as long as the stairs.
KITCHEN: Look at your kitchen and eating area.
Q: Are the things you use often on high shelves?Move items in your cabinets. Keep things you use often on the lower shelves (about waist level).
Q: Is your step stool unsteady?If you must use a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool.
BATHROOMS: Look at all your bathrooms.
Q: Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
Q: Do you need some support when you get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet?Have a carpenter put grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet.
BEDROOMS: Look at all your bedrooms.
Q: Is the light near the bed hard to reach?Place a lamp close to the bed where it’s easy to reach.
Q: Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?Put in a night-light so you can see where you’re walking. Some night-lights go on by themselves after dark.
Other Things You Can Do to Prevent FallsExercise regularly.
FALLS AT HOME
Each year, thousands of older Americans fall at home. Many of them are seriously injured, and some are disabled. In 2002, more than 12,800 people over age 65 died and 1.6 million were treated in emergency departments because of falls.
Falls are often due to hazards that are easy to overlook but easy to fix. This checklist will help you find and fix those hazards in your home.
The checklist asks about hazards found in each room of your home. For each hazard, the checklist tells you how to fix the problem. At the end of the checklist, you’ll find other tips for preventing falls.
FLOORS: Look at the floor in each room
Q: When you walk through a room, do you have to walk around furniture?Ask someone to move the furniture so your path is clear.
Q: Do you have throw rugs on the floor?Remove the rugs or use double-sided tape or a non-slip backing so the rugs won’t slip.
Q: Are there papers, books, towels, shoes, magazines, boxes, blankets, or other objects on the floor?Pick up things that are on the floor. Always keep objects off the floor.
Q: Do you have to walk over or around wires or cords (like lamp, telephone, or extension cords)?Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them. If needed, have an electrician put in another outlet.
STAIRS AND STEPS: Look at the stairs you use both inside and outside your home.
Q: Are there papers, shoes, books, or other objects on the stairs?Pick up things on the stairs. Always keep objects off stairs.
Q: Are some steps broken or uneven?Fix loose or uneven steps.
Q: Are you missing a light over the stairway?Have an electrician put in an overhead light at the top and bottom of the stairs.
Q: Do you have only one light switch for your stairs (only at the top or at the bottom of the stairs)?Have an electrician put in a light switch at the top and bottom of the stairs. You can get light switches that glow.
Q: Has the stairway light bulb burned out?Have a friend or family member change the light bulb.
Q: Is the carpet on the steps loose or torn?Make sure the carpet is firmly attached to every step, or remove the carpet and attach non-slip rubber treads to the stairs.
Q: 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. Make sure handrails are on both sides of the stairs and are as long as the stairs.
KITCHEN: Look at your kitchen and eating area.
Q: Are the things you use often on high shelves?Move items in your cabinets. Keep things you use often on the lower shelves (about waist level).
Q: Is your step stool unsteady?If you must use a step stool, get one with a bar to hold on to. Never use a chair as a step stool.
BATHROOMS: Look at all your bathrooms.
Q: Is the tub or shower floor slippery?
Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
Q: Do you need some support when you get in and out of the tub or up from the toilet?Have a carpenter put grab bars inside the tub and next to the toilet.
BEDROOMS: Look at all your bedrooms.
Q: Is the light near the bed hard to reach?Place a lamp close to the bed where it’s easy to reach.
Q: Is the path from your bed to the bathroom dark?Put in a night-light so you can see where you’re walking. Some night-lights go on by themselves after dark.
Other Things You Can Do to Prevent FallsExercise regularly.
Exercise makes you stronger and improves your balance and coordination.
Have your doctor or pharmacist look at all the medicines you take, even over-the-counter medicines. Some medicines can make you sleepy or dizzy.
Have your vision checked at least once a year by an eye doctor. Poor vision can increase your risk of falling.
Get up slowly after you sit or lie down.
Wear shoes both inside and outside the house. Avoid going barefoot or wearing slippers.
Improve the lighting in your home. Put in brighter light bulbs. Florescent bulbs are bright and cost less to use.
It’s safest to have uniform lighting in a room. Add lighting to dark areas. Hang lightweight curtains or shades to reduce glare.
Paint a contrasting color on the top edge of all steps so you can see the stairs better. For example, use a light color paint on dark wood.
Other Safety TipsKeep 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.
Nancy Reagan: Lessons to be Learned
Click the title of this post to link to this article on advanceweb.com. This article is geared to caregivers for the senior population.
Don't fall down, Oklahoma!
Don't fall down, Oklahoma!
AP Reports: Nancy Reagan Hospitalized After Bad Fall
Please click the title of this post to navigate to this unfortunate story!
Did you see us in the Oklahoman?
If you read about this blog and the Fall Prevention Fair on Saturday, October 25, in the Daily Oklahoman or online at NewsOK we want to know! Will you leave us a comment? We're so glad you've visited our blog! Please tell us why fall prevention is important to you!
Thanks, again!
Web Address Change
We have purchased the domain name, Dont Fall Down, Oklahoma. Thus, our Web address will will change to www.DontFallDownOklahoma.com within the next day or two. The change has already been made, but will take a few hours to a few days to take full effect. In the meantime, you can continue to use the original Web address. You will be redirected to the new address each time you attempt to visit the old site. Thanks!
Thanks,
Elite Home Care Team
Thanks,
Elite Home Care Team
Fall Prevention Fair October 25
For most people, a slip or trip that leads to a fall may equate to little more than embarrassment, but for seniors, falls are a matter of life or death. Many times, all the king’s doctors can’t put an elderly loved one back together again.
A health fair will address this major public health problem Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Park Mall (south end). The mall is located at 122nd and North May Avenue in Oklahoma City. Seniors along with adult children and grandchildren of the elderly are encouraged to attend. Attendance will help reduce fall risk!
The event will feature comprehensive fall risk assessments, which include review of medications; adaptive equipment; medical history and balance, sensation and blood pressure tests.
“Our goal is to make sure every senior—and everyone caring for a senior in Oklahoma City knows that a fall can seriously injure an older adult,” said Dr. Virginia Harbour, Administrator for Elite Home Care and an expert in fall prevention. “I have seen firsthand the devastation preventable falls can cause to individuals and their loved ones. We have to do more to raise awareness in our community. Falls are preventable.”
U.S. Senate Passes National Fall Prevention Day
Please click the title of this post to link to an article in the Senior Journal about U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski's (D-Md) victory in her on-going battle to prevent falls among senior citizens. (September 23, 2008)
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