Secure seniors' homes for their changing abilities

There is no doubt where seniors want to live as they age.

The majority of seniors polled in a recent senior care survey showed typically 90 percent of elderly want to stay in their own home. In fact, one survey showed that seniors fear loss of independence more than death.

But as the elderly get older, is home an accident waiting to happen?

One Yuma business, Home Instead Senior Care, offered simple advice and inexpensive solutions to "safe-proofing" a home for aging adults.

"Adult children worry about their aging parents' ability to live on their own and it's a legitimate fear," said Debbie Seplow, owner of Home Instead Senior Care.

Home Instead offers professional caregivers who provide nonmedical, in-home care and companionship to seniors in Yuma.

"Many seniors and their families don't think about the fact that homes must adapt to the changing needs of seniors as they age until there's an accident."

There are a number of potential pitfalls in a home, Seplow said. They run the gamut from accessibility to lighting to trip-and-fall hazards.

"We see many problems during the home safety reviews we conduct for our clients. We check 50 different items throughout a home, including the entrance, living areas, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and stairways."

Dawn Shaefer, community liaison for Home Instead, said, "A lot of homes can have fall risks and a lot of things in the home can add to those risks. Seniors are at high fall-risks, so we want to make sure that they don't hurt themselves and make it as easy as possible to move around a home, safely. But that's just one of the things to be cautious of.

"Simple steps might include examining dark areas and pathways, where they regularly walk or read. Look for things and spots that might need some organization," Shaefer said.

For as many problems as there might be, there are just as many solutions and most are simple and inexpensive, experts say. Convincing seniors, on the other hand is another story.

Dr. Danise Levine, assistant director of the IDEA Center at the State University of New York Buffalo School of Architecture, said that denial often comes into play with seniors.

"We see a lot of seniors who don't want to admit they're getting older so they don't want to make changes in their homes. Secondly, consumer education is an issue. If older adults do need help, they often don't know where to go or how much things cost."

Those issues can result in seniors adapting behavior to their environment, creating potentially dangerous situations, Levine said. His IDEA Center is dedicated to improving the design of environments and products by making them more usable.

"If a senior has problems getting off the toilet, he could develop a several-step process of using a windowsill, shower curtain and towel bar to get up," she said.

A windowsill and towel bar will eventually pull away and break, and a shower curtain will tear under the strain, creating the potential for an accident.

Unfortunately, many home-makeover changes are responsive, rather than proactive, noted Peter Bell, president of the National Aging in Place Council, a Washington-based advocacy group dedicated to helping seniors remain at home.

"Too often, changes aren't made until someone has had a stroke or other type of condition that begins to impair their ability," Bell said.

"It's a shame, too, because that's a difficult time to be making a renovation."

Bell said it's important for a senior-care professional to conduct a home review to identify various safety pitfalls, from poor lighting to the need for adaptive devices.

While many fixes are simple and inexpensive, others might involve a remodeling project to help a senior remain at home.

"That first, important step is to make an objective evaluation of what needs to be done to keep them at home," Seplow said. "It's one of the most important services we can provide."

For more information about the company's 50-item checklist, contact Georganne Erickson at 317-3037 or www.homeinstead.com.

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CHEAP FIXES: WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SENIOR FOR $500 OR LESS

The following are adaptive devices to easily install in a senior's home for a combined total of less than $500. Prices are approximates and may vary.

- Raised toilet seats with arms that lock onto an existing toilet provide height and support to stand - $90

- Hand-held shower nozzles slip directly over a tub faucet - $24

- Floor-to-ceiling grab bars provide a full range of heights to hold on to while sitting or standing up. It can be installed by the bed, in the bathroom or by a favorite chair - $150

- Lever doorknob turner adapters attach securely to a variety of round doorknobs to provide leverage for easy opening - $22

- Lever handles can be purchased that extend recliner chair handles - $22

- Various kitchen items are available including automatic openers that remove lids and open cans, jars and bottles - $50

- Rubber ramps that are ADA compliant are often easy to install to most surfaces using an adhesive such as Liquid Nails. The ramp stays in place by its sheer weight and can be moved from one opening to another - $36

Source: Home Instead Senior Care

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SENIOR HOME SAFETY REVIEW

- Examine dark pathways, corners and other areas where seniors regularly walk or read.

- Look for ways to reorganize.

- Contrasting colors can help seniors with failing eyesight better navigate their home.

- Consider security. Help seniors manage their environment by installing a cordless intercom.

- Look for ways to make entries safe.

- Get rid of clutter, which could be a tripping hazard.

Adapted from a home safety checklist developed by Home Instead Senior Care

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Stefani Guerrero Soucy can be reached
at ssoucy@yumasun.com or 539-6857.