Is Your Senior’s Home Free of Falling Hazards? 3 Home Safety Tips to Prevent Falls
Falls are prevalent for older adults who are 65 years old and older. About 36 million falls are reported among older adults each year. As your loved ones age, their mobility, strength, eyesight, and memory begin to decrease, making maneuvering around their home more difficult. These challenges can lead to costly and severe accidents, but it’s important to remember that falling is preventable if you take the proper precautions. Here are three ways to make your elder loved one’s home safer and prevent accidental falls. 1. Clear frequently used pathways. Make sure your loved one can easily get to their bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, living room, and front door. Ensure that all rugs have a secure rubber backing to stay sturdy. If there are antiques and furniture blocking entryways to the point where your loved one has difficulty navigating with a cane or walker, move those items to another location. Secure
navigate more easily, install railings inside and outside the shower or bath. These railings will help your loved ones balance and steady themselves. It’s also worth installing raised toilet seats because some toilets are low to the ground, and seniors may have trouble lowering themselves to the seat or getting up. Additionally, having railings near the toilet will help seniors support their body weight and prevent accidental falls. 3. Improve lighting inside the house. Additional lights can help brighten your elder’s home so they can see better during the day and even at night. You can purchase automated lights that immediately turn on when they sense movement, or you can place nightlights around the home. This will make it easier for elders because they don’t have to try finding a light switch in the middle of the night, which could make them accidentally trip or bump into something that could cause an accident.
all loose wires and repair any that appear to be frayed or damaged. You don’t want any clutter in pathways because they can cause elders to lose their balance and fall. 2. Make bathrooms easily accessible. Entering and exiting the bathroom can be challenging for seniors. To help them
If you’re worried that your loved one’s home still has trip hazards, allow Visiting Angels to help. We can look at the home with fresh eyes and suggest how to make the home safer to relieve stress for you and your family.
Tasty Bruschetta Chicken
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understand your loved one’s strengths and weaknesses. Once you acknowledge what they need help with, you will know how to best offer your assistance. You also want to choose your words carefully. Avoid emphasizing their weaknesses because that can make them feel that they lack control. Instead, appeal to the values that matter most to your parent and voice your desire to enable them to maintain and enjoy the independence they do have. Here at Visiting Angels, we care about you and your loved ones. If there is any way we can assist you during this time, please reach out to us. We will be happy to conduct a safety inspection of your parent’s home and offer recommendations on ways you can improve the safety of their home to prevent sudden and severe falls. We are here for you at any time! It will be our pleasure to assist you so your loved ones can remain independent and spend quality time with one another without worries.
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
Directions 1. Add chicken to a large resealable bag. 2. In a small bowl, combine olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Pour over chicken and seal. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. 3. Turn a grill to medium-high heat and add the chicken. Discard the marinade. Grill chicken 5–7 minutes per side or until fully cooked. 4. Combine the remaining lemon juice, tomatoes, garlic, and basil. Add salt and pepper, to taste. 5. Before taking the chicken off the grill, top each breast with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook 2–3 minutes, then serve topped with the tomato mixture and grated Parmesan cheese.
Fresh tomatoes and basil abound in August, practically begging to become bruschetta! This recipe turns that appetizer into a main dish. Ingredients • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness • 4 tbsp olive oil • 2 tbsp lemon juice, divided • 1/4 tsp pepper • 1 tsp Italian seasoning • 3 tomatoes, chopped • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp fresh basil, chopped • Salt and pepper, to taste • 4 slices mozzarella cheese • Parmesan cheese, grated
Cindy Saunders, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
831-430-0616 | 3
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