Be Proactive to Age In Place

When people ask me what I do for work, and I tell them that I am a Certified Aging In Place Specialist, they are always intrigued.?When they tell me they will get started in a few years as they get to the age of needing the modifications, my immediately response is, don’t wait until you need it, by then it might be too late.?

Just a few statistics:?Most slip and falls happen in the bathroom.?

·?????234,000 adults and teenagers each year suffer from slipping in the bathroom.

·?????33% of elderly require hospital admission following a bathroom fall.

·?????30 percent of adults aged 65 and above who suffered bathroom injuries experienced fractures.

·?????79% of all bathroom injuries among people 65 years and older are due to bathroom slip and falls.

·?????1 person dies everyday by using a bathtub or shower in the US.

What are the most common causes for a slip and fall in the bathroom;?

·?????Slippery surfaces

·?????Out of reach items

·?????Poorly lit pathways

·?????Tripping hazards

·?????Dizzy spells

?So, when individuals tell me they will wait, DO NOT WAIT.?Simple modifications can be made to make a bathroom safer:?Installing grab bars in the correct locations, including next to the toilet and in the shower, changing a towel bar for a towel/ grab bar installed with the proper anchors, having adequate lighting, clearing away tripping hazards, add grit to floor surfaces to make them non-slip, add a seat in the shower when possible. There are so many other modifications that can make any bathroom safer.

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So, the time is now, before any injuries occur to make these modifications.?Why wait until you or a family member has an accident that can be life changing?

?If you have any questions, please feel free to call Setting The Stage at 201-638-4410 or email [email protected]