How to Advocate for Safety at Your Loved One’s Senior Living Center
(Excerpted from Top 5 Safety Hazards in a Senior Living Facility by Pocketstop.)
There are approximately 47 million seniors in the United States; about 3% of them live in retirement homes. These facilities afford greater safety and care for seniors with chronic health problems than living alone.
But senior living facilities face ongoing challenges, from everyday risks such as staffing shortages, safety and resident retention to difficult patient behaviors, data breaches and other cyber-related attacks.
While we select only the best assisted living and nursing homes in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio for the families we serve, it is important for everyone to know the hazards of communal senior living. When you know what to look for at your loved one’s facility, you can proactively advocate to make it safer for everyone.
Here are the top five safety hazards in assisted living facilities
1. Resident abuse and crime
Senior adults can be vulnerable targets. Felons can easily pose as visitors to senior facilities. Sometimes the culprits of such misconduct have been the staff members entrusted to care for these elderly ones.
People residing in a facility need to empowered to send critical alerts in the event of a crime against them. These notifications should be easy to send and must be received by administrators in real-time.
On a similar vein, seniors also need to be assisted to understand the common forms of internet fraud how to avoid them.
2. Slip and fall accidents
Slip and fall accidents are the most common type of injury in senior living facilities. In 2016, the CDC reported that in a given year, about 25% of senior Americans (age 65 and above) fall, making it the leading cause of senior injury and death.
Among the top causes are
- poor or deteriorating health,
- medications,
- post-hospital returns,
- surroundings and
- fear of falling.
Even with minor injuries, a fall can lead to a decline in the person’s willingness to participate in activities due to fear of falling again.
Preventive tactics against falls include regular exercising for balance, keeping floors clutter-free, and having an emergency notification system in place.
3. Fires and other emergencies
Fires, natural disasters, active shooters and other emergencies present a risk in senior facilities, because evacuating elderly and infirm persons can be challenging.
Most retirement facilities have fire alarms, smoke detectors and sirens, and conduct fire drills. These measures are more effective when coupled with a mass notification system, which can send critical and time-sensitive information on a moment’s notice to staff, residents and visitors.
4. Negligent security
All the assisted living facilities in Cincinnati and Dayton receive many guests daily, and unscrupulous individuals may exploit this situation. Administrators should ensure CCTV cameras cover the entire premises. Visitors should be asked for photo identification. Security measures should ensure residents don’t leave the facility alone. Residents who have dementia should not have access to unlocked exits.
5. Deficient and substandard design
Obstructed walkways pose significant dangers to seniors who rely on a cane or walker. If grab bars and handrails are wobbly, poorly adjusted or missing in bathrooms, these can increase the chances of a fall.
Seniors often trip on loose rugs or high-pile carpets. Insufficient and outdated lighting increases the risk of falls and can cause residents to be disoriented.
Create a safe living environment by removing
- unattended carts,
- unused wheelchairs,
- cords and
- any other debris or clutter on walkways.
Rugs should be properly secured and carpets should be low-pile. Waxed or polished floor should be avoided, as these can be extremely slippery when wet.
If you have specific concerns about the facility where your loved one lives, contact a senior care living advisor serving Cincinnati or Dayton like Senior Care Partners.