An overwhelming majority of seniors – 89% nationwide and 88% right here in Darien – want to “age in place.” They want to stay in their homes rather than move to alternative retirement settings.
There are many benefits to aging in place—most importantly, seniors can remain in a community where they have connections. We cannot underestimate the importance of the familiar and comfortable!
Many of us wish to live in a home surrounded by memories and lifelong possessions. But, home sweet home really needs to be home safe home! Your house may need modifications so it’s a safe and healthy environment as you age.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one-third of Americans age 65 and over fall each year. Environmental factors lead to about half of all falls that occur at home. In addition to tripping hazards and poor lighting, these factors include a lack of physical updates such as bathroom grab bars, handicapped showers, stair railings, and ramps.
Home modifications help seniors maintain their quality of life. They often prevent injuries that lead to a loss of independence or result in early admission to an assisted living or long-term care facility.
We may be aware of the obvious things such as “remove throw rugs” and “check to see that your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors are working”. There are other areas of concern as well, so why not trust this important task to an objective professional?
At Home In Darien has partnered with Home Care Services for Seniors at Family & Children’s Agency (FCA) to offer FREE in-home Fall Safety Prevention evaluations to Darien seniors.
A Darien couple (and At Home In Darien members) saw our offer for a free home safety assessment and decided to take advantage of it. Although they didn’t think they needed it, they found the safety evaluation informational and extremely helpful. A skilled Registered Nurse checked their blood pressure, heart and lungs, and reviewed their list of prescriptions and supplements. They discussed their daily activities in and out of the home. Then they took a detailed tour of the house. The professional made a number of practical suggestions for improvements to their home. The seniors both enthusiastically said, “The one hour visit was well worth our time!”
A free in-home safety Fall Safety Prevention evaluation of your home could be well worth your time as well. There is nothing to lose! To arrange your home safety evaluation, please call At Home In Darien at 203.655.2227.