Avoiding Accidents At Assisted Living Facilities

Retirement Home Safety

From the very core of our hearts, we always fear a life of dependence on others during our senior years. To a great extent, senior citizenship status has become synonymous with it. No one can deny the fact that its a vulnerable time of our lives, when we are prone to small accidents and injuries, which might prove serious in this age and increase our trauma levels. Thus, it becomes important that either as a senior citizen living at home or as a resident of a retirement community, you take every possible precaution to avoid accidents like trips and falls.

Vigilance among Assisted Living Service Providers

Most if not all assisted living facilities or senior living communities are on their toes 24X7 to keep you hale, hearty and happy. However, there are a few precautions you should take to avoid any unnecessary trouble caused by trips and falls. The following precautions would help in ensuring that you can enjoy your independent living lifestyle and dont transition into a cycle of pain and discomfort.

How to Avoid Trips and Falls as a Senior Citizen

Some simple Precautions and Prudent Steps to Take

It doesnt matter whether you live in a retirement home, a senior living facility, an independent living center, a retirement community or at your home. You should always take precautions to protect yourself. After all, Its all for your own betterment. The following suggestions will help you to live safely and comfortably at the assisted living facility of your choice.

1. Use Non-slip soles in all your footwear without exception. Slip injuries are the most painful as they can cause severe problems. Therefore, use only non-slip soled shoes and slippers. Please avoid wearing socks only as you might slip in them.

2. Take extra care in bathrooms. The highest amount of risk of slipping is in the bathroom and especially the bathtub because of the potentially slippery surface. Please ensure that your bathtub has non-slip anti-skid strips. You must always use the handrails for getting up or down. If you live in an assisted living facility or in a retirement community, you must request to get these installed. This is a small price to pay for your well-being

3. Be extra careful with long length robes. They can be a serious health hazard in case you just fumble in them while walking, which can lead to falls and embarrassing situations. So please wear dressing gowns and dresses that are a bit shorter. You can ask your senior living facility assistants to do the hemming or get it done.

4. Keep floors clean. Clothes, books, magazines or other such objects lying on your floor can be dangerous as you might stumble and trip over them.

5. Avoid loose chords. Please avoid any loose wires in walking areas as it might block your path and cause injuries. It also poses the threat of electrocution.

6. Keep a cell phone handy and charged at all times. Cell phones are a great help in case of emergencies and they are easy to carry. Please carry an easy to use cell phone always with you. A cell phone with large numbers and a big display screen is very useful. It can not only boost your safety but also ensure your connectivity to family, friends and service assistance at your senior living home in times of need.

7. Keep your eyeglasses or walking stick within easy reach. Place your glasses and walking stick if you happen to use one always within easy reach and regular places so that you can get to them easily. Do not get out of the bed hurriedly. Get up slowly and always sit before you stand.

8. Use higher chairs with sturdy armrests. Always use higher chairs as they are easier to get up and have a better balance.

9. Carefully choose the various floor mats you use around your home. Always ensure that there are no loose rugs or mats as they may cause you to slip. Floor mats and bath rugs with anti skid backing are the best.

10. Keep stairways and hallways lighted at all times. Please make sure that the stairs and the walking areas are well lighted when you move. You can ask the concerned person at your assisted living facility to take care of this situation if they are not lighted properly.

11. Take special care while using staircases. Hold the handrails while using the stairs and wherever possible, use the elevators. It will not only save you from exertion but also avoid unnecessary accidents.

12. Do not leave kitchen spills unattended. They can be a potential risk as you might slip on them. Wipe them or call the cleaning crew at your retirement home as soon as they happen.

13. Avoid walking alone and unassisted in dark areas. Dark areas can be risky. Please call for assistance while going through dark areas or let your eyes adjust to darkness before crossing a dark street within your complex. As far as possible, you should avoid such potentially dangerous places.

14. Panic Solves Nothing. Eventually, if you do fall then please dont panic. Please keep your calm and remained composed. We know it is easier said than done. You must understand that help is just a call away. So, just try to get up holding onto a piece of furniture. If that looks difficult, just try to call for help. Owning a cell phone could be of great help in such circumstances. Please call for assistance and use the word emergency when communicating. You can call 911 or the Help Desk at your assisted living facility. Try to remain calm until assistance reaches you. You are important and you will be cared for.


An Ounce of Precaution is surely better than a Pound of Cure

Medical science has moved in leaps and bounds but still it has no answer to the preliminary pain caused by accidents, thus nothing can be better than taking the precautions described above and avoiding all the pain. After all, you surely deserve happiness. As a senior citizen, you enjoy special status where society owes you a great deal and your overall well-being is top on the list of priorities for your caretakers.