FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston’s Executive Director & Owner, Wendy Adlerstein, LSW, was recently interviewed by estate planning attorney Marco Schiavo of Simmons & Schiavo, LLP for his podcast series. The ten minute podcast episode, “How to Keep a Senior at Home and Safe” includes many valuable tips.
In staying at home, we need to consider the safety factors. Wendy notes that falls are often a big safety concern for those who are living alone in their homes. Trip hazards include loose electrical cords around the home and area rugs which may look great, but can cause a trip or get caught under a walker. It’s also important to wear the right shoes in the home–certain slippers can be dangerous.
Many falls occur in the bathroom. To avoid falls, consider the installation of grab bars inside a shower or around a toilet area. Wendy cautions against the use of grabbing onto existing towel racks as these are not properly fixed into the wall. Raised toilet seats, including those with side handles, also help improve bathroom safety.
Good ample light throughout the house can also reduce the risk of falls as our eyes tend to deteriorate as we age. Also, in the bathroom, consider transfer benches or chairs which can be placed in the bathtub.
Finally, Wendy discusses when it is no longer safe to be at home. Sometimes having someone come into the home, even just for a few hours–either a family caregiver or a professional caregiver, may be enough to help with a morning or evening routine. But if there are situations where there is cognitive decline or memory loss, having someone there during the day for safety supervision and making sure someone does not wander is critical. When it comes to a point where someone may be quite bed bound, physically in so much need, or requires two or three people to assist in a transfer between a bed or wheelchair–or their dementia is so advanced that they are not safe in the home, even with a caregiver, then it makes sense to take a look at other options for extra support like skilled nursing.
Stay tuned–the link to the audio podcast will be posted shortly (please check back). In the meantime, please take some time to listen to Wendy in a recent interview on the Engaging Voices podcast. Wendy shares how she became interested in gerontology, the importance of empathy and communication in the business of care, and how she connects with stressed clients and families. In addition, Wendy provides an inside view on what makes FirstLight Home Care of West Suburban Boston different from other home care providers.