Safety Tips for Older people
Ten safety Tips for older people
1. A flat, easy-to-access site is ideal for older residents, who in their twilight years lose mobility and risk injury attempting to negotiate sloping sites and steps. Talk to an Archicentre architect about modifying your home for maximum health and safety benefits.
2. Covering from garage to house will help avoid precarious moments like carrying groceries in the rain over wet, slippery surfaces.
3. Fixed or fan forced vents achieve a desirable air flow, and eliminate the build up of air pollutants common in the home. Also helps prevent allergies and asthma.
4. Slip-resistant floor surfaces and stepless showers can help prevent the leading cause older people visit hospitals: falls.
5. Lever handles and lever taps are a better alternative than knobs which are too hard to turn for arthritis sufferers.
6. Interior colour scheme with good contrast helps people with diminishing eye sight identify doors and entranceways.
7. A hydronic heating unit radiates heat without blowing around dust or other particles that can cause allergic reactions.
8. Extra powerpoints eliminate the tangle of loose extension leads that can cause unexpected falls.
9. All bathroom and toilet doors should be conveniently re-hung to open outwards in the event someone loses consciousness against the bathroom door, thus denying rescuers emergency access.
10. Windows and skylights draw in natural light, improve health and safety and helps keep people alert. Make sure glare reduction measures (e.g. tinted glass, non-reflective hard surfaces outside windows) are used wherever possible.
- Always use a screen name instead of your real name.
- Protect your possessions by securing your home and letting thieves know your property is marked.
- Keep an eye out for the welfare of your neighbours. If you spend a lot of time at home your watchfulness can be invaluable to your community. You might consider joining your local Neighbourhood Watch scheme. Make sure to report any suspicious behaviour to the police at once.
- Be wary of unexpected visitors who, for example, arrive at your door offering to make repairs on something they have noticed needs fixing. Before having any work done on your home seek the advice of someone you trust and get two or three quotes from other firms first.
- In some areas older people can get help to pay for locks and chains on their windows and doors. To find out if there is a scheme where you live, ask either your local Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator, the council’s Housing Department or the Crime Prevention Officer at your local policing unit.
- Remember that even the best security equipment is useless unless it is used. Be sure to always lock up properly, even if you are just popping out for a few minutes.
http://www.leics.police.uk/advice/3_crime_reduction/26_safety_tips_for_older_people/
