In This Issue

	Home Safety & the Elderly
	If you answer yes to any of these questions, Hurley Elder Care Law can help
	Life Care Planning Goals
	The 2007 Hurley Elder Care Law Handbook of Resources

Home Safety & the Elderly

	Safety within the home is critical when taking care of loved ones. It is even more important when the loved one is elderly. Accidents in the home are a major source of injuries and can cause death. Older persons, whose bones are often less dense and more brittle, are especially vulnerable to serious injuries from home accidents. These accidents include broken hips, pelvises, ribs and shoulders. As we age, our senses of sight, touch, hearing, taste and smell tend to decline. Additionally, our physical abilities are reduced and we tend to experience a slowing of judgment and reaction time. These normal changes in perception, physical abilities, and judgment make us more prone to accidents.
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If you answer yes to any of these questions, Hurley Elder Care Law can help.

		Has the elder been diagnosed with a mentally or physically debilitating disorder such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, stroke or a decline in functional capacity?
		Is the elder isolated due to the recent death of a spouse, or have family that either lives too far away or is too busy to provide adequate care?
		Is the elder soon to be discharged into a care facility or currently receiving in-home care?
		Does the elder have a variety of healthcare providers and need coordination and advocacy for quality care?
		Does the elder seem unusually concerned about costs of medication and services, indicating he or she may be having financial troubles?
		Does the elder have assets that fall between $50,000 and $400,000 – enough to finance a short stay in a care facility but not enough for an extended stay?
		Does the elder have a spouse whose financial needs must be considered in light of the elder’s medical condition?

Life Care Planning Goals

1. Meeting the elders’ immediate health care and long-term care needs.
2. Making sure the elder/family is making good health care and long-term care decisions.
3. Helping the elder/family sort through the maze of their long-term care options including residential options.
4. Identifying and accessing public benefits and resources to pay for care should the elder meet the qualifying criteria.
5. Help with asset management, including the burden of home ownership and personal property.
6. Providing the entire family the peace of mind that comes from knowing their loved one is monitored by a team that combines legal and financial expertise with specialized knowledge of the elders’ physical, mental and emotional health.
7. Ensuring the highest level of independence the elder can achieve, while ensuring safety.

Home Safety & the Elderly

A simple fall that results in a broken bone can become a serious, disabling injury that may limit one’s independence. Home safety is especially important if your loved one is left alone for any amount of time. This article focuses on some things that can be done to make the home as safe as possible. There are also several links to web sites that have more ideas of how to safety proof the home. A large number of accidents in the home occur because family members overlook small and simple details. A kitchen fire, a bathroom fall resulting in a broken hip, a person with dementia wandering out of the house or a power tool incident in the basement or garage are some of the most frequent occurrences that could have been easily prevented with a little effort. These are some ideas to make your home environment safer so that accidents are less likely to occur. What to Look For: Oven and Stove – The oven and stove are major causes of accidental fires especially when a caregiver is not present. Once an elderly person begins to develop memory loss, it is a good idea to disconnect the electric oven/or stove or remove the dials from a gas oven/stove. A much safer route for meal preparation is to use the microwave with the caregiver preseting the timer. Kitchen – The flooring should not be slippery and it should have a non-glare surface. A sturdy, stable stepladder or step stool should be used instead of a chair to reach objects in overhead cabinets. But to be safest of all, as someone loses capacity he or she should not be climbing at all. Knives should be kept in a knife rack or drawer. Countertops and work areas should be cleared of all unnecessary objects. Fire Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Are the fire alarms working? It is appropriate to check them at least once a month to make sure they are working. Carbon monoxide detectors are also important for homes as they detect a deadly gas. It is suggested that two (2) be placed in the home: one at the highest level in the home and one near the furnace or heating appliance. Use of these systems allows for an early alert if a senior has caused a problem in the kitchen or with another appliance. Locks on Doors – Secure locks on front and back doors can be very helpful if your loved one wanders throughout the house or is at risk of leaving the house and getting lost. Place these secure locks at the top of the door and out of reach of your loved one. However, do remember that if you leave a loved one alone, he or she does need to be able to get out in case of emergency. Stairs – If there are stairs in your home, check to see that the railings are sturdy. Railings are necessary to give people something to hold on to should they start to fall. Consideration should be given to moving an elderly person to the ground floor if there are problems with the stairs and if the move is feasible. The use of barriers or gates at the top and or bottom of stairs or other dangerous areas is also good practice. Bathrooms – Many home accidents occur in the bathroom. The bathtub or shower should have a non-skid mat or strips on the standing area. Bathtub or shower doors should be made out of safety glass or plastic. Grab bars should be installed on the walls by the bathtub and toilet. The towel bars and soap dish in the shower stall should be durable and firmly installed. Bedrooms – A lamp or flashlight should be kept within reach of the bed of each occupant of the house. Check the batteries periodically to make sure that the flashlight is working. A night-light is a good way to brighten the way to the bedroom at night. The floor covering should be wall-to-wall low pile carpeting or a smooth surface floor to minimize the risk of fall. Bells and Buzzers – These are devices that are typically worn around the neck, but they can also be placed on a wall or near a door in the house. When operated by the touch of a button, these devices will send a signal to an individual, physician, rescue squad or 911. These devices are available through specialty or burglar alarm companies. Fireplace – If the house is equipped with fireplaces, it is wise to have the chimney cleaned after each two cords of wood, especially if the fireplace is used frequently. If someone in the home is suffering from some type of dementia, it is best not to use a fireplace at all unless there is supervision. Living Room – Electrical cords should be placed along the walls and away from traffic areas. Chairs and sofas should be sturdy and secure and not too low or too deep to get in and out of easily. Chairs should have full arms to aid in sitting or rising. Furniture that may be used for support when walking or rising should be steady and should not tilt. Lighting – Lighting levels should be fairly consistent throughout the home. Individuals have a difficult time focusing when they move from light to dark and vice versa, creating a situation that is ripe for falls. This is especially true for anyone with visual impairments. Outdoor Areas – Steps and walkways outside should be in good condition. Doorways, steps, porches, and walkways should have good lighting. Porches, balconies, terraces, window wells, and other heights or depressions should be protected by railings, closed with banisters or fences or should be otherwise protected. If someone has vision issues or is otherwise prone to falls, all outdoor steps should be converted to ramps. General Safety – Emergency numbers should be posted by each telephone. Medications need to be stored in a safe place according to the instructions on the label of the container. Small, loose rugs should be removed from the house. For further safety tips, please refer to the websites listed below. Web Sites Alzheimer’s Association Arthritis Organization Checklist on Home Safety Elder Care Locator This site provides connections of older Americans and their caregivers with state and local government agencies that provide services. Parkinson Disease Alzheimer’s Store The Alzheimer’s Store is dedicated to providing unique products and information for those caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease. Some of the products and help increase home safety and ease the job of caring for a patient with dementia. The web site is www.alzstore.com. The toll free phone is 1-800-752-3238. Home Repairs/Modifications Senior Connections Home Repair Project – 770-455-7602 Took Bank – 404-880-0054 Dekalb Housing Rehab Program 404-266-3345 CDBG Program (Cobb County) 770-528-4600-ext 231 Cherokees County Home Repair Program 678-493-6015 Gwinnett Housing Rehab Program 770-822-5190 National House Care 404-806-2279