Senior Resources

The first step in maintaining a safe environment in the home is to identify potential hazards. By doing a safety assessment, you can identify areas that need modification for a more risk-free environment at home. Every house is different but there are common safety hazards that can be easily avoided. If you have never had a home safety inspection done, consider hiring a professional to make an assessment. IN the meantime, below are some very common hazards that can be avoided:

Loose area rugs: these rugs create a tripping hazard. Any surface that is loose or a different height than the adjoining surface can cause a fall. Have your area rugs professionally secured or remove them altogether.
Make sure alert systems are working. Many citizens have no alert system for emergencies. Every house should have smoke detectors at the very least. Other emergency systems include carbon monoxide detectors and motion sensors. If you do not have smoke detectors installed, hire a professional to install them as immediately as possible. If you have smoke detectors installed, make sure they are working properly and replace the batteries twice annually.
Regularly check the freshness of your food: once a week, go through the food in your refrigerator and check for spoiled food. Check the labels on products, especially meat and dairy products. Throw out any expired foods.
Have grab bars installed in bathroom: the bathroom is a common place for household falls. Many of these falls can be avoided by the installation of grab bars. Grab bars can be used in the tub or shower as well as next to the toilet. If you are having trouble getting up and down from the toilet, consider getting a raised toilet seat to make it easier to get on and off.
Clutter: there’s a reason why Mom made you keep your room clean. Clutter in the any hallway or walkway, inside or out, can be a tripping hazard. Never store items in hallways or on staircases or landings. Anywhere in the house where there is high-traffic volume should be free and clear of clutter.
Stick to the label: when using chemicals in the home for cleaning or other purposes, make sure you follow the recommendations on the label. Never mix household cleaning products together. Mixing different chemicals can create toxic gases or result in other dangerous accidents.
Fire extinguishers: make sure every floor of the house has a firs extinguisher. Always keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
Keep a fully stocked first aid kit in the home that is easy to access.
Keep the hot water heater set to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Any setting above 120 degrees can cause scalding. However, do not set the temperature below 120 to prevent certain bacterium from building up in the tank. If you don’t know how to adjust the setting on your hot water heater, hire a professional to do it for you.
Keep emergency numbers posted at every phone.

Fire Prevention

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2006, there were more than 1.6 million fires in the United States. Residential fires represented 25.1 percent of all fires and 78.7 percent of structure fires. 79.5 percent of all civilian fire fatalities occurred in the home, where home is defined as one- and two-family dwellings and apartments. Of those, approximately 83.5 percent occurred in single-family homes and duplexes.

That’s the bad news. The good news is there are things you can do to help avoid the risk and dangers of fire. Below is a checklist of items. If your home is lacking in any of these area, correct the problem immediately. If you are unable to do the work yourself, it is always best to hire a professional handyman to do the work.

Have smoke detectors installed on every floor of your home. Having one smoke detector in a two + story house is not enough. The detectors should be cleaned regularly and the batteries should be replaced twice a year.
If you don’t have a fire extinguisher in the home, get one. If you are unsure how to use the extinguisher consult the owner’s manual or have a trained professional show you how to use it.
Have a fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in the family knows the plan. If there is an older adult in the house with dementia or Alzheimer’s, rehearsing the plan regularly is advised. Make sure all residents know two different ways to escape each room of the house.
Make sure your windows are easy too open and close. In the event of a fire, speed in escaping can be critical.
Never smoke in bed. If there is a smoker in the home, make sure ashtrays used have a holder built in to hold the cigarette in the middle of the ashtray. When throwing away ashes, even if the ashtray hasn’t been used for while, run a little water over the ashtray. Cigarette embers can stay partially lit for a long time.
Inspect your extension cords and cords from appliances. Make sure the cords are not frayed or worn. If they are frayed, replace them. Also, do not plug more than one appliance into any single outlet.
If you have a fireplace, have the chimney cleaned every year.
Have your furnace cleaned and serviced at least once per year.
Check your house for flammable materials close to heaters, heat sources and appliances. Flammable materials such as gasoline and kerosene should be stores outside the home, not inside (including the basement).
When cooking, keep the pot handles facing in toward the stove. (Don’t cook with handles protruding beyond the lip of the stove). Always wear tight fitting clothes when cooking. Loose clothing can catch fire more easily.
Check your curtains and draperies to make sure they are not too close to a stove or other appliance.

