If you can’t tell already, we are very serious about preventing falls. Did you know that falls cause more three times the number of deadly injuries than gunshot wounds? Scary, to say the least, and time to make the conversation about fall prevention a little more public.
A fall can mean the beginning of a downward spiral and long hospital stay. The best solution is to educate yourself about the most common behaviors that put you at risk for a fall and invest a little bit in making your life easier in the first place!
Fall prevention products are not as fun or sexy as shopping for as that new dress, but trust me; the small investment will be worth your safety!
Snow Days:
- Did you know that the village of Arlington Heights has a low-cost snow-shoveling program for seniors?
Local teens have signed up to help their neighbors on snow days for a very low cost (~$10-$15/job). Sounds like a win-win to me. Those teens get to expend some extra energy OUTSIDE the house, while helping local seniors with a much-needed service.
Want to volunteer your teen or know a senior who might be interested in this service?
Contact Karen Hansen, Arlington Heights Senior Center at khansen@vah.com or (847) 253-5532 or visit the Arlington Heights Senior Center Website for more information.
Source: https://wovel.com/using-your-wovel/
- If you’re shoveling that snow on your own, might want to consider a tool that will help you get the job done easier. The Wovel is the world’s safest and easiest snow shovel, greatly reducing the risk of back and heart injury.
Source: https://heattrak.com/
3. If you’re worried about someone taking those first steps outside of the house to grab the mail, consider and snow-melting doormat. Featured on Good Morning America and the Today show, this safe, heated, snow-melting mat can prevent snow from accumulating in front out your house
Source：https://yaktrax.implus.com/
4. Even with the help of a caregiver by your side, we recommend adding some traction to your shoes. Yaktrax makes a traction cleats that you can slip over any shoe.
Source：https://www.amazon.com
5. That old cane tip will do you more harm than good on an icy day. Adding a snow pic to the end will help with some grip on an icy day.
These few low cost investments in your safety this winter can make the difference between a trip to the emergency room and a cozy night in front of the fire! Try any of the above? Have other ideas for keeping seniors safe in the winter months? Please give contact us and let us know about your experience!
