RetirementHomes.com - safety

Senior-friendly designs help keep older people at home longer

aadmin — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 12:10:57 +0000

With a senior population burgeoning across the United States and Canada, not to mention Europe and even China, more and more businesses are being created to specifically cater to this growing – and wealthy – demographic cohort.

As seniors continue to age, relocation and downsizing becomes an important conversation to have. Many opt to make the move into an active living or independent living retirement community, others choose to move in with loved ones, while others opt to stay living by themselves or with a significant other.

As a result of this significant shift, millions of homes across the United States and Canada need to be retrofitted in order to be accessible for their aging residents, and the trends in this area are nothing short of extraordinary.

There are small, simple changes many companies offer, which include making accessible living spaces by making them wheelchair-accessible, open concept, and without significant barriers. For example, in kitchens, hollowing out the area underneath the sink allows wheelchair users to roll underneath and wash the dishes, which could otherwise prove to be difficult for them. In addition, lower countertops – or even adjustable countertops – can allow multiple people in the same household to find the same level of functionality in the same kitchen.

Additionally, different technologies are being created to help address the cognitive impairment common among seniors (such as Alzheimer’s Disease). These technologies can include sensors which identify when someone is no longer in the kitchen for an extended period of time, upon which the appliances automatically shut down, or it could include an alarm system which tracks movement of a wandering resident or someone who is forgetful.

One company based in Short Hills, New Jersey, just outside of New York City, specifically designs residential lighting systems exclusively aimed at older people.

Josh Scharf, president of Archetype Ltd., told RetirementHomes.com that the challenge in designing senior-friendly products is that few consumers consciously want to buy them!

“There are very few stylish products in the market designed specifically for Boomers and older adults. Most screamed 'geriatric' and who the heck wants that in their home, unless absolutely necessary,” Scharf said.

Archetype Ltd. designs wireless floor lighting which, while available to anyone, has found a niche in the older population because it offers a simple way for seniors to have better vision and mobility while at home, during nighttime hours, Scharf said. And regardless of the aging population, there will always be a need for such products.

“Regardless of age, everyone is at danger of falling down ill-lit stairs,” Scharf said.

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Family and Personal Care

Home Safety

The dangers of seniors living alone

aadmin — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 15:10:14 +0000

A 2011 survey of people over 65 showed that the vast majority (90 percent) wanted to continue living in their homes for as long as they could. It is understandable that seniors should want to stay at home; however, there are many who need care, but who are living on their own.

Moving a senior family member to an assisted living facility can be a difficult and emotionally harrowing. Opting for home care allows them to stay in their own home and be assisted by a home caregiver. Home care can also be considerably more affordable than an assisted living facility. Below is information on the problems that the elderly face when they live by themselves:

Risks to Physical Safety : Elderly people are more prone to falling. Age-related health problems like diabetes and hypertension are a factor in this. These problems can affect their balance and their physical strength. The presence of a caregiver will not prevent someone from falling; however, it can ensure that they get immediate medical attention if they do.

Lack of Financial Protection : Many con artists and fraudsters specialize in targeting elderly individuals. From criminals who phish for personal information over the phone to email and snail mail offers that are obviously too good to be true, seniors living alone can easily fall victim to scammers. Many have lost their life savings due to naivety or confusion.

Poor Nutrition : People who share meals with others or have them prepared by others are more likely to eat nutritious food compared to those who live alone. Those who live by themselves may opt for convenience over nutritional value, especially if cooking is too physically challenging.

Social Isolation:  The Administration on Aging reports that roughly 28 percent of seniors live alone. This means that there are about 11.8 million older people living by themselves. Seniors can become isolated because of the death of a spouse, or because their spouse has Alzheimer's or another condition that requires constant care. They become homebound and get disconnected from other relationships. Studies show that being isolated increases the risk of mortality in individuals who are over the age of 52. Additionally, those who are lonely and isolated are more likely to have physical and mental health issues.