As with all home repair and maintenance, do not attempt to anything that is beyond your ability. It is always best to hire a professional if possible. Do not get on ladders or step stools if you have mobility problems or are less sure-footed than you used to be.

For more information of fire safety and preventions, check the links below:

The Senior Corner is an online publication that has free articles for seniors. For their article on fire prevention in the home, click this link: http://seniors.tcnet.org/articles/article04.html

The U.S Fire Administration offers download and free fliers for fire safety through their website. The section for seniors can be found by clicking this link: http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/campaigns/50plus/

The United Spinal Association has a special brochure for fire safety for people in wheelchairs. For a copy of the brochure, click here: http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/WheelchairFireSafety.pdf

Con-Artists Often Target the Elderly

The snake oil salesman is not a new member of society. Indeed, he may be older than “the oldest profession.” As the senior citizen population explodes, there is even more incentive for con-artists to target the elderly. Seniors who fall victim to scams at best may be bilked out of a few hundred dollars. But in the worst case scenarios, seniors could lose much more, even their home or life savings.

Scam artists have become increasingly more sophisticated in recent years. Some studies suggest the con artists are imploring new techniques such as psychological profiling of senior fears and worries and tailoring their scamming techniques around these profiles. For example, lottery scams can be tailored to target seniors who have a fear of outliving their money.

The most prevalent scams are home improvement fraud, sweepstakes fraud, identity theft, internet fraud and false representations scams.

Below are some examples of these most common scams:

Someone calls a senior citizen at home and informs them there is a security issue with their credit card or bank account. They ask the senior to confirm their account number to verify it is correct and not compromised. The senior then gives them their account information.
Seniors who may not be particularly internet savvy enter their credit card or bank account numbers into a website designed specifically for “phishing” account information from consumers. Often, the con artist redesigns a website to look almost identical to a bank or credit card company. Because it looks real, the senior trusts that it is safe to enter their account information.
Door-to-door home improvement offers: an individual knocks on the door of a senior and offers to replace the roof or repave the driveway etc. Because many elder citizens cannot get on the roof to verify the work, they assume that when the “contractor” says it’s done, he or she is being truthful. In fact, most door-to-door offers for home repair are scams in that they claim to have done work that was never done or, in the case of repaving a driveway, they simply paint it black and say the work was completed.
Telemarketing scams: often there is no way to verify if a telemarketer who calls a senior’s home is who they claim to be. Even with caller ID, most people calling from an 800 number or company will show up on a caller ID as “Unknown Caller.” Thousands of seniors give out their birth date and social security numbers over the phone only to have their entire financial profiled opened up by con artists.
Sweepstakes fraud: a senior receives a check in the mail telling them they have won a sweepstakes prize. They are told to send a check to cover the taxes and to deposit the winning check in their bank account. By the time the check they were sent bounces and is deemed fraudulent by the bank, they have already sent the con artist a check.

Although con artists have a knack for altering their schemes, there are common scams that can be easily avoided. While the systems and techniques may change, there are consistent patterns within the framework of scams. Here are some basic rules to follow to help avoid getting conned:

Never give out your birthday, social security number, credit card number or bank account information over the phone unless you are personally familiar with the person you are talking with. If someone is offering you something for “free” or told you have won a prize and they then ask for your credit card information, be wary.
Do not hire door-to-door solicitors for Home Improvement offers. Use a reliable local company. Being referred by a friend or neighbor for these repairs is often the safest route. Also, individuals are more likely to be con artists than established companies. If for any reason you decide to hire someone for home improvements who solicited you by knocking on your door, do not agree to any work or make any payments to them until you verify they have a home improvement contractor’s license.
Avoid making payments online altogether if possible. If you order products or services on the internet, opt to be billed so you can pay by check or when mailing a check, verify that the company is legitimate by confirming it with the Better Business Bureau.
Put up a NO SOLICITING sign on your door. While there may be some legitimate business people going door to door, they are few and far between.
Before you do business with anyone, get references. Whether its home improvements, travel arrangements, or making a major purchase, it is always better to check the person or companies references. If the individual you are dealing with is unable to provide good references, do not engage in any type of financial arrangement with them.
Don’t pay for something until the work is done or the product is in your hand. There are, of course, exceptions to this such as purchasing a car or paying for a service contract. But for most circumstances, this is the golden rule.
Never pay money to win money. Legitimate sweepstake/prize companies never require you to pay taxes or fees before receiving the prize.
Get it in writing! For service work make sure you have a contract that details exactly what the work to be done includes, the price, and financial terms (if any). Also ask for a written guarantee and be familiar with the terms before signing anything.
When throwing away junk mail or bill stubs, make sure you destroy anything with personal information on it. Con artists often sift through trash to find personal information and account numbers.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, it is normal reaction to be embarrassed. But don’t let a little embarrassment get in the way of bring the con artists to justice. Often con artist operate in neighborhoods for short periods before they move on. Waiting to report someone you suspect as fraudulent or who scammed you out of your money can allow the criminal to get away. If you believe you were scammed, contact the police.

