Senior Safety

Whether you are taking care of a senior, or are one yourself there are a lot of important things to know about safety and security with regards to Seniors. Sometimes this information can be difficult to obtain, hard to understand or scattered throughout various pamphlets, guides and other media sources. It is our goal here to provide a comprehensive guide to senior safety, security and maintaining independence, so whether you are a senior, or simply a concerned relative, you can get all the information you need to ensure a long and happy life for you or your loved ones. The information provided in this guide was taken from many different sources and is meant to be extremely comprehensive, offering the most up to date and important information available.

Home Safety

Being safe, and feeling safe in your own home are two very important things in today’s world, and knowing about safety is the best way to maintain independence as a senior. Here are some tips and facts to keep your home as safe as possible.

• Most break-in’s occur during daylight hours, just because the sun is up, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t keep doors and windows locked and secured when possible.
• Keep shrubs and trees well trimmed to eliminate potential hiding places.
• Make sure that the exterior of your home is well lit, make use of motion sensitive lights to ward off potential burglars.
• Make it difficult to gain entry to your house or apartment, use deadbolts on doors and locks on windows
• Secure basement and attics as, these can often be overlooked by homeowners and make easy entry points for burglars.
• Plan an escape route and know where the best exits are.
• Check electrical equipment for frayed wires, replace as needed.
• Remove cords from under carpets and rugs as this can cause a fire or serious damage.
• Replace appliances that no longer work properly.
• Don’t be afraid to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood to the authorities
• Call 9-1-1 if you need help, it is there for YOU.

Kitchen Safety

Kitchen fires are the leading cause in America of fires in the home and the second leading cause of death to Seniors. Here are some tips to make sure your kitchen is safe.

• Never leave burners turned on or cooking unattended, especially if leaving the house, even if only for a few minutes.
• Put a lid on pots and pans to smother any fires that may flare up.
• NEVER throw water or flour on a fire, water could make the fire spread and flour could explode.
• Turn of the heat and leave the oven door closed if there is an oven fire.
• Trim or remove curtains above the stove as these could turn a simple fire into a large one very quickly.
• Have a fire extinguisher nearby and test it often.
• Test all smoke detectors once a month and replace batteries once a year. Also, make sure you have at least one smoke detector on each floor of your house.
• Eliminate unnecessary fire hazards such as piles of paper and clutter.

Maintaining Independence

For Seniors, maintaining their independence is an important and sometimes touchy issue. No one wants to have to leave their house or require help for tasks in daily life. However, as we age, or for some of us our parents age, the need to be safe AND independent is ever increasing. At On Call Companion we offer a tested method of remaining independent in the home. On Call Companion is a Personal Emergency Reporting System that consists of a base unit, which can be plugged into any standard Telephone line, and one or more Pendant Transmitters. The small and discrete pendant can be worn on the wrist, belt or around the neck on the included lanyard and provides seniors with a constant link to help, anywhere in the house. One press of the button initiates a two-way voice connection with our friendly and always available monitoring center. Whether you hear a sound at night and are afraid of a burglar or intruder, or you need any other kind of assistance, Fire, Police or Paramedics, they are a button away. With your On Call Companion you will always feel safe and secure. Besides the On Call Companion, here are some other ways to help maintain independence.

• Assess and list current ailments and difficulties. This will help you and your loved ones decide on a plan of action.
• Clear your residence and property of anything that may pose a fall risk to you or your loved ones. Wires, uneven pavement and clutter are the most common fall hazards in homes.
• Make use of available Medical Aides, especially in fall prone areas such as the bathroom, installing a simple rail on the wall of your shower for instance can make a big difference.