Medication Mistakes : Medication mistakes include taking too much of a drug, taking the wrong drug or mixing medications. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that 70 percent of emergency hospitalizations among seniors occurred because of the medications most commonly prescribed to seniors. Similarly, Medicare records from 2014 show that there were more than 500,000 injuries in Medicare patients’ homes that were caused by medications.

You want to ensure that your loved one lives in a safe and healthy environment, especially if they show signs of cognitive impairment. It is important to keep track of indications that an elderly person is no longer able to live alone.

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Family and Personal Care

Home Safety

How technology is making seniors safer

aadmin — Sat, 27 Dec 2014 17:55:46 +0000

Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple are the well-known technology titans changing the world. They have delivered self-driving cars, drone deliveries, and computer watches to the masses. But can the kings of the Internet Age defeat Father Time? Don’t bet on it.

Until Google invents a cure to aging, smart home technology is filling the void. The new range of emerging home technologies will change your life.

Imagine -- a remote controlled home. Waking up to the smell of coffee. Never needing to flip a light switch. Always being the perfect temperature. A smart home learns your preferences so that everything is ready exactly when you need it. It sounds like something from Star Trek, but if you have a smart phone, you can now control your entire house from one device.

The future is here. With a few smart products and a single app, and you’ll see how easy it is to make your home more accessible and simply easier (and more fun) to use. This post discusses the new smart home technologies that will change aging forever.

The Perfect Environment

Everything just as you like it – that’s the beauty of a smart home. Start your day off right when your home makes you the perfect cup of coffee and plays an energizing morning playlist. As you move around your home, the lights automatically turn on thanks to motion sensors.

Why dash to the thermostat on cold mornings when you can wake up to your ideal temperature? Smart thermostats learn what you like throughout the day so that you never have to get up to turn the heat on and off. To save energy, your home can turn the temperature down and the lights off when you leave, or for security it can make it look like you’re at home when you’re on the go.

For those with limited hand mobility or for those who simply want a luxurious experience, a smart shower adjusts to your ideal temperature, angle, and intensity. To enhance your experience, you can enjoy your favorite playlist, colored mood lighting, and aromatherapy.

In your smart home you’ll never need to fuss with the lights, shower temperature, or thermostat – everything will be customized just how you like it, automatically.

Chores Made Easy

Do you always forget to unload the washing machine? Avoid musty clothes with a washer and dryer that tells you when the laundry’s done. With your smartphone you can communicate with all of your appliances.

Your refrigerator can tell you if you need more milk and your oven can tell you that your food is ready. Getting all of your alerts on one device makes it easier to remember household tasks.

Better Home Security

Smart home security systems keep a sharp eye on your home and let you see what’s going on in your house at any time. Since you and your home have gotten to know each other, it can notify you of important events or if anything unusual happens, and you can control it all from the palm of your hand.

Smart doors mean you no longer need to fumble with your keys. Just walk up to your door and enter – your smartphone serves as your identification. Some smart doors will even open for you like your own personal butler. With no keys, locks, or handles, you can easily move about your home while maintaining privacy and security.

You set who you want your home to open for, and you can get notifications that they've arrived. And what if someone unexpected shows up as your door? Take a look at the picture your home sends to you for your approval. If it turns out to be someone you want to let in, you can unlock the doors from your phone – you don’t even need to be at home! If it is intruder, you can press your panic button to sound an alarm and summon help.

Do you tend to forget if you've closed the garage door? No need to worry about it all day – your home will text you that it closed it for you. If there is unwanted motion in your home, including doors, windows, and cabinets, an alarm will sound and you will get an instant alert and photographs so you can see what’s happening. You will also be notified of more subtle threats, including a buildup of moisture that can cause structural damage.

It’s easy to forget to lock your doors or not notice moisture buildup. Smart homes keep watch for you when you aren't home, and allow you to monitor and control your home no matter where you are.

Conclusion

With today’s technology you can control almost everything in your home with your smartphone. You've worked hard all your life taking care of your home – it’s time to enjoy your golden years and have your home work for you.