The National Fraud Information Center is a non-profit organization that tracks information related to fraudulent activities in the Unites States. To report a scam or potential scam or to file a report, contact them toll free at 800-876-7060.

For more information on how to avoid fraud, you can click the links below:

Fraud.org offers general information about the different types of scams and how they can be avoided.

The United States Post Office has developed a webpage for seniors that deals with mail and telemarketing fraud for seniors.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has compiled information on senior citizen fraud and has a dedicated web page just for seniors.

Senior Net has a variety of articles on fraud and prevention.

Tips to Discourage Burglary

In our modern times, security is an important issue. Most burglars look for easy-access situations so imploring some basic security measures in often enough to discourage a thief from attempting a break in. Below are some suggestions on basic home security. Evaluate your own home and take the necessary precautions recommendations. If you are unable to do the work yourself, hire a professional.

Use a deadbolt lock for all exterior doors. Other types of door locks are too easily picked. Most non deadbolt locks can be picked with a credit card or an intruder can simply give the door a forcible kick to open the door.
Keep you windows locked when you are not using them. Do not leave second story windows open thinking no one will get into your house from the second floor.
Use a timer switch for lights when you are away for more than a day. Timers can be purchased at some department stores and any hardware or home improvement store. They are easy to install and relatively inexpensive. If you want a light timer and are unsure how to install it, hire a professional to install it.
If you are away for more than a two days, do not allow newspapers and mail to pile out while you are gone. Have a neighbor pick up your mail or have the post office stop delivery while you are gone. The post office will also forward your mail while you are on vacation if you request it.
If you have a fenced yard, keep the gate locked. A burglar can enter a fenced yard and break in through a back window or door without being seen by the neighbors in some situations.
If you have an electric garage door opener, keep the interior door from the garage to the home locked. Thieves can actually steal the electronic code for garage doors and open it. Locking the interior door makes it harder for a thief to get into the house.
Don’t hide a key in an obvious place. Doormats, above the door and in potted plants are commonly used places for hiding keys. If you can think of a good place to hide a key, so can a burglar.
Turn on a radio or stereo fairly loudly when you are not at home. Burglars who think someone is home are far less likely to attempt a burglary.
Never leave a note on the door saying you will be back at a certain time. This in an opportunity most thieves cannot resist.
If you don’t have it already, install good exterior lighting. Motion detector lighting is very effective also.
Install a burglar alarm or if you are unable to do that, at least get a sign that says the property is protected by a security system.

In evaluating your home for security weaknesses and reviewing the suggestions, do not do any work you are not capable of doing. If you are unsure about how something is installed or not sure what devises would be best to purchase for your situation, always hire a professional Handyman to do the work.

For more information on how to prevent burglary, click the links referenced below:

E-How is an internet site that provides different information on a variety of subjects. They have a dedicated page for preventing burglary.

You can read CNN’s (Cable News Network) article on “How to Beat the Burglars”.

For information on burglary statistics, check the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) article.

HomeGuide.com is an internet resource with tips for remodeling, real estate, home mortgages and home services. Read their article on how to prevent break-ins.

Never Give Up

By Joel Bowers, Recruitment Coordinator for Handyman Senior Care

Prior to helping start the Handyman Senior Care Corporation, I spent a year being a care giver for Alzheimer’s patients. While I did have a few other clients, I spent most of my year in service to two Alzheimer’s patients, both men, aged 95 and 86. For the purposes of this article, I will call them John and Martin.

