7 Safety Tips for Elderly Resources Caregivers Should Explore

Aging persons rely on caregivers to assist them in their daily activities. They regard them as helpful and reliable companions, sometimes even regard them as a family or as confidants. For them, caregivers ensure they live well despite injury or illness.

Caregivers value this trust by doing their jobs well. Those who are extremely passionate even go to greater lengths to do more than assist the elderly, making safety their topmost priority. For them, keeping seniors secure from every possible threat is their unique way of providing quality care.

One way caregivers can uphold their duty is to know what makes seniors vulnerable and take necessary steps to protect them from these risks. They can explore valuable resources regarding the various facets of elderly care to improve their craft.

Elderly Safety Resources

Training provides caregivers with the necessary skills to keep seniors secure whether they’re at home or in any care setting. Aside from this, they can also look up the following resources to help them learn about the latest in elderly care: 

1. Home Safety Resources

In-home safety is the topmost priority of caregivers, especially now that majority of seniors choose to age in place. Before a home assessment, caregivers can visit waywiser.life to help them determine safety hazards or risky behaviors that could cause slips and falls, poisoning, or burns. In addition, they can provide recommendations to keep family or senior homes accident-proof.

Aside from these, caregivers can also check additional resources that cover home security and disaster preparedness. They help care professionals prepare seniors against future incidents that could jeopardize their health and home. 

2. Food and Drug Safety

Caregivers also assist senior individuals with their meals and medications. They ensure elderly patients follow safety tips when using the kitchen and encourage them to follow diet plans. 

Food safety resources ensure caregivers are well-versed when it comes to healthy eating for seniors. They provide care professionals with meal ideas to prevent choking hazards and encourage good eating and drinking habits. 

When it comes to drug safety, caregivers should also brush up on their prescription-reading skills so they can administer medications properly. They must also review senior meds regularly to ensure that food and drugs don’t cause complications.

3. Safety During Exercise and Physical Activity

Exercise is crucial to keeping seniors healthy. However, seniors with mobility issues or serious illnesses may not be able to perform a rigorous activity. Caregivers can look up suitable exercises to keep them physically active without compromising their well-being. They can also seek recommendations regarding safety gear that aging patients can use to enjoy recreational activities. 

4. Computer and Internet Safety Guides

These days, seniors use computers, smartphones, mobile apps, and the internet to connect with loved ones and medical professionals. They can combat isolation and ensure they receive adequate medical attention. Mobile apps can also send groceries and medicines in their homes without seniors having to leave their homes. 

Unfortunately, these communications can also expose them to various scams that prey on their vulnerabilities. As con artists are keen on obtaining social security numbers, bank details, and phone numbers, caregivers need to keep abreast with the latest cybersecurity trends to protect seniors.

Senior living companions may need to become tech-savvy to keep patients safe as they browse or perform transactions online. They can use their skills to install anti-virus programs or other safety tools on devices seniors use. Caregivers are also encouraged to educate the elderly to keep them from internet fraud or similar modus.

5. Financial Security

Elderly patients may also face financial abuse from family members or strangers. By looking up resources that tackle financial security for seniors, they can easily spot signs of exploitation. They can also consult professionals and inform concerned authorities to prevent further exploitation.

6. Elderly Driver Safety 

Seniors who are still capable of driving for doctor’s appointments, groceries, or other errands may unknowingly put themselves and others at risk. Certain medications, deteriorating vision, hearing, and muscle coordination can hinder them from driving safely. 

Caregivers need to learn how to keep seniors safe while they’re on the road. They can look for driving problems and seek the opinion of a driver rehabilitation specialist to determine if the elderly is still fit behind the wheel.  

7. Support Animals and Senior Safety

Some seniors keep a dog, cat, or both as support animals and for companionship. When caregivers are faced with this situation, they should know how to keep patients, pets, and themselves safe. They’d also need to read up regarding the needs of support animals and be prepared to provide adequate care as they would for their elderly patients.

In case senior patients can no longer care for their pets or support animals, caregivers should know how to access organizations that can handle their needs.

Conclusion

Elderly safety is a paramount concern for caregivers. It’s embedded in their care routine and involves all aspects of their patient’s lives. Care professionals need to take advantage of various online resources and tap professionals that will ensure seniors remain inside and outside of their homes.