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Learning and Technology

3 Tips for Safe Elderly Driving

aadmin — Thu, 11 Dec 2014 18:50:00 +0000

Tips for Safe Elderly Driving

People’s bodies change as they get older, and it is important to take these changes into consideration when caring for family members who are getting older, especially if they are still driving. However, if you stay aware of concerns for elderly driving and use tips to keep your family members safe, they can continue to drive and stay independent.

Concerns about elderly driving

Vision changes. An individual’s eyes can get worse as they get older. This can sometimes be corrected with glasses, but sometimes the eyes can have more significant problems, such as cataracts. These vision changes impact driving because it can be more difficult to read signs or see pedestrians or other vehicles.

Reaction changes. As people get older, their reaction times may slow. This can lead to challenges when driving in traffic, and could even lead to an accident if your family member is unable to react quickly and appropriately.

There are many side effects that come with medications, and age can have an impact on how medications affect someone’s health. Unfortunately, some medications taken by your elderly family member can impair judgment or cause symptoms such as dizziness or drowsiness that can have an impact on that family member’s ability to drive safely.

Tips for safe elderly driving

If you have an elderly family member who still drives, there are some things you can do and keep in mind to help ensure that your family member is kept safe.

Keep your family member healthy. While some changes in your family member’s health and driving abilities are inevitable as he or she ages, problems that impact your family member’s driving can be exacerbated by poor health. This includes annual eye exams, maintaining medications, and making lifestyle choices that promote health. The healthier your family member is, the more likely he or she is to be able to drive safely.

Keep communication open. It can sometimes be difficult to talk to an aging family member about his or her health and mental status. However, when that family member is a licensed driver, it is necessary. Having frequent conversations with your family member about his or her health can help ensure he or she is safe when driving. This also ensures that if your family member’s health prohibits driving, you will find out before there is an accident.

Keep your family member’s safety the priority. Quite often, your elderly family member wants to continue driving to maintain independence and control in his or her life. This is a good thing. However, the priority should be protecting your family member’s health and safety, even if it means giving up some of that independence.

Getting older does not have to mean that your family member no longer drives. However, it is important to keep communication open, help your family member stay healthy, and focus on your family member’s safety above all else. In this way, your family member can stay health and independent, even as he or she gets older.

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Family and Personal Care

Bracing for a winter in Canada

aadmin — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:18:12 +0000

Winter is here and it’s not going anywhere for a long time! If you aren’t one of over 500,000 Canadian snowbirds wintering in Florida, these tips could save you a costly fall.

Did you know? Falls on ice cause more serious injuries than any single winter sport. In fact, injuries incurred in all winter sports combined don't account for as many hospitalizations as falls on ice.

In 2010-2011, 7,138 people were hospitalized in Canada because of injuries sustained during falls on ice, not including those who didn't go to hospital, were treated and released or died at the scene, according to British Columbia's injury research and prevention unit and the provincial ministry of health.

Half the people hospitalized for falls on ice were 60 and older. A fall that would bruise a hip at 20 can shatter it at 80. Here are some factors that contribute to falls and ways of mitigating your risks.

5 Simple Tips to Avoid Winter Falls

1. Exercise – As you age, what you don't use, you lose in terms of muscle tone. Loss of muscle tone is often most significant in the lower extremities, leading to a decreased ability to walk and balance yourself, which then leads to a greater risk of falls and other injuries.

Things you can do:Keep fit to maintain muscle tone and improve your balance. Enroll in an age appropriate balance/fitness class or walk with friends at the mall.

If aches and pain limit your mobility, try compression supports and braces to improve your balance and reinforce your joints. New products on the market such as Synergy’s bamboo supports and braces help reduce pain and inflammation from arthritis and diabetes while offering support where needed.

2. Be aware of your environment – Many seniors who have had a bad fall become nervous and overly cautious thus cutting down on their activity. This leads to reduced balance, strength and poor reflexes. Eliminating tripping and slipping hazards inside and outside the home can help prevent this.

