ORIGINAL MEDICAREA home safety assessment for the elderly will gauge the safety of your residence and document any dangers. Thus, reducing the likelihood of a fall or injury. A home safety assessment increases the probability the person will be able to continue independent living.
If you want to live on your own and maintain your ability to be self-sufficient, you need a home safety assessment. This quick little safety check can be done by an occupational therapist, a licensed medical professional or an independent agency.
Home Safety Assessments for the Elderly
A Home Safety Assessment for the Elderly keeps people safe from falls, fires, and other dangerous hazards
Some companies include the home safety assessment as part of the services they provide. For example, if you’re receiving oxygen, a walker, or any other Durable Medical Equipment you should anticipate a home safety assessment will be performed by the individual delivering the equipment.
In addition, a nurse or home health representative that comes to your house will perform a home safety assessment. It’s a quick and easy inconvenience that will keep you safe and living independently.
6 categories that are assessed during a home safety assessment:
- The assessor will observe and discuss with you the following issues as they are relevant to your safety.
- Fire Response (performed for all patients)
- Exit procedures – do you have a plan
- Smoke detectors – are they working
- Fire extinguisher – do you have one
- Cause of fires/ fire prevention – do you understand
Safety Assessments for the Elderly at Home
Do you have a plan for evacuating your home in the event of a fire? Consider how you will exit if you are in your living room. Does your exit strategy change if you are the bedroom sleeping?
Batteries in your smoke detector need to be changed twice a year. The fire department encourages you to change your batteries every time the clock changes for daylight savings time and standard time.
If you have a fire extinguisher, be mindful of the expiration date and replace as deemed appropriate. Home Depot offers fire extinguishers as low as $20.
You should consider keeping one in your kitchen as studies show most household fires start in the kitchen.
Additional fire hazards in the home include heating systems, smoking, candles, and faulty wiring.
Some hazards are easy to eliminate, such as smoking or barbeque grills near the house. For example, don’t leave a candle unattended and never walk away from a stove with the burner turned to the on position.
Environmental Safety Assessments for the Elderly
Studies show that physical activity will improve your balance and reduce your risk of falling. The YMCA is a great place to meet some new friends as well as have fun and increase your odds of living independently by being active and improving your overall health and balance.
Environmental factors (performed for all patients):
- Telephone
- Adequate electricity
- Indoor plumbing
- Heat/ air
- Infestation
- Animals in the home
Do you have a telephone in the home that you can use to call for help in the event of an emergency? Is there a telephone on every floor or is there a phone within reach if you were to fall and were not able to get up of your accord?
Assessors want to know if your electricity is adequate to meet your needs. In other words, do you have enough outlets or are you using power strips to increase the number of electrical devices you can use at one time?
Is your plumbing working; Are you able to flush the toilet without fear of overflowing? Do your drains work, preventing water from becoming stagnant and attracting bugs or growing mold?
In the winter do you have heat to keep your residence warm? By the same token, do you have air conditioning to keep you cool in the summer? While both heat and air conditioning to increase your monthly electric bill, there is help available to pay electrical bills if needed.
Is your home free of bugs and rodents? Either of which could cause severe illness.
Do you have any animals in the home that may cause you to have an allergic reaction? Animals could also eat through wiring and or pipes. If you have pets, be aware of their tendencies to chew on random objects.
Assessing the Structure of a Home
The structural integrity of your residence will be observed. The intention is to confirm the floor is solid with no potential for holes causing persons to fall through.
Structural limitations/ obstacles to using (performed for all patients):
- Floor strength
- Stairs
- Adequate door width
- Adequate ventilation
- Equipment location acceptable
- Home suitable for equipment/ service
In addition, any stairs must be in good shape and any loose boards noted so they can be repaired or replaced.
Door width for an interior door is 36 inches standard. However, both 30 and 32 inches are available. A wheelchair is typically 32 inches wide.
A standard 36-inch-wide door is preferred when possible as there would be no need to retrofit the existing door should a wheelchair be necessary for the future.
Home Fall Risk Safety Assessment for the Elderly
Get a prescription for a home fall risk safety assessment for the elderly from a physician
While the statics show that 1 in 4 Americans over age 65 fall each year. Falling isn’t inevitable and most falls can be prevented with a willingness to make a few changes.
Fall risk assessment – home (performed for all patients):
- Throw rugs or runners
- Loose carpeting
- Extension cords in walkways
- Uses O2 tubing over 25 feet
- Clutter environment objects blocking the walkways
- Pets in a home that could cause a fall
Consider removing and replacing any loose carpeting. Further, don’t use extension cords in the walkways.
If you have throw rugs or runners on the floor, consider using double-sided tape or a non-slip backing to prevent falls. In just two days’ time, Amazon can deliver a 5X8 rug gripper that will reduce or eliminate your chances of slipping on that rug by the front door.
Cords and wires should be taped down next to a wall or you could have an electrician install another outlet if necessary.
As tempting as it might be to save old magazines or books, everything needs to be off the floor. Including items such as blankets and shoes, which seem insignificant until they cause you trip which could result in a small injury or serious trauma.
A few home modifications can change your living environment and allow you to stay in your house as you grow into Medicare. You can add handrails, remove clutter and add physical activity to your daily living.
Fire Hazard Assessment
Use of home oxygen is commonplace. However, most users may not be aware that oxygen under high pressure can be volatile.
Fire Hazards of Oxygen (performed for patients using oxygen in the home):
- Dangers of smoking– are there smoking materials in the home
- Post a “no smoking” sign– due to the potential for open flames
- Placement of oxygen– patient or caregiver understand fire safety instructions
- Placement of back up oxygen
Use of home oxygen is commonplace. However, most users may not be aware that oxygen under high pressure can be volatile.
Hair and clothing can easily catch fire in an oxygen-rich environment. Posting a “no smoking” sign is a simple gesture that reduces the chance of persons smoking near the oxygen canister or oxygen user.
Home Electrical Safety Assessment for the Elderly
The assessor only reviews these points when you are receiving certain medical equipment. For example, a home ventilator machine would require an assessment of the home’s electrical system.
Although, no one expects a home ventilator. Most patient’s using this machine are happy to have a piece of equipment that will allow them to go home from the hospital.
Electrical factors (performed only for patients receiving specific equipment):
- Adequate electricity
- Safe wiring
- Outlets
- Grounding
- Power strips
With that in mind, it’s better to address your home’s electrical factors and make any updates early. The Center for Disease Control and the National Council on Aging urge us to be proactive in keeping our homes in good repair.
Coverage for a Home Safety Assessment
Medicare beneficiaries recently in the hospital with a doctor prescription for a home safety assessment may be eligible. Also, those receiving home health care could be eligible for an assessment.
Some non-profit organizations provide home safety assessments for fall prevention. The National Aging Council can help discover your eligibility for a home safety assessment and find you a local program.
Medicare home health safety assessments for seniors can be done by a physical or occupational therapist. This means coverage is for occupational therapy and Medicare covers 80% of the costs after deductibles.
To avoid paying 20% and costly deductibles, enroll in Medigap coverage. Medigap plans cover the gaps in Medicare.
Our brokers represent the top insurance carriers in the nation; to get the best rate on local coverage, give us a call at the number above.
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