(855) 871-8014
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME HEALTHCARE?
Apple Home Healthcare
  • Patients & Family
    • Home Nursing Care
    • Therapy
    • Signature Programs
    • FAQs & Resources
  • About Us
    • Our Company
    • Our Team
    • Testimonials
  • Careers
  • Providers
  • Contact Us

Safety Tips for Seniors Living Alone

01
Jul, 2019
By oryan
Safety Tips for Seniors Living Alone
  • Company Headlines
  • No comments

According to the US Census Bureau, 11 million, or 28% of people 65 and older live at home.  While many seniors enjoy living alone and want to maintain their independence for as long as possible, living alone can pose safety and security threats for seniors.

In honor of National Safety Month, held each June, now is a great time to make sure you are taking the appropriate steps to ensure safety at home. Follow these five simple steps.

  1. Build a Close Social Circle

According to a 2012 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, senior isolation has a dramatic impact on mortality rates: increasing them significantly in seniors ages 52 and older. Plus, senior isolation can contribute to depression, poor health, and the worsening of cognitive decline.

Knowing these statistics, maintaining an active social life is very important for seniors living alone. Seeing friends and family on a regular basis is a fantastic way to boost health and wellbeing and to develop a support system so that you can ask for help or assistance if needed.

Additionally, seniors who live alone should get to know their neighbors. Not only does this build a better sense of security, but it also can help create a network of support from which seniors can draw, in the event of an emergency.

  1. Prevent Tripping and Falling

The National Institutes of Health reports that 1.6 million seniors go to the emergency room as the result of falls each year. One of the most important safety measures for the seniors living alone is removing tripping and falling hazards. Make sure rooms are properly lit; handrails are installed in appropriate places; and floors and staircases are free of obstructions that might cause a fall.

  1. Improve Fire Safety

Improving home safety for seniors includes keeping a close eye on fire safety in the home. Make sure smoke detectors are fully functional, and keep fire extinguishers in easy-to-reach places near the oven or stove.

  1. Take Good Home Security Measures

When a senior lives alone, there is a risk of theft and burglary. Because of this, it’s wise for seniors to be focused on home security. This means locking doors and windows at all times, especially when nobody is home. In addition to preventing break-ins with locks, make sure your entry door has a peephole. Often times scammers and thieves target seniors, so it is important to know who is at the door before you open it. Furthermore, installing a home security system with motion-activated lights and cameras can be a powerful deterrent to home intruders who prey on seniors.

  1. Always Have Emergency Numbers Accessible

In the event of an emergency, seniors who live alone should have quick access to the people who can help them. Keeping a list of emergency numbers — including emergency services, medical professionals, and family contacts — written out near the phone or programmed into a smartphone, can mean help will be just moments away in case of trouble.

About oryan

Newsroom Categories

  • Apple Alerts
  • Company Headlines

Address:
Apple Home Healthcare
123 West Madison Suite 300
Chicago, Illinois 60602

Phone:
(877) 871-8014

Fax:
(773) 871-0185

E-mail:
info@applehomehealthcare.com

Chicagoland

We serve an 11-County Metropolitan Area in and around Chicago. Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, McHenry, Boone, Kane, Kankakee, DeKalb, Kendall, and Winnebago Counties.

Apple Home Healthcare, Ltd. BBB Business Review

Our Misson

Apple Home Healthcare has the highest standards for quality care to enhance our patients’ quality of life. We have been living up to these standards for over 20 years, and continue to deliver exceptional care to our highly satisfied patients every day.

Contact Us

  • 411 South Wells Street
    12th Floor
    Chicago, Illinois 60607
  • Phone: (855) 871-8014
    Fax: (773) 871-0185

Navigation

  • Careers
  • Patients & Family
  • Signature Programs
  • FAQs & Resources
  • Contact Us
HIPAA Notice of Privacy Practices
Notice of Non-Discrimination

Copyright Apple Home Healthcare 2023.
All Rights reserved

Notice for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency
ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອດ້ານພາສາ,
Asistencia lingüística,
Hỗ trợ ngôn ngữ,
語言協助,
언어 지원,
مساعدة اللغة ,
زبان کی مدد,
Tulong sa Wika,
Assistance linguistique,
भाषा सहायता,
کمک به زبان
Sprachassistenz
ભાષા સહાય
Языковая помощь
言語援助
ການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອດ້ານພາສາ