Staying Put at Home: Home Safety

Living Alone? You Need to Know These 10 Simple Tips

January 31, 2018

While many people enjoy the solitude of living alone, others, who unexpectedly find themselves in an empty home, can face a difficult transition period. Aside from simply missing the company of another human being, living alone means you don’t have another person to help with certain chores. Read More

Aging in Place: A Brief Introduction to NORCs

September 14, 2015

It can be easier to Age in Place when you are part of a naturally occurring retirement community (NORC). A NORC is a community that was not originally designed for seniors, but that has gradually begun to have a high proportion of older residents. More specifically, the term denotes any community in which 40 percent of the population is aged 60 or over and lives in their own homes. This could be an apartment complex or a few adjacent neighborhoods. These associations are often used as a way to forgo moving to a senior living facility, thereby allowing the members to Age in Place. These types of communities began to appear in the mid-1980s, and they are now spreading across the country as seniors are looking at their future housing options. As of 2012, there were 29 self-identified NORCs in operation. However, it is estimated that about 5,000 non-self-identified NORCs currently exist in the United States. Read More

How to Declutter Your Home for Aging in Place

June 15, 2015

After accumulating a lifetime’s worth of belongings, it can be difficult to cut down and decide what can be discarded. It can be even harder to stick through this process until the end. However, a clean, organized home can reduce tripping and fire hazards and make it easier to stay in your house longer. This week, Staying Put at Home has come up with a few tips to make decluttering your home a more manageable mission. Read More

How You Can Make Your Kitchen Safer

May 7, 2015

Whether you are a master chef or a microwave connoisseur, it’s likely that the kitchen is one of your household’s central hubs. With the kitchen getting so much use, it is not surprising that fires and falls are frequent mishaps. In fact, home fires kill seniors at twice the rate of society as a whole. While we have already covered some helpful tips on this subject, we thought it would be a good idea to provide a more comprehensive look at how you can modify your kitchen to make Aging in Place easier and more comfortable. Read More

Aging in Place Essentials: Part 5 — How To Make Your Bathroom Safer

March 19, 2015

As we have mentioned elsewhere on Staying Put at Home, a safe bathroom is critical to Aging in Place. This week, we have a few more suggestions for how to improve the safety of your bathroom. Read More

Aging in Place Essentials: Part 2 – Making Your Home Safer & More Comfortable

February 11, 2015

The key to Aging in Place is having a safe and comfortable home. In Part 2 of our Aging in Place series, we will discuss how you can make sure your home fits your needs. Read More

Aging in Place Essentials: Part 1 – Introduction

February 4, 2015

In the coming months, Staying Put at Home will be covering the foundations of Aging in Place. Here, in Part 1, we introduce Aging in Place and discuss why it is important and how to achieve it. Read More

Secure Your Home for a Winter Storm

December 24, 2014

Staying put at home isn’t always about aging in place. When inclement winter weather turns from inconvenient to dangerous, it can become a quite literal need. Though your home can be a safe haven from the storm, key to wellbeing is having the essentials on hand. Getting safely through a blizzard, ice storm or cold snap is doable when you consider ahead of time what you might need for the following scenarios. Read More

Your Senior Gift Giving Guide

December 10, 2014

The holiday season is called the most wonderful time of the year. When trying to find gifts for loved ones, though, the holidays can be more stressful than wonderful for many people. That’s why Staying Put at Home has put together your one-stop shopping guide for all the seniors in your life. But what sets our suggestions apart from all those other gift lists? Each item bolsters health, safety and comfort, all key components for aging in place. And if you’re a boomer, why not treat yourself to an item or two as you shop for your own friends and family? Read More

Wintertime Safety Suggestions

December 4, 2014

The United States has witnessed its first major snowstorm of the season. Unfortunately, we’re still a few weeks away from the official start of winter. Mother Nature may be unpredictable, but you don’t have to forecast the weather to prepare for it. Seniors in particular should have a plan in place to stay safe when the temperatures drop, as they are often more vulnerable to cold weather illnesses and injuries. So before another arctic blast or polar vortex hits your home, consider your wintertime safety needs. Read More

Exercise Now — Avoid Falls Later

September 23, 2014

Getting your vision checked. Removing loose rugs and stray cords. Avoiding medication interactions. Each of these actions can reduce your fall risk. But to keep falls from being part of your future, exercise is a must. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists physical activity first among its fall prevention tips.

When exercise isn’t part of your daily life, though, knowing where to start can be a challenge. So first things first: consult your doctor before you begin a workout regimen. Depending on your preferences and restrictions, he can guide you toward the activities that will best improve your fall safety. Read More

Bathroom Safety Essentials

August 21, 2014

NIHSeniorHealth states that falls happen frequently in the home, and several factors point to the bathroom as a primary culprit. Slippery floors. Wet shower tiles. Slick tubs. All circumstances that can lead to a fall accident. Rickety towel racks and low toilet seats can also present problems. So when it comes to fall prevention, making your bathroom safe can greatly reduce your risk of fall injuries at home. Read More

The Benefits of Downsizing

July 24, 2014

You’ve spent a lifetime making your house into a home. Your walls are lined with treasured photographs. The shelves are filled with beloved books. Each room is accented with mementos from special occasions and vacations. So why would you want to part with them? Downsizing your possessions — or your home — can be a challenge both physically and emotionally. But for many seniors, fewer belongings can lead to improved safety, stronger financial security and even a greater ability to enjoy their time as they wish. Read More

Make a Fitness Plan and Fight Arthritis Pain

July 21, 2014

Exercise is good for the body and mind. But when arthritis hip pain or arthritis knee pain makes it difficult to walk across the living room, let alone to the park or gym, keeping up with your workout resolutions can become a challenge. While medication can mask arthritis pain, exercise can actually help prevent it from happening. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that physical activity can improve joint function and ease arthritic complications. So to prevent arthritis pain from taking control of your mobility, create a workout regimen that works for you. Read More

Prevent Falls with Good Health

July 16, 2014

Fall prevention can take many forms. Making sure that your house is safe is one way to avoid fall injuries. Taking care of your health is another important measure to stop slip and fall accidents. When you do both, you have the greatest chance to enjoy peace of mind at home. Even with health concerns, you can be proactive in maintaining your senior safety with these fall prevention tips. Read More

Fall Prevention Basics

June 18, 2014

Fall injuries are the primary challenge to senior safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls account for more elderly deaths than any other type of unintentional injury. Fall accidents can also cause debilitating complications, including bone fractures and brain trauma. Given that many falls occur in the home, older individuals can protect their health and avoid expensive medical treatment by taking some simple senior safety precautions. Read More