Things you can do:Look as you step off a curve and avoid dangerous icy patches. Buy that salt now so you have it before stores run out. Salt your porch, driveway and stairs, arrange for snow blowing and always use handrails. Remove scatter rugs, keep floors and stairways clear of objects like shoes, be mindful of slippery bathtubs, tree roots, concrete bumpers in parking lots and your pets.

3. Hydrate – We know drinking plenty of water is important on hot days but it is also critical for people at risk for low blood pressure, a main cause of dizziness. Your blood pressure is continually changing, depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use. Antidepressants and hypertension drugs can also directly affect your balance and cause dizziness, increasing risks of falling.

Things you can do: Be mindful of how you feel. Talk to your doctor if medications are making you feel dizzy, as they may be able to adjust the dosage. Drink plenty of water, eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy lifestyle as these factors really make a difference in your health and well-being.

4. Boost Your Vitamin D – Vitamin D is associated with greater muscle strength in healthy men and women as it helps the body absorb calcium. A vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteoporosis in adults, which affects balance and mobility. Our bodies get vitamin D naturally from the sun. However, during the winter, we aren't outside as often and skin exposed to sunshine indoors through a window does not produce Vitamin D.

Things you can do: Take a vitamin D supplement and eat fatty fish (such as tuna, salmon, and mackerel) as these are among the best sources of vitamin D. Beef liver, cheese, and egg yolks provide small amounts. Most milk is fortified with Vitamin D and many breakfast cereals and some brands of soy beverages, orange juice, yogurt, and margarine contain added Vitamin D. Check the nutrition fact panel on the food label.

5. Get Your Eyes Checked – According to a study published in the British Medical Journal in 2010, poor vision is seen to increase the risk of falling. A person with impaired vision may not see hazards, particularly if peripheral vision is limited; may not see a poorly lit bottom step, particularly if depth perception is affected; and may not notice the change from carpet to slippery tiles, particularly if contrast sensitivity is impaired. Multifocal and bifocal glasses can further impair contrast sensitivity and depth perception.

Things you can do: Have your eyes checked once/year and wear single-vision glasses while out on walks, as bifocal and progressive lenses can cause missteps.

Serious injury from a fall can cause a sudden loss of independence, an uncomfortable reliance on family and friends, and an increased fear of falling again, further limiting mobility and activity levels. Use these tips to stay safe and age well, even in this harsh northern climate!!

For more clinical research on the importance of FIR Hip Supports in falls protection, and to purchase from the full line of products visit www.synergyfir.com. Synergy’s award-winning hip supports can also be found at Shoppers Drug Mart.

References:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/04/science/steps-to-avoid-an-accident.html?ref=health

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Video: Elderly woman escorted off train for singing

aadmin — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:28:05 +0000

One Florida family says it is considering take legal action after their elderly year-old mother was thrown off a train for singing loudly.

As reported by WDBO.com, 82 year-old Emma Anderson was holding worry beads and singing hymns on board a train in Miami-Dade, Florida, when a security guard asked her to stop singing. When she refused, he forced her off the train, where she is reported to have fell and suffered light bruises.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsiWtV88EH8

The confrontation on the train between Anderson and the security guard was captured by a passer-by’s cell phone video camera.

“I was beating my little beads with the bottle and I was singing a song, and he came up to me and said, ‘Ma’am, you’re making too much noise,’” Anderson was quoted as saying.

The elderly woman’s son, 42 year-old Kenny Anderson, said legal action is being considered as a result of the video footage, which he said appears to show his mother being forcibly escorted and is the cause of her injuries. A spokesperson for Miami-Dade Transit told the news source that her loud singing was disruptive and could drown out important loudspeaker announcements.

Roughly one-in-seven residents of Miami-Dade county are aged 65 and over, and there are many assisted living communities in Miami.

What do you think? Should the woman have stopped singing, or was the transit official beyond his rights? Tell us in the comment section below:

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Laws and Regulations

Politics and Government

The biggest scams of 2013

aadmin — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 18:53:36 +0000

Sometimes reporting on scams feels like a thankless task. Overall, people are getting smarter about avoiding scams — but crooks always seem to be a step ahead. Scammers can target anyone, so our best defense is to be aware.

