The Unspoken Hazards of Living Home Alone and Why Seniors Benefit from a Quality Assisted Living Community

March 4, 2020 by ·

As a younger, healthier adult, you may have a tendency to overlook the various risks and hazards associated with everyday life. It doesn’t matter whether you’re married, live alone, or have five or 10 kids running around screaming all day long.

Safety is something healthier, stronger adults overlook in most aspects of their everyday lives. Yet, risks and hazards abound.

Just stepping into the shower could be a risky move. Most of us barely ever think twice, except for those moments when the surface is slick with soap residue or residual cleaner that didn’t get fully scrubbed out and our foot slips ever so slightly.

Your entire body may jolt as your arms shoot out to maintain balance. Your heart starts to race as adrenaline pumps through your veins, but a few minutes later are you thinking about that near fall much anymore?

Probably not. Yet, these types of hazards exist all around us. Every day. And when they exist for us, they also exist for our elderly loved ones. That’s why assisted living could be an important topic to discuss as parents or grandparents get older.

Some common hazards seniors face daily.

Assisted Living Satsuma, AL:Unspoken Hazards of Living Home Alone

Would you ever think that just slipping out of bed could be a dangerous proposition? Probably not. Most of us don’t. That’s because we simply swing our legs out and plop them down onto the floor.

For a person of advancing years who is no longer as strong as he or she once was, that simple act of getting out of bed can be a bit unsettling and nerve-racking.

They might take some time to gather themselves, ease their feet down to the floor, and then gently rise to a standing position. What if they have socks on? Could they slip on a hardwood surface? Absolutely.

And that’s just the start of their hazardous day. A box or bag that was left in the kitchen they forgot about can be a potential tripping hazard. Stepping into and out of the shower or tub can be risky. Going up and down stairs, especially when they have to carry something, can be potentially dangerous.

How could assisted living make a difference?

They would still need to get out of bed, right? Of course. However, if they reach a point in their life when they don’t feel steady or confident one morning, they could call staff for assistance.

They won’t have to worry about cleaning, showering would be safer with grab bars and other support mechanisms, and meals will all be taken care of for them.

There are numerous hazards surrounding us at home every day. For seniors, assisted living helps to remove many of them.

 

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living in Satsuma, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

Filed Under: Assisted Living in Satsuma AL, Living Home Alone · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
Google Verified Author