Safety in Your Own Home
In Your Way: We get used to our surroundings and occasionally find a kitchen counter corner or end table in our way. And, suddenly needing a walker or wheelchair could bring about the realization that your home is too crowded. Placing must-keep furniture against a wall or clustered together may help clear that path but also selling or giving it away might work too. I find that choosing a “good home” for a special piece lets me let go of an item much easier. It also gives me some room to roam in my space I call home.
Trip Hazards:
Rugs! I love them but one of mine tends to curl on the corners and catch me off-guard. Turn those around, tape them down with double sided tape or get rid of them altogether. If you trip, even once, make a smart decision.
Safety bars in the bathrooms are inexpensive and really great to have. You’ll want to have someone install them properly so that they don’t come loose. Even installing them in the bathtub and shower areas help tremendously and they can work vertically or horizontally.
Next, watch for slip hazards. I’ve got hardwood floors and they can get slippery if furniture polish is present or even a spill from grandkids. (That’s rare so I don’t mean to throw them under the bus!) Tile in the bathroom can get slippery when wet, too, so watch what you install if you’re remodeling. Marble and granite on the floors can be a scary choice.
Last… Slow Down Wilma! Take your time and be calm as nobody needs the dreaded fall.
The CDC Center for Disease Control website suggests certain strength training exercises for older adults which include lifting weights, resistance bands, pushups and sit ups. With sit ups and pushups you utilize your own body weight for resistance. Heavy gardening is also mentioned as a good strength builder as well as Yoga. Important to note is that we can't build our bones, in our later years, so it's important to maintain and build our muscles to avoid injury and falls. This is a good point to teach to young adults so that they can work on a good bone base to build from and hopefully sustain strength for as long as possible. Few elderly walk again after breaking a hip so it's a very serious injury to avoid (Howley, E., 2007).
Howley, E. T., Franks, B.D., (2007). Fitness Professsional's Handbook. Human Kinetics: Champaign, Il.
Expired Foods:
Organic food is wonderful to have but get it eaten! If fresh food doesn’t have preservatives it’s going to ripen quicker. Place it “front and center” to remind you to use it up! Freeze it if there isn’t time to use it. I like to freeze my leftovers, sweet potatoes, grilled onions, peppers, etc., and add them, blended, to my spaghetti sauce or a soup or stew. It adds flavor and I feel good about no wasted leftovers. In fact, I freeze many items in preparation for quicker meals. I love prepping and use it as a meditation time… I think that’s a discussion for another time! Karen R. Ziegler
In Your Way: We get used to our surroundings and occasionally find a kitchen counter corner or end table in our way. And, suddenly needing a walker or wheelchair could bring about the realization that your home is too crowded. Placing must-keep furniture against a wall or clustered together may help clear that path but also selling or giving it away might work too. I find that choosing a “good home” for a special piece lets me let go of an item much easier. It also gives me some room to roam in my space I call home.
Trip Hazards:
Rugs! I love them but one of mine tends to curl on the corners and catch me off-guard. Turn those around, tape them down with double sided tape or get rid of them altogether. If you trip, even once, make a smart decision.
Safety bars in the bathrooms are inexpensive and really great to have. You’ll want to have someone install them properly so that they don’t come loose. Even installing them in the bathtub and shower areas help tremendously and they can work vertically or horizontally.
Next, watch for slip hazards. I’ve got hardwood floors and they can get slippery if furniture polish is present or even a spill from grandkids. (That’s rare so I don’t mean to throw them under the bus!) Tile in the bathroom can get slippery when wet, too, so watch what you install if you’re remodeling. Marble and granite on the floors can be a scary choice.
Last… Slow Down Wilma! Take your time and be calm as nobody needs the dreaded fall.
The CDC Center for Disease Control website suggests certain strength training exercises for older adults which include lifting weights, resistance bands, pushups and sit ups. With sit ups and pushups you utilize your own body weight for resistance. Heavy gardening is also mentioned as a good strength builder as well as Yoga. Important to note is that we can't build our bones, in our later years, so it's important to maintain and build our muscles to avoid injury and falls. This is a good point to teach to young adults so that they can work on a good bone base to build from and hopefully sustain strength for as long as possible. Few elderly walk again after breaking a hip so it's a very serious injury to avoid (Howley, E., 2007).
Howley, E. T., Franks, B.D., (2007). Fitness Professsional's Handbook. Human Kinetics: Champaign, Il.
Expired Foods:
Organic food is wonderful to have but get it eaten! If fresh food doesn’t have preservatives it’s going to ripen quicker. Place it “front and center” to remind you to use it up! Freeze it if there isn’t time to use it. I like to freeze my leftovers, sweet potatoes, grilled onions, peppers, etc., and add them, blended, to my spaghetti sauce or a soup or stew. It adds flavor and I feel good about no wasted leftovers. In fact, I freeze many items in preparation for quicker meals. I love prepping and use it as a meditation time… I think that’s a discussion for another time! Karen R. Ziegler
