How We Help Your Loved Ones Stay Safe At Home

Quality care means managing all aspects of your loved one’s health and safety.  There is a lot to think about in everyday life and you probably have a lot of questions or concerns.  Is my family member safe at home?  Did they remember to take their medications or are they accidentally forgetting and taking extra doses?  What if I’m not there to help them reach for the blankets on that top shelf?  Are they able to get in and out of their bathtub safely?  Are their clothes in good shape so as not to get snagged or tangled on something? You don’t have to worry about all of the details of keeping your loved ones healthy and safe when you use our Homecare service.  We will do an initial walk-through and interviews to assess your situation and address the issues that are important to your family.  Health and safety checks include monitoring your loved one’s physical abilities and their environment to reduce the risk of falls, prevent injuries, ensure proper medication administration and ensure a healthy lifestyle just to name a few.  These details are reviewed periodically and as needed to ensure your loved one is getting the right care at the right time always.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA) one in four elderly Americans have falls every year and falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries.  This is costly both in medical expenses and quality of life as injuries tend to increase the necessity for long term specialized care including the inability to stay in the comfort of the home.

Preventing and reducing falls and other accidents means looking over the physical space as well as health and lifestyle.  A neat and orderly home that is set up properly and tailored to individual needs will help reduce accidents.  We want to avoid making our loved ones move around in a space that is dark and cluttered.  Looking for and reducing obstacles while making their life easier and safer makes for a better quality of life.  We have homemakers and caretakers with a variety of skills to address your unique needs, so you don’t have to worry about the details.

Together, we can reduce the chances that your loved ones will have a fall or other accidents through education and self-examination.  This involves looking over your loved one’s physical space and addressing any risks.  Here are some examples of typical concern areas we look to address to help reduce the risk to your loved ones and bring you peace of mind:

Physical Space

• Cluttered walkways or stairs
• Throw rugs
• Loose flooring
• Poor lighting
• Loose wiring
• Unfinished repairs
• Wet floors
• Organization (being able to locate and reach items easily)
• Snow and ice control outside in the winter

Health and Lifestyle

• Medications up to date and administered correctly
• Current eye exams and glasses
• Current hearing and functioning hearing aids
• Proper footwear
• Clothing fits properly
• Getting enough exercise
• Alcohol consumption
• Hurrying or feeling rushed (running or getting up too quickly)

Physical Abilities

• Reaching
• Getting in and out of chairs, bed and bathtub
• Eyesight
• Hearing
• Injuries including previous falls
• Picking up objects off the floor
• Walking with or without assistance

This is not all inclusive, we tailor our care for your loved one’s specific needs and ensure the highest quality of care by having a certified nurse check in and update the care plan at regular intervals.  We encourage open communication with everyone in your family member’s support team for the most comprehensive and compassionate level of care.