To that end, the experts at Scambusters.org have released their list of top scams from the past year and predictions for the year ahead. Here are the top crimes we should be being watching out for:

1. Phishing and identity theft. One-off attempts to grab your cash are bad enough, but these scams take something more valuable: your information. Think of the damage a crook can do with your banking information gained through a phishing attack, and the havoc they could cause with your email passwords. Even collecting email addresses through fake surveys and sign-ups is big business: that’s how crooks can disseminate their scams.

2. Malware. It could be on your computer right now: a malicious piece of software logging every key stroke you make, spying on your activities or creating fake pop-ups like virus alerts. Malware won’t just infect your computer this year: experts predict that malicious apps and malicious ads on mobile devices could be one of the top online security threats in 2013.

3. Internet sales. Be careful where you spend! Scams involving online auctions, online classified ads and questionable online retailers continued to be a top complaint in 2012, according to Scambusters. Variations of these scams can hit both buyers and sellers, but both types will leave you with no merchandise and no cash.

4. Lottery scams. Who wouldn’t love to win a fabulous trip or a cash prize? Hopefully by now you know there’s a catch: you have to give away your information and pay to claim that prize you’ll never receive. According to Scambusters, this con is still surprisingly low tech with crooks often opting for snail mail and phone calls to tempt their targets — especially older adults.

5. Nigerian and advance fee scams. Does a foreign diplomat need your help getting millions of dollars out of the country? Think an up-front fee will guarantee you a good loan? Is the new online love of your life asking for cash or airfare to meet you? Scambusters reports it’s seeing a “much wider range” of these scams than ever before, so it’s no surprise they remain fairly high on the list.

6. Imposter/grandparent scams. Think twice before you answer that call or email for help! The scheme got the moniker “grandparent scam” because it usually involved a crook posing as a grandchild calling for cash in an emergency. Now the con can involve any imposter — a crook posing as a family member, friend or colleague — and any range of scenarios from a lost airplane ticket to a medical emergency.

7. Investment scams. With savings and investments yielding little return, the promise of a big payout is tempting. Crooks are getting more creative with their pitches too. Experts constantly remind people that there’s no such thing as a “get rich quick” scheme — not a legal one, anyway.

8. Economy-related scams. From services offering to lower your loan or credit card rate to too-good-to-be-true job opportunities, scammers continued to prey on people’s financial woes in 2012. With continuing turmoil in the U.S. and Europe, we don’t see these scams easing up any time soon.

9. “Hit-and-run” scams. No cars involved — this catchall category includes all those scams where crooks take your cash and take off. (Think charity scams and bogus contractors, for example.) These scams are especially insidious because they take advantage of current events such as natural disasters.

10. Skimming and ATM theft. Scambusters thought these crimes would rank #5 for the year, but notes its #10 ranking is because many incidents were more appropriately categorized as identify theft. Credit and debit card skimming devices can be hidden on ATM machines or gas pumps, for example, making the crime tricky to spot.

Travel scams didn’t make the list in 2013, but Scambusters notes it saw “plenty of evidence of this crime” regardless. Also popular in 2012 were extortion scams such as cons regarding kidnappings that never happened and fake police officers making people pay “fines” on the spot for crimes they supposedly committed.

What to watch out for in 2013

Wondering which scams you’ll face in the year ahead? The 2013 list doesn’t look much different that 2012′s. Here are Scambusters’ predictions:

1. Phishing and identity theft.
2. Lottery/sweepstakes/bogus prizes.
3. Bogus internet sales.
4. Malware.
5. Hit-and-run.
6. Economy-related scams.
7. Imposter scams.
8. Advanced fee scams.
9. Investment scams.
10. Dating/sweetheart scams.

You’ve likely noticed that sweetheart scams get their own category this year rather than being part of advanced fee scams. Scambusters predicts that crooks will take advantage of rising divorce rates and the growing popularity of online dating sites to ply their trade.

