Aging: The Importance Of Safety In The Home Environment

People face numerous changes as they age and enter their senior years. These transitions are not solely physical in nature; the changes also incorporate social and psychological aspects. The home environment constructs a key factor in how well a person will adjust and maintain independent living for as long as practicable. Safety in the home and preventing falls are primary concerns. AgingInPlace.com explains that safety in the home similarly contributes to the ability to control and appreciate the home environment. (Roden, n.d.). Safety, control, and enjoyment in the home environment can be enhanced by these five products offered by firststreetonline.com, Alert Tub Bar, Ergonomic Adjustable Reacher, Adjustable Perching Stool, Mini Bike Exerciser, and Electronic Pill Reminder. When addressing safety for older people, the bathroom can be considered a dangerous room. According to the National Safety Council, about 70% of home accidents occur in the bathroom (Friedmann, 2014). Restricted mobility from the natural effects of aging along with the chronic diseases of arthritis and osteoporosis provides getting safely in and out of the shower/bath a primary concern for the elderly and their caregivers. One of the measures of the …show more content…
While exercise is not often linked to promoting safety, with the elderly, regular exercise can combat the effects of hypokinesia, a chronic disease resulting from the disuse of the muscles and the degeneration and loss of lean mass and bone tissue (Hooyman & Kiyak, 2011, p. 158). Loss of lean muscle mass can influence the balance of the older person and can contribute to a greater risk of falls. Having a simple exercise device handy in the home, contributes to an ease in exercising. A regular exercise routine by the elderly person also helps to combat developing chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes II, hypertension, and