My first client, John, a retired banker, was living in an assisted living facility for dementia patients. He had fallen twice while using the bathroom at the age of 94. He had suffered from Alzheimer’s for nearly a decade and his mental abilities were falling away. During his first bathroom fall, he broke his shoulder and recovered pretty well. He then fell again and broke the opposite shoulder. That’s when I was sent to help. He needed to be supervised in the bathroom to prevent another fall. The Alzheimer’s combined with mild incontinence made him anxious to go to the bathroom frequently. He was undergoing physical and occupational therapy to help recover from the second fall. He was unable to walk on his own without assistance. For a 94 old man, the circumstances were indeed challenging.

Because of the Alzheimer’s, communication was limited. John could understand me but had difficulty expressing himself. He showed no interest in books or magazines, games or activities. He liked to have his TV on but he paid little attention to it. He looked, by all measures, like a man who was ready to leave this Earth.

We did the physical therapy exercises every day. While he wasn’t thrilled with the prospect each day, he was cooperative and responsive to my instructions. We did arm and leg strengthening exercises, neck stretches, and walked every day, slowly increasing the distance. We did occupational exercises like hitting a balloon back and fourth, brushing his teeth and shaving.

After three months, John was improving. He could now get up and down from his chair and go to the bathroom without direct assistance. He showed more interest in walking outside in the courtyard. His shoulder was healed and his strength continued to improve weekly.

After another month, once his confidence was somewhat restored, John became more interested in life in general. He began looking at books and magazines I brought him and began talking more. It was if his Alzheimer’s was improving. One day, when he was feeling particularly responsive verbally, I asked him what he used to do for fun. He said he like to play golf. That was a bit beyond the possible so I probed a little more. He told me he used to play cards with the fellows from the bank from time to time.

I told him I liked poker, too, and maybe we should try playing. He looked at me as if I was crazy and then promptly said, “OK.” I was told this was something a 10 year Alzheimer’s patient usually could not do. But he did it. We played five card draw every day after lunch with giant checkers for chips and oversized playing cards. It wasn’t long after that that I was removed from service for John.

I visited John twice since I was released from his care giving. He was alive and well and walking on his own with the help of a walker. Each time I visited him, I asked him if there was anything I could get him before I left. Both times he had the same response, “A million dollars.” Well, that’s a banker for you……

* * * * * *

Martin was my next regular patient. He had been suffering from Alzheimer’s for about seven years when I met him. Alzheimer’s disease is difficult for anyone suffering but it was particularly hard on Martin. He was a scientific genius, the leading man in his field, once upon a time. He had traveled the world and studied biology with unabated enthusiasm for almost his entire life. He understood the workings of the brain and brain function so he was very aware of what was going on with himself neurologically, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Martin’s wife decided to hire a caregiver for a few days a week because the burden of tending to Martin’s needs was overwhelming. He needed help with everything: preparing all his meals, giving him medication three times a day, helping him use the toilet etc. According to his wife, he had good days and bad days but every day brought frustration for both of them.

In my first few days with Martin, I learned a lot about him. He was far more interested in talking than John but it took him a very long time to complete a thought, much less a sentence. None the less, through time and patience I learned he missed walking. He used to walk every day and his wife was often so tired from taking care of him (she was 84 years old) that it was difficult to muster the strength for walking. So we began taking a walk every day. We started far too ambitiously and he nearly fell off a curb into the street on the very first walk we took. We learned to pace ourselves, walking inside his apartment building when it was too cold or windy. When it was warm, we walked to a nearby park with a covered bridge that simply fascinated him.

After about a month of walking, it seemed his Alzheimer’s was better. He was speaking more quickly with more confidence in his speech delivery. (When we had first met, he seemed embarrassed to even try talking much because it was such a labor). His wife and daughter had both remarked that he seemed to be showing signs of improvement. I decided to add range of motion and strength exercises to our daily routine. This added another layer of confidence to his physical and mental abilities.

We signed up for internet service at his home and spent many hours looking at pictures of nature. He was particularly interested in owls and birds. We set up his old slide projector and through many slide show sessions, we re-toured the world. He had visited twenty or more countries throughout his career and had his trips well-documented in slides. He would tell me about each slide and the people he met. We painted, took trips into the country to look at the leaves changing colors, and danced to salsa.

In the late fall, six months after meeting Martin, he became very ill with bronchitis. The infection affected his balance and one evening while going to the bathroom he fell. He was hospitalized and released to a rehabilitation center, re-hospitalized and then sent to a hospice facility.

