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Did you know that household accidents are responsible for over 128,000 deaths each year? And almost 36 million people get medical treatment for injuries sustained in household accidents, according to the National Safety Council.1
These often preventable accidents are proof that sometimes – just like in the movies – the scary stuff comes from inside the house.
That can be a sobering thought for those who want to see their aging parents live safely and securely. As your parents get older, they run a higher risk of falls and they can be prone to household accidents that you might not have considered before. Though things like medical alert systems for seniors can help provide peace of mind and a safety net, you can also build reassurance by taking action to try to prevent household accidents in the first place.
Here are the most common home accidents and what you can do to help prevent them from happening.
Poisoning is a Big Concern
Over half of all household accidents are attributed to poisoning. In fact, in 2021, about 65% of all in-home fatalities were attributed to being poisoned by something.
In many cases, that poisoning comes from the misuse of household cleaning solutions. Accidentally ingesting a cleaning product can wreak havoc on your body and require immediate treatment. A particular cleaning solution might be absolutely safe unless it’s mixed with another solution, which can combine to create toxic gas. Before you know it, you’re trying to breathe through a haze of fumes and wondering what just happened.
Other common types of poisoning include taking too much of a particular medication, such as acetaminophen. In proper doses these medications are usually fine, but too much of them can lead to liver damage and other organ failure. This might be especially dangerous for seniors, who could be on numerous medications and suffer from more potential drug interactions.
How can you keep your parent safe from poisoning? There are a few steps to take right now.
· Store medications in their original containers until it’s time to fill up a medication dispenser and organizer. Using a medication dispenser can help ensure that your parent takes their medicine properly and reduces that risk of drug interactions.
· Keep cleaning products clearly labeled. Remind your parents to take care not to mix cleaning products. For instance, bleach that happens to mix with vinegar doesn’t create a super cleaner – it actually creates chlorine gas, which can easily kill someone who inhales it.
· If dementia or memory issues are becoming a concern, consider keeping the cleaning supplies in a locked cabinet.
· The last thing anyone wants is to somehow cross-contaminate food with cleaning chemicals.
Falling is Common (And Sometimes They Can’t Get Up)
Anyone can suffer a fall and serious injuries as a result. But the older we get, the greater our odds of falling. And if we do fall, we are more likely to get seriously hurt, such as suffering a broken bone or traumatic brain injury.
According to the CDC, 95% of hip fractures are caused by falls, especially by seniors falling sideways. Falls are also the top cause of traumatic brain injury among those of all ages.2 It is clear to see then that oftentimes, when an injury occurs, a senior has fallen and cannot get up. This is yet another reason for older adults to wear a medical alert system at all times.
Falls make up about 23% of all accidental deaths in the home. And despite better widespread education on how to prevent falls, the rate of deaths from falls has risen by about 25% over the last several years. Most deaths from falls occur among those aged 75 and older.
How can you protect your parents from the dangers of falls? Here are some tips.
· Install bright lighting inside and outside the home. Use the highest wattage bulbs each fixture is rated to handle.
· Glow-in-the-dark non-skid strips can make stairs safer.
· Add railings to anywhere inside or outside the home where steps are present. A railing also works well in areas where there is a long distance to walk, such as in a long hallway.
· Add grab bars to pertinent places in the home, such as in the bathroom near the toilet and in the shower. Also consider adding grab bars to the wall next to the bed to help your parent get on their feet easier.
· Use aging in place home modifications, such as raised toilet seats and pull-out drawers.
· Choose the right fall alert for your parents. Look for an on-the-go medical alert device, one that will ensure they get help whether they are in-home or outdoors.
Take Fire Precautions
Fire doesn’t cause as many accidental deaths as you might imagine, perhaps because fire is such a clear and immediate threat that it’s hard to ignore the possibility of one happening. But if it does happen, it’s an immediate emergency that requires everyone in the house to move – right now.
There are plenty of places in the home where a fire can begin. Some of them you can see and prevent, such as a fire that begins when cooking over a hot stove or leaving a pot unattended. But others are invisible threats until flames begin, such as frayed electrical wiring behind a wall that suddenly shorts out and throws sparks that ignite a fire.
Therefore, fire protection involves both prevention and knowing what to do if a fire happens.
· Smoke alarms are vitally important. The National Fire Protection Association says that the use of smoke alarms cuts the risk of dying in a fire by half.3 Test smoke alarms at least once a month and change the battery as needed.
· Encourage your parents to use flameless candles for better safety.
· Gift them with a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and teach them how to use it.
· Talk to them about fire safety. That includes steps to avoid injury (such as not wearing long, flowing sleeves while cooking) and how to get out of the home quickly and safely if a fire begins.
· Replace any frayed extension cords. Better yet, try to get rid of extension cords in the home altogether, as they are a serious fall risk.
· If the lights flicker or switches and outlets feel hot to the touch, call an electrician right away. Electrical issues can happen in any home, but they are more common in older homes.
· Make sure seniors have an emergency alert system. It’s for more than medical surprises! They can press the button to get help for a fire even as they evacuate the home.
It’s the Little Things
There are other dangers to aging parents at home. Though these problems happen only occasionally compared to fires, falls, and poisoning, they do still happen – and the elderly can be at greater risk of death or injury from them.
· Choking is a serious and usually preventable medical emergency. Watch your parents closely as they eat and drink; can they handle swallowing just fine? Remind them to chew food thoroughly and to alert you to any issues with swallowing as soon as they arise. Teach them how to perform the Heimlich maneuver and other first-aid for choking.
· Suffocation is another problem that might catch you by surprise. Seniors who have lower mobility could even suffocate in bed linens, so make sure the beds in the home are safe, with tightly-fitted sheets and not too many comforters or throws.
· Did you know it’s possible to drown in only a few inches of water? That’s especially true if a senior becomes unconscious or unable to move, such as after a fall that knocks them out or a stroke that takes away their mobility. Talk to your parent about the dangers and work out ways to ensure that they stay as safe as possible in bathtubs and showers.
· Thousands of seniors die each year from exposure to the elements. This might be hypothermia, which can occur when the temperature drops and the body shuts down, or heat stroke and other heat-related illness, when their internal temperature rises to a point where the body stops functioning. Make sure the heating and cooling systems in the home are working properly. Encourage your parents to bundle up in layers in cold weather and teach them how to stay safe and hydrate in the heat.
· Attempting do-it-yourself repairs in the house can lead to serious injury and death. Home renovation projects often involve the use of sharp and powerful tools, such as saws and sanders. And let’s not forget the dangers of ladders! These are responsible for a multitude of injuries each year, and the elderly are more susceptible to falling as balance declines with age. If your parent is determined to DIY something in the home, give them a helping hand to keep them safer.
· Beware small appliances, as they can pack a mighty punch. For instance, televisions and microwaves can hold a considerable electrical charge for a long time after being unplugged. Messing around inside the unit can lead to serious injury or even death. Encourage your parents to take these items to a repair shop instead, or replace them with newer models rather than risk an injury to fix a malfunctioning unit.
Family caregivers are integral in making sure that as parents age, their homes age gracefully, too. Take stronger precautions over time to transform your parents’ home into a place of comfort and safety that they can count on as a haven from the world. The peace of mind you get from taking steps to keep them safe, from installing the grab bars to gifting them with medical alert technology, can make their golden years much more enjoyable for everyone.