However, if you’ve read as many “top scams” lists as we have, you’ve likely noticed that the numbers often depend on how experts classify the crimes. Rankings don’t tell us the whole story — certain crimes may move up and down the list, but they never really disappear on a year-to-year basis. Certain crimes are more common in some areas, or may target specific groups such as teenagers or seniors.

Besides, some incidents are never reported — that could skew the data too. Ultimately, the numbers don’t change the fact that we need to aware of some of the common warning signs and keep tabs on the latest scams.

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Ontario seniors get safety boost

aadmin — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 15:27:39 +0000

There’s a new good reason to live in an Ontario assisted living community – in fact, 20 million new good reasons. As reported by the Toronto Star newspaper, Ontario’s government has earmarked 20 million Canadian dollars (about 20.3 million dollars USD), to update the province’s older assisted living communities with up-to-date fire prevention systems.

According to the Star, the province’s action comes as a result of the newspaper’s report in 2012 about the dangers of senior living communities without proper sprinklers and extinguishers.

The money won’t just be used to install sprinkler systems, but will also be invested in staff training as well as updating electrical and mechanical systems in the communities.

“We’ve not only regulated retirement homes, we’re going to make them safer,” Linda Jeffries, Ontario’s Minister of Labour Minister Responsible for Seniors, told the newspaper.

The funds announced by Jeffries are part of a larger strategy to help improve the health and safety of the province’s seniors.

Another proposal introduced requires Ontario assisted living communities to report any incidents where a resident is sent to hospital, as well as requiring communities to report the presence of any hazards which may present a risk to residents, that is at the facility for at least six hours.

What do you think of these proposals? Will they help safeguard the health and safety of seniors, or does more need to be done?

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Elderly woman stuck in nursing home elevator for 29 hours

aadmin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 13:51:48 +0000

As the holidays of 2012 wrapped up, millions of families across North America gathered to enjoy each others’ company, exchange presents and enjoy sumptuous food.

But for one woman living in a Canadian nursing home didn’t have the chance to spend the holidays with friends; instead, she spent 29 hours stuck in the home’s elevator.

As reported in the Sun News Network, 87 year-old Rosalie Rowsell, a resident of Malton Village Long Term Care Facility, a Toronto assisted living community, returned to the community in the evening of December 23 after spending time with family.

It was then Rowsell is believed to have been stuck in an off-duty residential elevator , and although she did not return to her room that evening, staff believed she was still with her family.

Rowsell was found 29 hours, still in the elevator, after her family realized she never made it home. The news source reports that she could not reach the elevator’s emergency button to call for assistance.

She was eventually found on December 25 in the elevator, and after being taken to hospital, she was released the same day. As a result of the incident, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is conducting an investigation to determine what went wrong.

The assisted living community is apologetic, and vows to prevent any such incidents in the future.

“We sincerely regret that this gap in our duty resulted in endangering a resident and causing her family distress,” Emil Kolb of the Region of Peel, which operates the facility, told the news source.

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Home Safety

University installs detectors to help monitor seniors

aadmin — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:38:05 +0000

If having your home fitted with motion sensors and detectors would be the best way to identify health problems as early as possible, would you have them installed?

As reported in The Oregonian newspaper, researchers from the Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) have introduced a system of detectors in the seniors’ homes to identify the residents’ daily movements, and identify whether there are any changes in schedules and activities.

But the seniors and detectors are not meant to intrude on a senior’s privacy; rather, they are meant to provide accurate information to doctors and other health professionals, who can then follow up with the seniors and identify any problems that may have caused slowdowns or changes in schedules.

Off-site, a team of volunteers keep an eye on the detectors and log the necessary information.

“I've got an interest in older people and how they're taken care of,” Trudy Rice, a 71 year-old retired nurse who volunteers in the lab with her husband Harvey, told the newspaper. “That's a good study to be involved with.”

With substantial potential for assisting seniors, the OHSU research could one day be offered to seniors in Oregon assisted living communities in addition to those living at home.

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