Home Safety Assessment for the Elderly

Home safety assessments can prove to be beneficial for seniors. Safety assessments help assess the safety of your home and note hazards.

If you live alone, you’ll need a safety assessment to ensure lasting self-sufficiency. Medical providers, independent agencies, and occupational therapists can complete a check for you.

Let’s take a look at Medicare’s role in home safety assessments.

Homes Safety for Seniors

Home safety for seniors is a significant undertaking. As we get older, we may not think about things that could impact us.

We don’t always think about loose area rug corners tripping us. Also, we don’t think about the consequences of that fall or injuries.

At what point do we decide if living alone is the safest bet for us? For some, an assisted living facility may be a better option.

Further, assisted living facilities can offer a variety of services. Some include eating, bathing, dressing, and even using restrooms.

Elderly Home Safety Assessment

Some companies include the home safety assessment as part of the service. Also, if you’re receiving Durable Medical Equipment, expect evaluation from the delivery person.

Further, a nurse that comes to your house may perform an evaluation. It will keep you safe and living independently.

The assessor will observe and discuss with you the following issues as they are relevant.

Five categories to assess during a home safety assessment:

1. Fire Response (performed for all patients)
2. Exit procedures – do you have a plan
3. Smoke detectors – are they working.
4. Fire extinguisher – do you have one
5. Cause of fires and 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’re the bedroom sleeping?

Further, you need to change batteries in your smoke detector twice a year. The fire department encourages you to change batteries at daylight savings time. Also, if you have a fire extinguisher, be mindful of the expiration date and replace it as appropriate.

Home Depot offers fire extinguishers as low as $20. Consider keeping one in your kitchen since that’s where most fires start.

Fire hazards in the home can include heating, smoking, candles, and faulty wiring. Some risks are simple to cut, such as smoking or barbecue grills near the house.

Also, don’t leave a candle unattended and never walk away from a stove with a lit burner turned.

Environmental Safety Assessments for the Elderly

Studies show physical activity improves balance and reduces your risk of falling. Also, the YMCA is a great place to meet new friends and increase your odds of living independently. By being active and improving your health, you improve balance.

Environmental factors include:

• Telephone
• Adequate electricity
• Indoor plumbing
• Heat/ air
• Infestation
• Animals in the home

Do you have a phone in the house 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?

Well, assessors want to know if your electricity is adequate to meet your needs. Do you have enough outlets, or are you using power strips to increase the number of 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 can prevent bugs and mold.

Is your home free of pests and rodents? Either of which could cause severe illness.

Do you have any animals in the house 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 intention is to confirm the floor is solid with no potential for holes causing persons to fall.

Structural limitations include:

• Floor strength
• Stairs
• Adequate door width
• Adequate ventilation
• Equipment location acceptable
• Home suitable for equipment/ service

Also, any stairs must be in good shape, and you must repair loose boards. The door width for an interior door is 36 inches standard.

But, both 30 and 32 inches are available. A wheelchair is 32 inches wide. A standard 36-inch-wide door is a preference.

Then, there would be no need to retrofit the existing door should a wheelchair be necessary.

Home Fall Risk Safety Assessment for the Elderly

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 assessments include:

• 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 on the floor, consider double-sided tape or a non-slip backing to prevent falls.

In two days, Amazon can deliver a 5X8 rug gripper that’ll reduce your chances of slipping on that rug by the front door.

Further, you need to tape cords and wires 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. Modifications can change your living environment and allow you to stay in your house.

You can add handrails, remove clutter, and add physical activity to your daily living.

Fire Hazard Assessment

The use of home oxygen is commonplace. But, most users may not be aware that oxygen under high pressure can be volatile.

Fire Hazards of Oxygen can include:

• 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– The patient or caregiver understand fire safety instructions.
• Placement of back up oxygen

The use of home oxygen is commonplace. But, most users may not be aware that oxygen under high pressure can be volatile.

Hair and clothing can catch fire in an oxygen-rich environment. Post a “no smoking” sign to reduce the chance of persons smoking near the oxygen canister or oxygen user.

Home Electrical Safety Assessment for the Elderly

The assessor reviews these points when you obtain specific medical equipment. But, a home ventilator machine would require an assessment of the home’s electrical system.

No one expects a home ventilator; also, most patients are happy to have a piece of equipment that allows them to go home.

Electrical factors include:

• Sufficient electricity
• Safe wiring
• Outlets
• Grounding
• Power strips

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 asks us to keep our homes in good repair

Coverage for a Home Safety Assessment

You may be eligible for a home safety assessment if a doctor orders one due to a recent hospitalization. Also, those with home health care could be eligible for evaluation. Some non-profits provide home safety assessments for fall prevention.

The National Aging Council can help with eligibility for a home safety assessment. Then, a physical or occupational therapist can do the evaluation.

The assessment falls under Part B; a Medigap plan can help cover the costs you’d otherwise pay.

Our agents represent the top carriers; to get the best rate on local coverage, give us a call at the number above. If you don’t have time to call, fill out an online rate form, and get closer to saving money on healthcare!