Holiday Safety for Seniors

The holidays are a time when many seniors like to spend time with family, decorate their apartment, have joyous celebrations, and eat good food. The holidays are a busy and exciting time. For seniors, this is also an important time to focus on safety and health. Holiday-related accidents are common at this time of year.

Seniors can protect themselves by coordinating with family and making smart decisions. Here's what you need to know.

Many people want to decorate their apartment for the holidays. Keep decorations simple. Easy-to-assemble decorations that are light and nonbreakable are best. Put up a wreath on your wall or door. If you want to use candles, use battery-powered candles instead of traditional wax candles.

If you celebrate Christmas and want a Christmas tree, keep it small. Artificial trees are best because they require no watering. Ask a loved one to help you assemble your tree.

Keep the tree near the wall where it's plugged in, and install an easy-to-reach switch that will enable you to turn it on and off without bending down. Do not put the tree far from an outlet. The farther the tree is from an outlet, the more cords will be stretched around the floor. This is a tripping hazard.

Maintain good lighting in your apartment. Do not rely solely upon light from your twinkle lights or Christmas tree when walking around your apartment. If large holiday decorations like your Christmas tree is blocking an overhead light, move the decoration to ensure that shadows are not cast around your apartment.

Weather can get hazardous around the holidays. Snow, sleet and ice are common at this time of year. When making holiday plans with people from outside your facility, keep them f lexible to allow for changes in weather and problems relating to transportation safety. Watch the weather closely and be ready to make a change when a storm is approaching.

Traveling from your home to relatives can be ch allenging and even dangerous at this time of year. Instead of going out, hold small family events in your apartment and invite loved ones to come to you. Work with your facility to ensure that loved ones will have parking and know where to go.

If you're unable to cook in your apartment, you can still serve cookies and treats and may even encourage loved ones to bring food for a potluck.

If you must leave your apartment to go to someone else's home, get a ride. Driving at this time of year can be especially difficult, and many seniors do not feel safe driving themselves under these conditions. Make arrangements for a family member to pick you up and take you back to your apartment when the event is over.

Many facilities will hold community events during the holidays. These events are designed to be safe and enjoyable for seniors, so take advantage of them. Going to these events is a wonderful way to enjoy the holidays in a safe, senior-friendly env ironment.

If you have a caregiver who comes to your apartment regularly, this is a time of year when your caregiver might need scheduling flexibility. Your caregiver may have family events to attend. Find out in advance what your caregiver's schedule will be.

If your caregiver takes you to your doctor or runs errands with you, you'll have to do these things when your caregiver is available. If you have scheduling needs, tell your caregiver as soon as you become aware. This will he lp your caregiver make appointments that won't conflict with your schedule.

The holidays are a time when people eat too much and overexert themselves. Touch base with your doctor this December to ensure that the holidays aren 't getting in the way of your health. Your doctor may make dietary recommendations or may give stress relief tips to help you get through this busy time. Follow your doctor's advice to stay healthy.

Routines reduce anxiety, make sleep easier, and help you maintain good health at the holidays. Continue to go to sleep at the same time every day. Avoid eating foods that are very different from the foods you normally eat. Eat meals at the same time. This may mean leaving some holiday events early or turning down certain invitations that would be too disruptive.

Talk to your family and loved ones about your daily routine so that family events can be planned around your routine.

For more information about holiday events at your facility, contact Robert Cottingham Company. We'll be happy to help.