Protecting the Elderly
Older persons often lack strength and flexibility and may have bones that tend to be porous and more brittle. Further, their senses of sight, hearing, touch, and smell are likely to decline with less accurate judgment and reaction time. All of these factors make the elderly more vulnerable to accidents. The elderly need to take precautions including the following basics:
Post emergency numbers next to each telephone and have several cordless phones available if possible.
Install door lever-action handles that are easy to open and close; keep door thresholds low and beveled; and avoid throw rugs.
Carpeting and rugs should not be worn or torn, and nonskid backing should be used on loose rugs.
Keep outside steps and railings maintained in good condition.
Use good lighting inside and out.
Store medications in a safe place and make sure all prescriptions are current; throw out all medications that are past the expiration date.
Use a nonskid mat or strips on the standing area in the bathtub or shower, shower doors of safety glass or plastic, and install grab bars on the walls by the bathtub and toilet.
Essential
By keeping track of medications, you can avoid problems including overdosing, mixing the wrong medications, taking too many of the same type of medication, and taking the wrong medication. Compile a record that includes the name of the medication and what it's used for, directions for use, the color and shape of the pills, when it should be taken, any precautions, date of prescription, and the dispensing pharmacy.
