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When observing caregiving situations, we see that it is very often the caregiver—rather than the elder—who is concerned about threats to safety in the home. This is not surprising; many who have lived independently the majority of their lives feel quite confident that they are capable of continuing to do so, while their caregivers worry about the potential safety hazards in the home and are inclined to make life-altering decisions on behalf of the elder that are based on the presence of those hazards.
The actual feasibility of independent living is based on many factors unique to the loved one and the family, of course, but the risks for serious injury are common to all of us and increase with age. Falling, for example, is the leading indicator for premature, preventable nursing home admission in America. It also is the leading cause of injury-related death among older persons. Attention to the details of home safety, as proven over and over again, can make a huge difference not only in quality of life, but in actual longevity.
CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions is committed to helping keep seniors safe in their communities, and we achieve this in a variety of ways. Hopefully, you’re already aware of our many services: transportation, nutrition, home care, and accessibility in the home. But have you experienced our workshops that are designed to improve safety awareness and empowerment among seniors? For example, Seniors and Balance—a CareAware workshop to promote fall prevention—is available at no cost to any group of seniors in Central Indiana. In an engaging and fun one-hour meeting, seniors consider necessary life changes to prevent falling. These include changing our:
- Attitudes – from fear to concern
- Environments – from hazardous to safer
- Behaviors – from less mindful to focused
Other workshops that are specific to senior safety cover such things as medication safety, eye health and driving. Please consider inviting CareAware to offer one or more of these free workshops in your area and help us spread these important basics! Safety of our seniors is paramount for them and essential for optimizing caregivers’ peace of mind. Call CareAware at (317) 803-6002 for a free workshop!
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