Volume 3, Issue 3

August 2006

In This Issue:

1. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda

2. Fall Risk Hazards

3. Tips to Prevent Home Accidents

4. Emergency Planning

5. Announcements

This month's SAFE Aging theme of the month is "Accident Prevention". Read about tips to prevent home accidents, and a story called Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda by Dr. Dazio.

1. Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda by Vanessa M. Dazio, OTD

When my grandmother fell and broke her hip, it was too late to prevent the accident from happening. Nanny said she "shoulda been more careful." My grandfather said "Nanny coulda walked more slowly and paid attention" and my mother said "if Nanny woulda just called her (Mom) would have done it". By all accounts, the accident could have been prevented.

Instead, while Nanny was in a big hurry walking outside to a tool shed, she fell! She suffered a life changing hip fracture. Nanny was hospitalized for a couple of weeks. Then she went to a rehab center for a few more weeks of intensive therapy, coming home with a walker and a major physical limitation. She could no longer help her husband who had cancer, and she could barely help herself in the most basic of activities. 

Her home was not accessible. It had steps to come in and go out. There were steps to the attic and steps to the cellar. Her furniture and commode were too low. The heights made it too difficult for her to independently stand up and sit down. She needed help with bathing, dressing, and getting around her house. Nanny never regained her independence. Her family also lost a degree of independence because of the duties they all assumed to care for Nanny and Poppy forever more.  

The  Shoulda, Coulda, Woulda's are a sorry story after the fact. To prevent accidents and injuries from happening to you and the people you love, take early action.

Ø Back to Top

2. Fall Risk Hazards

What Can Be Done to Reduce Fall Risks

If lower body weakness is a problem, it is not too late to work on getting stronger. Develop lower body strength. Stronger muscles will improve balance and walking.

Regular physical exercise such as walking, swimming or bicycling is helpful. Try Tai Chi, an ancient Chinese form of exercise that has proven benefits. It is wonderful for flexibility and balance, and relaxing, too.

Using multiple medications increases personal risk factors for falls. Consult with a doctor or pharmacist at least once a year to review all of the medications taken annually. Sometimes, a review can help doctors to consider drug combinations that could cause dangerous side effects or interactions that interfere with safety at home. Be especially concerned about tranquilizers, sleeping pills, and anti-anxiety drugs.

To reduce risks related to multiple health conditions, be sure to consult with the primary care physician regularly. It is important that prescribing doctors know all treatments to prevent hazardous combinations of medications.

To reduce fall risks related to visual loss, have an eye doctor check vision every year. There are some visual conditions that can develop slowly, do not cause pain, and cause irreparable damage.

To reduce fall risks due to home hazards, read
TIPS TO PREVENT HOME ACCIDENTS

1. Assess your personal risks, then eliminate them!

2. Maintain muscle strength, balance and flexibility (it helps to prevent falls)

3. Maintain your health through good preventive medical care

4. Eliminate hazards and obstacles at home.

5. Be alert at all times (avoid hurrying)

6. Fix hazardous situations at home

7. Report hazardous situations in your community

General Home Safety Tips

1. Install smoke detectors near every bedroom and the kitchen.

2. Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen or easy to reach location

3. Think about adding a carbon monoxide detector.

4. Add an emergency telephone list with bold large print, (easy to see from the floor if a fall happened).

5. Make sure you could reach the phone from the floor (if a fall happened).

6. Make sure lighting is good throughout the house, so that details can be easily seen at all times.

 Bathroom Safety Tips

1. Install safety rails otherwise known as "grab bars' in all bathrooms.

2. Make sure shower/tub floor has a non slip surface to prevent slips or falls.

3. If balance is a problem, sit to bath. Try using a solid, molded plastic lawn chair.

4. Using a chair to prevent a fall is a lot cheaper and safer than falling!

5. Use soap on a rope or soap gels with dispensers to avoid chasing slippery soap bars.

6. Make sure lighting is really good in the bathroom.

7. Organize things so they are easy to reach, nothing above the shoulders or below the knees.

 Floor Safety Tips

1. Eliminate throw rugs, torn rugs.

2. Repair uneven floor surfaces.

3. Pick up shoes, newspapers, clothes hangers, pet toys, and other potential obstacles from the floor.

4. Clean up spills as soon as they happen.

5. Clear all pathways of any obstructions, to prevent the chance of falling.

6. Remove clutter.

Stair Safety Tips

1. Be sure lighting is excellent so that all details are stair edges are easily seen.

2. Install handrails on both sides of the stairs.

3. Repair uneven or damaged stairs.

4. Repair or remove torn or worn carpets.

5. Make sure a light switch is at the top and the bottom of the stairs.

6. Be alert when using the stairs. Pay attention to the details.

7. Avoid carrying loads that reduce vision.

 Kitchen Safety Tips

1. Close all cabinets and drawers right away after using them.

2. Use step ladder safety. Always climb a step ladder while facing the ladder.

3. Make sure lighting is really good, to prevent the possibility of cuts or burns.

4. Be sure steps are clearly visible and stable.

5. Re-arrange or re-organize kitchen to prevent reaching for anything heavy above the shoulders or below the knees.

4. Emergency Planning

It pays to prepare for the unknown or unexpected. Sometimes, seconds or minutes matter. For some tips on emergency planning, visit our Learning Center.

Special Needs Emergency Planning

For special needs tips, refer to this document "Checklist for disaster preparedness for individuals with special needs."

Medic Tag

The Medic Tag can’t prevent accidents from happening. But, the Medic Tag can be a terrific assistive tool that can save a life after an accident has occurred. The Medic Tag is a USB flash disc. The Medic Tag can be plugged into an emergency responder’s computer to download vital information needed to for health care treatment. This is very useful in many situations such as the following:
 

1. after an accident when the user is incapacitated and unable to provide accurate information (such as with shock).

2. if the user is unable to speak due to stroke, dysarthria, coma, severe injury or other disabilities affecting speech.

3. if the user is confused and unable to provide accurate medical, health or emergency contact information.

4. If the user has numerous medical conditions or medications making it difficult to remember all the details.

5. any travelers.

6. to be included with emergency kits, as an easy way to carry important health and safety information.

For more information, refer to www.medictag911.com

Ø Back to Top

5. Announcements

Workshop Presentation: Dr Dazio will be presenting a lively workshop "Sensitivity Training for a Harmonious Workplace" at the International Employees Assistance Professionals conference in Nashville, Tennessee on Sunday, October 8, 2006. 

This participant centered interactive workshop simulates a wide variety of common daily life situations often experienced by a diverse aging or challenged work force. Workshop participants experience simulated losses in vision, sensation, mobility, range of motion and other functional challenges in a lively format. Workshop goals are to develop strategies that maximize the inclusion of all individuals with diverse skills and abilities in the workplace, eliminate barriers or work place conflicts. Props, assistive devices, role playing and other directive or non directive individual, team or large group activities are used to facilitate.

If your company is interested in having this program or a similar customized program at your place of business, contact Dr. Dazio at vmd@safeaging.com.

References for this newsletter

• http://www.stopfalls.org/

• www.homemods.org