Home Safety & Fall Prevention

Activities and Aids to Daily Living Overview

by Supportive Care

Prolonged inactivity produces loss of muscle strength and coordination, and can contribute to depression. It is not only enervating, but can produce crises in your attitude and decrease your ability to function. Often mental problems can be overcome with a positive attitude, and this can be sustained by increasing your ability to take care of yourself. Attention to self-care and daily living skills, such as brushing your teeth, shaving, combing your hair, getting dressed, etc., serves a threefold purpose:...Read the rest of this article »

Tips & Resources for Aging in Place

by Lori Deschene

As I visit endless Web sites for senior living, I never cease to be amazed by the luxurious ambience that many of these facilities offer. With chandeliers, antique furnishings and ornate tapestries, some of them look downright palatial! These places certainly seem fancy, and in many cases, homey, but they aren't home; at least, they aren't the house where you raised your children, or the place that holds your memories. According to AARP, 83 percent of people 45 and...Read the rest of this article »

Medication & Risk Factors That Lead to Falls

by Joe Woelfel, PhD

Aging sometimes means reduced balance, coordination, vision, strength and agility. These factors, along with certain medications and even our home environment, can increase our risk of falling. Ground-level falls are a major health problem for people 65 and older. An estimated 30% of people in this age group fall each year, resulting in hospitalization, permanent disability, and sometimes death. In fact, injuries related to falls are the sixth leading cause of death for seniors, and annual health care costs associated...Read the rest of this article »

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