If you and your senior loved one are considering a senior community, most likely one of the reasons is safety. Many times, a senior citizen who at first decided to stay home and age in place has reached a point in her life when it’s not safe to live alone. Other times, a spouse has died and living alone is a new arrangement. No matter the circumstance, safety is something every senior citizen should consider, and make a top priority.
But what do you need to be aware of when looking at different elder care facilities?
We’ll talk about many aspects of safety in later blog posts, but this week we’re looking at the equipment at senior communities. Like we mentioned in last week’s blog about safety in the home, bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen are three high-traffic areas and the equipment in each place needs to be evaluated. The equipment should suit your loved one’s needs, which should be communicated to the staff of an elder care facility. In turn, you need to know that the facility has safety measures in place to take care of your loved one while also having an able staff who can determine needs as your loved one ages.
Let’s look at some examples. Maybe your loved one has trouble taking a shower. Look for bathroom equipment that will allow your loved one to safely get in and out of the shower. And look for chairs with arm rests. Your loved one will need to be able to stand up from a chair. As a senior’s balance diminishes, falls often occur. Check that walkways aren’t obstructed; blocked pathways are major causes of senior citizens’ falling. Also look closely at the carpets and floor coverings. Longer carpets and rugs can cause a senior citizen to trip. And lighting, like we mentioned in last week’s blog, is a concern. Your loved one may be getting up at all hours, and her vision may not be perfect, so having well-lighted pathways is very important.
There’s no doubt that Homeplace of Henderson has safety in mind for your loved ones needs, and we’re always available to talk about new pieces of safety equipment that may benefit your senior as she stays here.
There’s another piece to this that goes beyond equipment, and that’s having a trained and caring staff. Every fall or accident can’t be prevented, but with a staff like ours, a vast majority can be avoided. First, our staffing levels are greater than any nearby facility, which allows for more personalized assistance for each resident. We create individualized care plans and routines to better help a resident through her day. We will communicate effectively with healthcare representatives to make sure prescriptions don’t cause unneeded dizziness or other unwanted side effects that can lead to accidents.
Yes, having the correct safety equipment is necessary in keeping our residents safe. Just as important, though, is having a trained and dedicated staff that can recognize each resident’s changing needs and make adjustments ensuring their safety.
To contact the Homeplace of Henderson, email Jessica Beaven at jessica.beaven@homeplaceofhenderson.com, call at (270) 577-0534, or write to 1 Homeplace Boulevard, Henderson, KY 42420.