The number of Canadians who first grew up with rock ‘n’ roll, astronauts and McDonald’s is off the charts.
The late 1940s through early 1960s were marked by a boom in the Canadian economy, suburban living and, especially, babies.
These boys and girls who lived through the Cold War and cold cuts on Wonder Bread are now aging individuals who almost all agree on one thing: living in their own home later in life.
Yet, there are questions, such as; how will these aging people remain comfortable and safe at home and what proactive steps can help safeguard everyday activities for all older adults inside and outside the home?
“As we all age, certain conditions like visual changes and weaker muscles can affect balance, or some diseases and medications can cause cognitive issues,” said Laura Greenway-Balnar, owner of Right at Home Canada in Guelph.
“When we face health concerns as a result of aging, our risk of falls and injuries escalate, and sometimes our home itself is hazardous. This is why it’s essential to regularly assess our own health and our loved one’s health in addition to reviewing anything in the home that might be a safety concern.”
To reduce potential home hazards for all older adults, Greenway-Balnar recommends the free Aging-in-Place Guide developed by Right at Home with Dr. Rein Tideiksaar, a leading gerontologist and geriatric physician assistant who specializes in fall prevention for older adults.
The Aging-in-Place Guide helps older adults and their families spot home safety concerns and create an individualized plan around the person’s functional abilities, including getting out of bed and bathing.
The guide includes a checklist of risks for home accidents and tips for making a home safe again, if health or environmental factors arise. The safety solutions can be as simple as adding brighter lightbulbs and more light fixtures to solve inadequate lighting. Adding carpet tape can smooth out curled carpet edges. For more extensive fixes, the guide outlines home modifications and remodeling such as installing bathroom grab bars, widening doorways and enlarging rooms.
The Right at Home resource also highlights home-monitoring technology that is becoming more user-friendly and affordable to protect older adults at home and provide families with greater peace of mind. These secure-at-home options include updating the home with smart auto-set devices to simplify daily tasks such as opening or securing windows and doors, turning off appliances, and lowering countertops and shelves. Typically, older adults prefer only two or three modifications to their home at a time, so it is advised that families create a priority list together and work from that.
“Sometimes, a simple adjustment like removing clutter from pathways or changing out hard-to-grasp doorknobs with handles is an easy fix and all that is needed to protect someone at home,” said Greenway-Balnar.
“The Aging-in-Place Guide identifies specific home hazards and clear-cut solutions. It’s also important to include older adults in all health and home safety conversations and to review the choices of the best living space options. With the right planning, living enjoyably and safely at home is fully possible for most of Canada’s aging population.” For more information about home safety for older adults and to receive a copy of the Aging-in-Place Guide, contact Right at Home Canada-Guelph and Wellington Count at 519-265-7887 or email at careguelph@rightathomecanada.com.
