Safety Tips for Seniors
© 1998 Dick Wulf, MSW, LCSW

There are a lot of safety considerations for us as we get older. The following safety ideas are just a few to get you thinking about your own safety and the safety of those you love. Of course, I cannot guarantee any of the following. They come from seemingly reputable sources, but you will have to use your own judgment.

Watch out for yourself and those you love!

Keep a list of emergency phone numbers by every telephone.

Carry a completely filled-out ID care in your wallet – particularly listing any medical conditions.

If you have a chronic condition, like diabetes, heart problems, or severe allergies, wear a medical alert bracelet or necklace at all times. You may not be able to warn helpers of your problems when you’re ill or injured.

When your doctor orders medication for you, find out the name of the medicine and the exact dosage, so you’ll know it before you pick the prescription up from the pharmacy. Check to make sure you are receiving what you should.

Keep your home safe. It is where you spend much of your time, and it must be kept safe.

Learn to pick up after yourself as soon as you begin to trip over things. If your eyesight is not what it used to be, remember that you might not always be wearing your eyeglasses. Halls and walkways should be kept free of clutter.

Make sure that the stove is well-marked so it is obvious that it is on or off. That way, if you walk out of the kitchen or go out of doors when you are not wearing your glasses, you will be able to be sure your stove is off. Poor eyesight might not recognize a burner that is on and a fire could result.

Older people often own older electrical appliances and lamps. Check to see that electrical cords are not frayed. Have faulty cords and electrical connections rewired by someone knowledgeable and careful. If you are taking care of someone older, replace cherished and familiar lamps and appliances only with the owner’s permission to preserve his or her trust and affection for you. These familiar items give a sense of security and permanence, and it will often be best to merely get them rewired.

Watch garage sales for a cheap cane to help on days when your legs are not so stable.

Don’t medicate yourself. Many combinations of drugs and food can be unpleasant or dangerous.

If you tend to forget if you have taken your medication or not, get one of those pill boxes with the days of the week. Or at the start of the day lay out your medication somewhere where children cannot get to it. Or you might be able to think of a better system. The important thing is to have a system that assures you take your needed medication and prevents you from overdosing.

You can catch many contagious diseases from your pet dog, especially strep sore throats. So, if you have persistent infections, take your dog to the vet to be checked. Once your dog is healed, you will be better protected.

Be aware of the symptoms of stroke. Acting early can sometimes prevent and often minimize the damage. Many experts recommend that you go to the doctor or emergency room right away if you experience any of these symptoms: a sudden weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg that lasts from a few seconds to a few minutes, temporary but sudden dimness or loss of vision, especially if it occurs in only one eye, sudden and temporary double vision, temporary impairment or loss of speech because you have trouble moving your tongue or jaw, temporary unsteadiness or dizziness, or a change in headache patterns or unexpected headaches.

Keep a small fire extinguisher in or near the kitchen. Know how to use it, and how to check it to make sure it is still in working condition.

Fire is one of the main causes of accidents and deaths in the United States. If an electric appliance starts to spark, smoke, or smell strange, unplug it or shut off the main power. If the burning or the smell continues, use an ABC-type fire extinguisher on it. NEVER use water to put out an electrical fire!

Don’t neglect your cooking. If food in a skillet starts to flame up, cover the pan immediately, before you remove it carefully from the burner. Keep a container of baking soda near the stove; it can help smother a pan fire.

Don’t overload your electrical outlets. Use an extension cord that can carry the amperage of the outlet it’s plugged into. If an extension cord feels warm, don’t delay – replace it with a heavier cord, or plug fewer things into it. Don’t tolerate any electric cord that is frayed or split; replace it.

Ashes dropped on upholstered furniture or curtains, cigarettes smoldering in ashtrays or trash cans, and smoking in be still account for many fires that didn’t need to happen. Don’t do these things.

Check your house to be sure you aren’t about to let an accident happen.

Don’t let trash or newspapers pile up.

Fix loose steps, loose floorboards, and bad wiring.

Don’t walk up or down slippery steps. Don’t put things on them you can trip over and fall. Don’t clutter halls and walkways.

Remove slippery throw rugs. Fix carpeting with loose edges or corners.

Never leave broken glass around.

Fix wobbly furniture wobbly; make it sturdy.

Make sure your major appliances – stove, fridge, washer, dryer, dishwasher – work safely and correctly.

Know what to do and how to exit in case of a fire. Think about it beforehand.

Install a peephole in your front door, and maybe even in your back door. Make sure it is one with a wide viewing range. ALWAYS look through it first before opening the door. Don’t open the door for anyone you do not know. Don’t leave your doors unlocked, even when you are home. If a stranger at your door pleads for help, don’t let him or her in; tell the person to stay put, and go call 911. Then wait inside as the person in distress waits outside.

If you see a stranger hanging around, call the police. Many burglars case a property before attempting a theft.

Keep your doors and windows locked – more than half of break-ins are through unlocked windows and doors.

Never enter a self-service elevator with a suspicious person in it. What is "suspicious"? Anything that worries you. And to be extra safe, step out of an elevator that is already "push-buttoned" to go down into a basement.

Scrub your food-cutting boards with soap and hot water after you use them. Bacteria hides in the cracks and knife-nicks of the kitchen cutting board, whether it’s made of wood or plastic.

When thawing out frozen foods, thaw them in the fridge rather than on the counter. Food that has been sitting at more than 45 degrees or less than 160 degrees for 3 hours should be assumed unsuitable for eating.

Develop good credit card safety habits. Keep a list of your cards and their numbers in a separate place in your home. Check your credit statement each month, item by item. Don’t assume that the bank or the company did it right. Are there any charges on the statement that you don’t know about? Don’t use your birth date or social security number as a PIN. Don’t show a credit card as a guarantee for a check; if you’re asked to do so, ask to speak with the store manager. Tear up all offers for "pre-approved" credit cards that you choose not to use, so no one else can pick them up.

If you are a woman living alone, ask a man to record your telephone answering machine message. Criminal tend to think that men are less vulnerable than women.

Be very careful when moving things. The best way to move heavy objects is with your brain. Pushing is usually easier than pulling. Get someone young to help you.

When you are using public transportation, sit near the driver.

Use a non-skid mat in your tub or shower, and a non-skid rug for the floor as you step out. Consider installing railing for safety in your tub or shower.

Save your back in winter. When you shovel snow, push it, don’t lift it. Use a small shovel rather than a large one. Start shoveling when one or two inches of snow accumulate. And don’t let much more than that fall before you shovel again.

The more you know the better you can plan. Educate yourself. Call you local Red Cross to learn more about accident prevention and first aid.

Dick Wulf, MSW, LCSW
Colorado Springs, Colorado