Safety and security are important to the mental health of aging adults. It is a way of eliminating anxiety, fear, and confusion, even while you are in independent living. If you want a healthier and longer life, it is important you prioritize your safety. Although these communities implement safety measures to ensure all residents are safe, you also have obligations for your safety.
In addition to staying in the environment, you should also take all precautions to stay safe indoors. These are some ways to ensure your safety and security in independent living in Elgin, SC:
Exercise Regularly
As an aging adult, falls are common indoors or outdoors, regardless of your age. However, you can prevent this by staying healthy and strong through exercises. Ensure you dedicate enough time in the week to engage in aerobic activities like gardening, jogging, and walking. You can also engage in sports or group exercises such as tai chi or yoga. While doing this, you can also focus on building your muscles.
In addition, ensure balance training is part of your exercise routine, as it can balance your footing and help you avoid falls. Team members in independent living communities will guide and monitor you throughout the exercise.
Examine the Stairways Carefully
This is not common; however, you need extra care if there are stairs in your suite. Check the steps, and ensure the sizes and heights are equal. Did they pose a threat of a fall? How are the handrails? Also, is the lighting good? The stairway should be free of things that can cause any fall.
In addition, avoid carrying things up and down the stairs to make them safer in the suites. You can effectively prevent this by ensuring your bedroom is on the same level as the laundry room.
Better Lighting
To increase safety in your suite, you need to focus on indoor and outdoor lighting. This will allow you to focus as there is an increased fall rate under low light. In addition, adults more than 55 years also suffer from low vision, and this can be aided by good lighting. Whether you are diagnosed with low vision or not, better lighting reduces your risk of falls.
You can start by adding better lighting in stairwells, bathrooms, and other darker areas in your suite. You can also avoid nighttime falls by adding nightlights on the pathway leading to your bedroom. This lighting will help you avoid falls when you wake up during the night.
Bathroom Safety
The bathroom is one of the places in the suite where it is common for aging adults to fall. This should not be surprising as the environment is always slippery and ideal for severe falls. You can increase safety in the bathroom by adding skid-proof rugs outside the shower or bathtub. Adding an extra rug in the shower can make this more effective.
This precaution will make it safer and remove the fear of falling in the bathroom. Another measure in the bathroom includes adding grab bars to offer more stability when sitting and standing.
