geriatrics presentation 1
Post on 08-Jul-2015
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“No Fall Zone”: A Caregiver’s Guide
to Safe Aging in Place
Decreasing falls in the Home Environment
By: Melissa Avery, OT/S
Kimberly Cabral, OT/S
Christine Clark, OT/S
Courtney Reilly, OT/S
What is Occupational Therapy?
• Occupations refer not only to jobs but also tasks that people have to do or choose to do in their every day lives.
• We enable people to continue living life to its fullest through the use of interventions, education, adaptation and modification.
• We are knowledgeable about multiple diagnoses and their impact on function.
Why stay at home?
• Over 90% of adults over age 65 prefer to stay in their own home for as long as possible.
• Strong ties to home, community and culture
• Aging in place means more than an environment to grow old in. It means home, a place where memories and histories were created.
Making Your Home a “No Fall Zone”Tips for keeping your loved one safe at home.
Facts About Falls
• Falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults.
• According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one out of three adults aged 65 and older fall each year.
• Of those falls, less than half tell their primary healthcare providers about them.
• 19,700 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries in 2008.
• In 2009, 2.2 million non-fatal fall injuries in older adults were treated in emergency departments, with 581,000 patients being hospitalized.
• Falls Among Older Adults: An Overview (2012) Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Falls/adultfalls.html
Most Common Causes of Falls in the Home
• No single factor causes all falls; however the risk of falls increases with the amount of factors the person is exposed to.
• Common Factors Include:• Lack of Physical Activity
• Impaired Vision
• Medication Use
• Environmental Factors
• Uncontrolled Diabetes
• Poorly-fitted Shoes
• Muscle Weakness
What is the role of home modifications in fall prevention (2011) Retrieved May 1, 2012, from http://www.homemods.org/about_us/index.shtml
Home Modifications Can Help to Prevent Falls!
• Home modifications lessen the physical demands placed on the older person during every day activities
• They increase the older person’s safety in their own environment, allowing them to continue to live in their home for as long as possible
• Home modifications can range from very inexpensive to expensive, but there are many modifications that can be done by caregivers
• Here are some modifications you can make to keep your loved one safe!
Throughout the Home…
• Walking surfaces are as level as possible
• Use slip-resistant floor coverings such as low-pile carpeting or rough tile
• Increase lighting
• Color contrasts (lighter color flooring, darker walls)
• Install wall-mounted light fixtures
• Eliminate use of extension cords
• Relocate light switches or install environmental control units that turn on when the person claps or enters a room
• Eliminate cluttered hallways
• Remove scatter rugs
• Clean spills immediately
Kitchen
• Increase door width to 30 inches to allow walkers to pass through
• Move frequently used objects / products to lower shelves or countertops to avoid over-reaching
• Slip-Resistant Tile
• Install “drop down” shelving (see picture next slide)
• Ensure that a seated food preparation area is available
• Combine food preparation area with dining area to eliminate need to transport plates of food
Stove allows cooking while seated
Drop-Down Cabinet Shelving
Seated Food Preparation Area
Bathroom• Always keep a night-light on
• Install grab bars in tub/shower and near toilet
• Non-Skid shower surface
• Vary colors in the bathroom for easy visual identification (ie, add decorative, colorful decals to shower if same color as toilet, etc)
• Bathroom rugs with non-skid backing only
• Walk-In shower
• Hand-held shower
• Increase door width to allow for walker use
• Eliminate threshold if possible; if not, ensure that threshold is brightly colored
• Add shower chair/ tub bench
Tub Bench
Grab Bar
Stairways
• Install handrails on both sides of the stairs and extend them one foot past the top and bottom stair
• Handrails should be at elbow height
• Use color contrasts on first and last steps
• Limit stair rise to 7 inches, tread should be at least 11 inches
• Install light switches at top and bottom of stairs
• Ensure carpeting is secured to the stairs
• Install a stair lift if your loved one becomes unable to ascend stairs safely
Stair Lift
Dual-Railing Stairs
High-Contrast Stairs
Bedroom
• Install a night-light
• Place a lamp at the bedside
• Make clear paths
• Store flashlights in easy to find locations in case of power outages
• Install bed rails to make getting in and out of bed safer
• Organize closets to eliminate clutter and make items easy to obtain
Remember…
• Always contact your loved one’s doctor if you notice that they are falling or seem more disoriented
• Be sure to discuss medication use with the doctor and the impact that the meds can have on falling
• Occupational therapists can perform in-home evaluations to assess what modifications your loved one can benefit from
Any Questions?
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