Five Ways To Help Keep Seniors Safe

01/22/2015
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Keep Seniors Safe: A little help can go a long way.

Often times it’s the little things that matter most. It’s the small ways we can help the senior loved ones in our life that often make a biggest difference. And helping a senior stay safe is no small matter. Here are five ways in which you can help keep your senior loved one safe.

  1. Help seniors manage their medications – Mix multiple doctors and an already forgetful senior and the chance of detrimental drug overlap (polypharmia) or bad reaction increases. Over time, this can lead to personality changes, memory loss, and other symptoms that can easily be mistaken for dementia. The problem of polypharmia is so common that a Dutch study found that one in five prescriptions written for elderly patients were inappropriate. If you suspect your senior loved one is being over-medicated, tag along on their next doctor’s visit. Bring a list of every medication including frequency and dosage. Insist the senior’s primary care physician act as gatekeeper for all prescriptions and notify their office any time there’s a change.

 

  1. Help seniors keep their drinking in check – Once a senior turns 50, he or she may not be able to handle alcohol like he or she used to. That’s because older drinkers metabolize alcohol more slowly than they did in their younger days and it stays in their system longer and they get drunk more easily. While there’s some evidence that a single drink per day may protect against coronary heart disease, heart attacks and Type 2 diabetes, the National Institutes of Health recommends that people over 65 shouldn’t consume more than seven drinks in a week and never more than three drinks on a given day.

 

  1. Help seniors avoid falls – Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death and hospital admissions among people age 65 and older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most common causes of senior slip-and-falls are poor vision, diminished fitness, medication, and hazardous obstacles like loose carpeting and poor lighting. One of the best ways to help your senior loved one stay upright is by slip-proofing their house. Tack down area rugs, avoid clutter, and keep the bathroom safe by placing rubber stickers in the bath and grab bars on the walls. He also recommends having your senior loved one wear non-slip shoes or slippers, rather than walking around in stocking feet.

 

  1. Spot memory slippage – A CDC study found that nearly one in eight baby boomers reported increasing problems with memory. About a third of those with memory woes were so serious that they led to difficulty performing basic tasks like cleaning, cooking, and working. Problems with memory are exacerbated when a senior tries to hide memory lapses or refuses to see a specialist for an evaluation. The fear and stigma surrounding Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia is so profound, some elders would prefer not to face a diagnosis. While seniors are famously stubborn about seeking medical care for aging issues like memory loss, be sure to insist they see a doctor as soon as you notice any decline in cognitive powers.

 

  1. Keep seniors active – The average woman over the age of 70 spends most of her waking hours either lying down or sitting down, according to a Harvard School of Health study. One recent Nielsen report found that the average person over the age of 65 watches about 48 hours a week of television — that’s 7 hours a day. Encouraging seniors to exercise on a regular basis is the best way to help them stay healthy. Exercise helps keep the physical effects of aging at bay by strengthening muscles and bones, enhancing balance, and easing arthritis pain. And numerous studies show that increased blood flow to the brain that occurs as a result of physical activity can also keep a cognitively healthy senior’s brain sharper and may also decrease symptoms of depression. These advantages have been shown to hold true, even for people in their 80s and 90s.

 

Alternatives for Seniors is a print and online directory that specifically caters to the housing and personal care concerns of senior citizens and their families. Call our Senior Specialists at (888) WE-ASSIST (888-932-7747) or visit the Alternatives for Seniors website to begin searching for the perfect home for you or your loved ones. Also, be sure to join our Facebook community and follow us on Twitter, Linked-In and Pinterest.

 

 

BLOG Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015
Writer: Ryan Allen