Main-AH-logo-Horz-w_gradbox-238x52
 
  • Veterans Programs
    • Veterans Aid & Attendance
  • Services
    • Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
    • Assisting Hands Connecting Care
    • Hospice Care
    • Hiring an Agency vs. Direct Caregiver
    • Personal Care & Companion Services
    • Assisting Hands Help Alert
    • Coordination of Care
    • Full List of Services
  • About Us
    • Why Assisting Hands of Loudoun
    • Industry Statistics
    • Our Caregivers
    • Hospital Readmission Penalties
  • Employer and Event Screening
  • Careers
  • Blog
  • Areas Served
    • In Home Care Ashburn, VA
    • In Home Care Aldie, VA
    • In Home Care Chantilly, VA
    • In Home Care Belmont, VA
    • In Home Care Brambleton, VA
    • In Home Care Broadlands, VA
    • In Home Care Purcellville, VA
    • In Home Care Middleburg, VA
    • In Home Care South Riding, VA
    • In Home Care Stone Ridge, VA
    • In Home Care Sterling, VA
  • Ask a Question

Blog

Home Blog What is a Home Safety Evaluation?

What is a Home Safety Evaluation?

December 11, 2020Lillian FunkBlog, Home Care in Sterling VA, Senior Home Safety

As adults age and their abilities change, their home may no longer be as safe as it once was. Depending on their physical and mental changes, their home could be full of dangerous situations, such as areas that increase their risk for falling. It may not be safe for them to cook unsupervised due to changes in memory. They may be at risk of becoming stuck on the toilet or chair, unable to get up unassisted. Occupational or physical therapists are trained to look for these unsafe situations and can offer personalized recommendations for making a senior’s home safe again.

When an occupational or physical therapist conducts a home safety evaluation, they are looking for potential dangers, considering the specific needs and limitations of the senior who lives there. They inspect the physical environment, but they also look at how the individual interacts within it.

Looking for Safety Concerns
Some potential safety hazards might include:

  • Inability to use stove safely
  • Spoiled food in the refrigerator
  • Chairs, toilet or bed that is too low for the senior to rise from independently
  • Bath mats or throw rugs that create a tripping hazard
  • Dim lighting
  • Slippery floors
  • Medication stored unsafely
  • Lack of grab bars or shower seating
  • Thresholds creating tripping hazards
  • Unsafe stairs
  • Cluttered, crowded walkways

Considering the Specific Situation

After the home safety evaluation is completed, the therapist identifies any concerns and offers personalized recommendations based on the senior’s specific situation. They take into account any limitations facing the senior, including:

  • Vision or hearing loss
  • Muscle weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Pain
  • Mental health, depression
  • Dementia
  • Delirium
  • Ability to walk / balance
  • Chronic or acute medical conditions
  • Medication challenges
  • Financial limitations
  • Low social support
  • Transportation challenges
  • Personalized Recommendations

Based on their findings, they may recommend removing throw rugs, adding grab bars or toilet risers, or changing where medication is stored. Replacing furniture, cleaning up clutter, or adding threshold ramps are other simple measures that can make a big difference in home safety. Some of the concerns, however, may not be able to be addressed with a simple purchase or item removal.

Home Care can Increase Home Safety

A common recommendation for seniors in an unsafe situation is to add in home care support at key times throughout the day or week. Home care agencies provide trained staff to assist seniors in their homes in these situations. They offer a wide array of services, which are customizable based on each senior’s specific needs. This goes a long way toward enabling seniors to age in place safely and successfully. Because home care services are customizable to each situation, they look different from case to case, however some common recommendations for home care support include:

  • Light housework
  • Clearing up clutter
  • Ensuring clean, dry floors in bathrooms or other areas
  • Changing bed linens or doing laundry
  • Cleaning out the refrigerator regularly
  • Shopping support
  • Meal preparation or meal reminders / encouragement
  • Assistance with bathing, toileting or dressing
  • Assistance with walking or mobility
  • Transportation support

How to Arrange for a Home Safety Evaluation

Home safety evaluations are ordered by a doctor. They are commonly ordered before discharging a patient home from a hospital stay. If you have concerns about the home safety of a senior in your life, talk to their doctor about a home safety evaluation. In many cases, Medicare or medical insurance will cover most or all of the costs of this service.

Sources
https://www.geriatricfastfacts.com/fast-facts/home-safety-evaluation-can-i-send-patient-home#:~:text=A%20Home%20Safety%20Evaluation%20is,patient%20while%20in%20the%20home.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Sterling, VA, please contact the caring staff at Assisting Hands today. (703) 782-3655.

  • About
  • Latest Posts

Lillian Funk

Latest posts by Lillian Funk (see all)

  • Questions to Ask Your Elderly Loved One’s Doctors Before They Are Discharged from the Hospital - February 26, 2021
  • Do the Winter Blues Have Your Elderly Loved One Feeling Down? Here Are Things You Can Do to Help. - February 18, 2021
  • Team Up to Ensure Quality Care - February 10, 2021
Tags: Home Care in Sterling VA
Previous post Fire Safety and Preparedness for Your Elderly Loved One Next post 3 Helpful Tips for a Family Caregiver to a Senior with Dementia

Related Articles

Why are Seniors More Prone to Heat Stress?

August 25, 2017Lillian Funk

What Kind of Heart Attack Did Your Parent Have?

May 29, 2020Lillian Funk

Is Your Aging Parent at Increased Risk for Heart Failure?

December 29, 2017Lillian Funk

Recent Posts

  • Questions to Ask Your Elderly Loved One’s Doctors Before They Are Discharged from the Hospital February 26, 2021
  • Do the Winter Blues Have Your Elderly Loved One Feeling Down? Here Are Things You Can Do to Help. February 18, 2021
  • Team Up to Ensure Quality Care February 10, 2021
  • Suggestions for Writing Down Memories During Freelance Writer Appreciation Week February 5, 2021
  • Is Your Dad’s Car the Right Vehicle for His Needs? January 29, 2021
chat-icon

Read Our Newsletter

Read More
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
apache_pb

Download Our Brochure

Download
logo

assisting hands

Assisting Hands Home Care provides elder care services and senior in home care services for families across the country.

  • (703) 982-0050
  • info@assistinghands.com
  • 20130 Lakeview Center Plaza, #400, Ashburn, VA 20147
  • Google Business Profile

COMPANY

  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Services
  • Areas Served

Services

  • Additional Services
  • Aging In Place
  • Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care
  • Coordination of Care

legal

  • Hospital Readmission Penalties
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Statement
Places to View Us On The Web

2020 Assisting Hands Home Care. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED