Senior Safety Tips for Daily Living in Altoona, WI
Falls are the most common cause of injury among adults over 65 years old. Each year in the United States, about 1 in 4 seniors, or more than 14 million adults, report experiencing a fall.
You or your aging loved one should feel safe and confident as you go about your daily lives. Promoting senior safety involves more than just avoiding slips and trips. It involves creating an environment that fosters independence and peace of mind.
Oak Gardens Place has tailored daily safety routines to help residents live fully. Situated at 342 Twin Oak Drive, Altoona, WI 54720, we understand that maintaining independence goes hand in hand with smart, proactive care.
Explore some smart, effective tips that support fall prevention for elderly, both at home and in assisted living communities.
Improving Lighting
As we age, it's natural for our vision to deteriorate. Most older adults experience related challenges, such as:
- Blurry vision
- Halos when in lights
- Difficulty noticing an object when it's the same color as the background.
- Difficulty seeing in the dark or low light
- Increased sensitivity to glare or bright light
These problems increase the risk of falls and injuries in older adults. For seniors who wish to remain in their homes, lighting upgrades are a vital component of a broader aging in place safety strategy.
A well-lit environment helps:
- Prevent accidents
- Empower older adults to maintain their routines,
- Encourage mobility
- Promote independence
- Make daily tasks easier and less stressful
Don't depend on a single light source in any room if your elderly loved one is aging in place. Use ceiling fixtures, wall sconces, or LED panel lights to ensure general areas are brightly lit. Oak Gardens Place prioritizes adequate illumination in the outdoor and indoor spaces to enhance visibility and safety.
Decluttering Living Spaces
A tidy living space is free of hazards that can cause trips and falls. Decluttering promotes safety in assisted living and private homes by getting rid of:
- Charging cables and electrical cords on the walkways
- Loose rags and floor mats
- Excess furniture
- Stacks of books or newspapers
A living space cluttered with these obstacles limits seniors' mobility and increases their risk of injuries. As a caregiver, you may find it overwhelming to declutter your aging loved one's rooms.
Start small by tackling one room or drawer at a time to prevent fatigue. Prioritize high-traffic areas like bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms when decluttering.
At Oak Gardens Place Assisted Living, our staff carefully maintains clear and organized living spaces. Our regular housekeeping services tidy up apartments, removing dust and clutter. Staff regularly assess residents' living areas to identify and correct potential hazards.
We always encourage our residents to personalize their spaces as a way of minimizing clutter. Our staff is available to help with organizing, rearranging, or downsizing when needed.
Enhancing Bathroom Safety
Bathrooms pose a high risk of slips, falls, and injuries to older adults due to:
- Slippery floors
- Poor lighting
- Low toilet height
- Tubs and showers without support
- Hard-to-reach essentials
Mobility challenges make seniors more vulnerable to accidents in the bathroom. Fortunately, creating a safe bathroom environment for older adults can be simple.
Some suitable bathroom upgrades that enhance senior safety include:
- Installing grab bars
- Improving lighting
- Adding raised toilet seats
- Keeping essentials like hygiene products, toiletries, and towels organized
- Adding non-slip floor mats and rugs
- Adjusting water heater temperature settings
- Adding a shower chair or transfer bench
At Oak Gardens Place, our 24/7 staff assists residents with personal care safely and respectfully. We ensure safe and functional bathroom spaces for residents' peace of mind. All of our bathrooms meet the accessibility standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Improve Flooring
Aging comes with various physical changes in the body, including:
- Weaker muscles
- Decreased body balance
- Slower reaction times
- Visual changes
Poor flooring conditions worsen these risks. Common flooring hazards that lead to falls and injuries in older adults include:
- Loose or wrinkled carpets
- Slippery surfaces
- Uneven transition between rooms
- Cracked tiles
- Frayed carpets
- Poor floor contrast due to low lighting
The good news is that upgrading flooring doesn't require a complete overhaul. Slip-resistant flooring like textured vinyl, rubber, or cork promotes fall prevention for elderly in assisted living and private homes.
Securing loose floor mats with non-slip backing also enhances senior safety. Keeping the floor clean and dry reduces the risk of slips and falls.
Other flooring upgrade tips to support aging in place safety include:
- Adding soft underlayers
- Using the same flooring throughout
- Removing area rugs
- Performing regular maintenance
Staff conduct regular flooring inspections to ensure residents' safety. This promotes timely replacement or repair of materials as needed. Our dedicated housekeeping teams can spot and remove floor hazards early before an accident happens.
Staying Physically Active
Exercises are key senior health tips that support mobility and safety. They help improve muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, reducing the risk of falls and injuries. Staying physically active also enhances safety by protecting seniors from the risk of chronic conditions like:
- Arthritis
- Heart problems
- Osteoporosis
- Osteoarthritis
- High blood pressure
Oak Gardens Place supports safe, active lifestyles for all residents. We have a structured program and a safe environment that fosters an active and healthy lifestyle.
Our various activities and events also help seniors stay mentally sharp. Residents can engage in:
- Morning stretch classes
- Walking groups
- Recreational classes
- Gardening clubs
- Outdoor picnics
- Fitness classes
These activities offer seniors opportunities to socialize and alleviate loneliness and isolation. They're good for slowing cognitive decline in seniors experiencing dementia or Alzheimer's. Activities like gardening clubs and outdoor picnics offer the therapeutic benefits of nature.
Senior Safety Strategies That Work
Senior safety is about empowering seniors to live life fully and fearlessly. Small steps like decluttering walkways, installing better lighting, and maintaining healthy routines help create a safer, more secure environment for aging adults.
Safety meets comfort and compassionate care at Oak Gardens Place. Our neighborhood allows residents to engage in events like the River Prairie Festival, the Ginormous Pumpkin Festival, and the Rock'n on the River and Kickin' It Country Concert Series.
Get in touch to learn more about how we can help you or your loved one live safely and happily every day.