Director's Message
Home Safety January 2011At this time of year, we become aware of many people who are concerned about going out in winter weather due to hazards on the road and sidewalks. We all know that an accident can significantly compromise independence. But we don’t always consider risks in our own homes.More than one third of adults age 65+ fall each year. The Administration on Aging and National Council on Aging have identified fall prevention as one of the priority areas for this decade. They have developed health and wellness programs to reduce this statistic. These programs focus on helping you identify factors in your life that could contribute to falls and help you design strategies to address these factors, such as exercise and balance training, removing hazards, installing good lighting, and wearing proper footwear. The PSRC social service staff, in collaboration with our Partners in Caring colleagues, have developed a Home Safety Assessment to help you evaluate a wide range of risk factors in your home. The goal of Partners In Caring is to help people continue to live independently in the community. The program provides support and linkage to area services, care coordination, consultations, wellness groups, caregiver support, volunteer visitors, mobile meals, transportation, daily calls, as well as some home modifications, nursing support and respite services. Call 252-2362 (Spruce Circle) for more information.
The Home Safety Assessment includes these questions:
Are there maintenance issues that need to be addressed? Are there any fire hazards? Do you have pets? Do they jump on you, get under foot or pull you down? Is there adequate lighting inside and out? Are there handrails on steps? Are pathways smooth and free of obstacles? Do doorknobs and locks work and can you use them easily? Are there many steps? Are walkways free of clutter, throw rugs and cords? Are there functioning smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Is there adequate storage so things can be “put away?” Is the water temperature adjusted so it will not burn you? Can you reach items in kitchen cupboards without climbing on anything? Are there slip-reducing materials on the floor and tub in the bathroom? Are there grab bars in the shower? How do you get laundry to the washer? Is your furniture easy to get in and out of? Are there phones throughout the house? Do you have an emergency plan? Take some time during these winter months to assess your home environment and make a plan to remediate any problems you identify. If you would like to obtain a copy of the full assessment or have a staff member help you with an assessment or solutions, please contact the Spruce Circle office at 252-2362. Susan W. Hoskins, LCSW
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Previous MessagesJune 2013 - Age Friendly Communities June 2013 - Age Friendly Communities May 2013 - Navigating a Changing HealthCare Landscape March 2013 - Navigating Life’s Transitions February 2013 - Partners in Caring Princeton January 2013 - Men as Caregivers December 2012 - The Safety Net October 2012 - Documenting Your History September 2012 - A Journey of Transformation July - August 2012 - Gratitude & Moving March 2012 - Patient-centered Care February 2012 - Can you Spare an Hour? January 2012 - Challenges & Opportunities December - Are you Prepared for Emergencies? October - Chocolate for Memory September- Looking Back and Looking Forward Lessons and Legacies, March 2011 Independent Living February 2011 Witness to my Life December 2010 Elections, benefits and open enrollment November 2010 Strategic Planning September 2010 Hiring Home Care December 2009 Annual Giving by Sharon Naeole November 2009 Flu Pandemic 2009 October 2009 Healthy Memory, Healthy Mind September 2009 A Personal Perspective on Caregiving July/August 2009 Wei Ji: Crisis, Danger and Opportunity April 2009 Write your own obituary March 2009 Hope and Vision in Challenging Times Medicare Changes 2008: Take A Look! December 2008 Scams, Frauds and Rip-offs November 2008 Engaged Retirement: Beyond Financial Planning October 2008 September 2008 Caregiver Dilemmas Finding Rhythm and Purpose July/August 2008 V + OA = ER (Volunteering + Older Americans=Engaged Retirement)May 2008 Have You Had the Talk Yet? March 2008 Get Moving with FitRhythms™! February 2008 What Are Social Services? November 2007 Plan for the Future September 2007 The Up-side of Aging Summer 2007 National Conference on Aging: Let's ReThink Aging April 2007 Season of Giving December 2006 April Hill McElroy October 2006 Civic Engagement September 2006 White House Conference on Aging May 2006 Are You Prepared? October 2005 Watch Your Language September 2005 The End of the Journey May 2005 New Dietary Guidelines February 2005 Civic Engagement with GrandPals October 2004 The Challenge of Giving Care May 2004 Seniors On The Move April 2004 Random Acts of Kindness December 2003 Civic Engagement November 2003 |