Page 30 - Home Health Marketing

SECTION 7. Home Safety

All patients need to take special precautions to ensure a safe living
environment. Most accidents in the home can be prevented by eliminating
hazards. This list will help you find potential hazards in your home. Take note
of each statement that you need to work on to make your home a safer place.
Please speak with your nurse/therapist or call the agency at any time if
you have any concerns or questions about patient safety.

PREVENTING FALLS

At least half of all falls happen at home. Each year, thousands of older
Americans experience falls that result in serious injuries, disability and even
death. Falls are often due to hazards that are easily overlooked but easy to fix.
Use the following self-assessment. Check all of the risk factors below that apply
to you and your home. The more factors checked, the higher your risk for falling.
 History of Falling — two or more falls in last six months.
 Vision Loss — changes in ability to detect and discriminate objects; decline
in depth perception; decreased ability to recover from a sudden exposure
to bright light or glare.
 Hearing Loss — may not be as quickly aware of a potentially hazardous situation.
 Foot Pain/Shoe Problems — foot pain; decreased sensation/feeling; skin
breakdown; ill-fitting or badly worn footwear.
 Medications — taking four or more medications; single or multiple
medications that may cause drowsiness, dizziness or low blood pressure.
 Balance and Gait Problems — decline in balance; decline in speed of
walking; weakness of lower extremities.
 High or Low Blood Pressure that causes unsteadiness.
 Hazards Inside Your Home — tripping and slipping hazards; poor lighting;
bathroom safety; spills; stairs; reaching; pets that get under foot.
 Hazards Outside Your Home — uneven walkways; poor lighting; gravel or
debris on sidewalks; no handrails; pets that get under foot; hazardous
materials (snow, ice, water, oil) that need periodic removal and clean up.
Review each of the following safety tips and note the ones you need to
work on:
 Keep emergency numbers in large print near each phone.
 Put a phone near the floor in case you fall and can’t get up.
 Wear shoes that give good support and have thin, non-slip soles. Avoid
wearing slippers and athletic shoes with deep treads.
 Remove things you can trip over (such as papers, books, clothes and
shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
 Keep outside walks and steps clear of snow and ice in the winter.
 Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep them from slipping.
 Ask someone to move any furniture so your path around the house is clear.
 Clean up spills immediately.

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