If you are planning on having your parents or grandparents for the upcoming holidays, it would be helpful to review some of these tips to create a safe environment for their visit.

This article will share a few simple, yet important home safety tips, which can help with fall prevention and overall safety for an elderly person living alone, or with family or visiting family. As many of us get older, and our parents age as well, we are suddenly faced with caring for an elderly grandparent, or

YOUNG AT HEART: (Opposite page) The author working with with senior patient Geneva Young; "Geneva was a beautiful soul — she was a dancing queen, and had a spirit unlike anyone I have ever treated. She is truly missed by all those who were lucky enough to know her."

parent, and our roles seem reversed. For many people, this new responsibility can feel extremely overwhelming and scary to navigate.

The articles will be providing simple, clear, and helpful tips that can be applied to anyone who is a caregiver or beginning the process of caring for an elderly family member. To start from the beginning, this article focuses on general home safety. This article will allow you to see things from a different perspective, and hopefully encourage you to take a step back; and gain a new perspective, in order to improve the overall safety of your family member's surroundings, utilizing some new and helpful tips. •

SAFE AT HOME : SIMPLE TIPS FOR GENERAL HOME SAFETY

Simple, yet important, home safety concepts can help with fall prevention and overall safety for an elderly person living alone or with family, or an elderly person visiting family.

ENTERING THE HOUSE

• Are there steps?
• Are they even, uneven?
• Is there a railing to hold for support when entering the home?
• Is the railing intact?
• Are there any obvious safety concerns entering the home?
• Is there a ramp?

Take notes as you enter and write down any safety concerns. Entering and exiting home is a big issue for going to doctor appointments, visiting family and overall emergency preparedness.

INSIDE STEPS

Upon entering the home, one of the first things to do is see if there are steps.

• If there are steps, is there a railing?
• Is there clutter on the steps?
• Are the steps all even?
• Is there carpet on the steps?

All of these make a difference in home safety, and it is important to understand how the client navigates steps to avoid falls.

BATHROOM

Next, it is important to see all of the bathrooms and understand how they are utilized by the client.

• Is there a powder room on the first floor?
• Is the toilet too low?
• Are there grab bars?
• Are there rugs that move around which could increase slipping and falling?
• Where does the family member spend most of his/her day?
• Are they struggling with using the bathroom?

Bathroom safety is extremely important, and a very common area for falls. There are many simple, affordable, yet effective ways to improve the safety of your bathrooms; thus reducing fall risk.

EQUIPMENT

• Does the family member use a cane, walker?
• Do they need a cane or walker?

• Is there a shower chair? Or stool?
• Do they need a commode either bedside or over the toilet?
• Is a stair glide something that could be helpful?
• Think about recliner options, if family member has difficulty getting in and out of chairs

Ordering equipment can often feel overwhelming, with so many options out there. In subsequent articles, there will be more information on durable medical equipment and simple, affordable, yet effective ways to improve the safety of your home.

CHAIRS

It is important to look at all of the chairs in the home, especially the ones utilized by your loved one.

• Where does your loved one spend his her time?
• Do they spend a significant amount of time In a recliner? Is it electric?
• Are there arm rests on the chairs where he/she eats?

Aside from providing a comfortable place to rest, chairs with armrests are KEY for safe transfers and important for improving safety and reducing falls.