Due to his illness and other problems, he had been taken off his medication for Alzheimer’s. He was more confused than ever and barely spoke. In rehab, a psychiatrist visited to check on his mental state. He was able to respond to ‘yes’ and ‘no’ questions but little else. But just as the doctor was ready to leave he asked Martin if he had any questions. Clear as a bell and without any hesitation, he said, “What advances in medicine are being made to prevent Alzheimer’s disease?” The doctor said they may never find a cure but within a decade they should medicine that will halt the disease from getting any worse. Martin looked relieved. About a week later, Martin passed away in hospice.

Although Martin’s story may end on a sad note, his story is one of hope for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. For me, it was a life-altering experience. And from what his wife and family have told me, it was for Martin, too.

Keeping Your Body and Mind Active

Note: check with your doctor before starting any new physical fitness routines or programs.

As we age, certain physical and mental activities may become more difficult. This is not an excuse, though, to stop participating in the things you have always enjoyed. Sometimes you may need to lessen the intensity of physical activities, but for most seniors, this does not mean you should stop. Studies show that exercise for older adults helps increase mobility and help reduce the risk for falls.

One of the most common physical ailments among seniors is stiffness and joint pain. Even extremely healthy senior citizens can begin to notice more aches and pains after the age of 60 or 70. Many seniors suffer from various forms or arthritis. While physical activity may not cure your aches and pains, it may well help. Stretching, range of motion exercises, swimming and walking are all good ways to get the blood flowing and loosen up stiff muscles and joints.

For the Body

Staying physically active also helps improve circulation, strength, and balance as well as enhancing brain function. If you are physically able, get outside EVERY day. Nothing beats fresh air! Take a walk, go fishing, visit a local park, fly a kite, skip stones in a lake…..just get out there. If you haven’t walked or been active outside, start very slowly and work your way up over a period of months.

Adding regular in-home exercises can be an essential part to staying fit, too. You can even get a good daily workout from a sitting position. If you have not exercised in awhile, start slowly and work up to more repetitions as your strength increases. Using a stiff, high-backed chair (like a dining room table chair), sit up as straight as possible. Repeat the exercises up to twenty times each as you are able. From this seated position, you can do the following:

Starting with your feet flat on the floor, push down on your toes and lift up the back of your feet. Hold for a few seconds. Then lift your toes up and press down with your heels. (This exercise strengthens your lower legs and improves circulation).
Sitting up straight, hold onto the sides of the chair seat and lift one leg out as straight as possible. Hold it out for five seconds and then switch legs. (This strengthens the leg muscles that help you get up from a seated position).
Sitting up straight, shrug your shoulders bring the shoulders up toward your ears. Hold for five seconds then release. (This helps relieve neck and shoulder stiffness).
While sitting with your hands on the chair arms, lift yourself up with your arms only leaving your feet on the floor. (This helps improve arm and back strength).
Sitting up straight, gently roll your head around in a circle. Then look up to the ceiling as far as possible, hold for five seconds, then look down as far as possible, and hold for five seconds. Then tilt your head from side to side holding for five seconds. (This also helps with neck and shoulder pain).
Put a pillow between your knees as you are seated in the chair. Squeeze the pillow as hard as you can and hold it for five seconds then release. (This helps strengthen the inner thigh).

For the Mind

Keeping the mid active is essential for mental clarity as you age. Sometimes when you get older, we lose interest in activities. Sometimes, the activities you once enjoyed may seem more like a burden than enjoyment. But just as you can strengthen your body at any age, you can do the same for your mind. Even dementia patients can show mental improvement when the mind is regularly stimulated.

Any activity that involves problem solving is a good exercise for the brain. Crossword puzzles, word searches, trivia questions, chess, checkers, and the recently popularized sudoku puzzles are all good mental exercises you can do on your own. Try to do at least one brain-stimulating exercise every day.

If you live alone, try to schedule a regular game days with friends, relatives or neighbors. In additions to enjoying the companionship of others, having a game day helps stimulate your thinking process.

There are online resources for playing games on the internet. Some of these games can help with mental fitness. Below are some links to internet sites with games designed specifically for seniors:

The Washington Post has a new daily crossword puzzle you can do online at:

http://crosswords.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/crosswords/daily/front.htm

A Game a Day is a website with a new online logic or puzzle game each day. You can also play games from previous days. They have crosswords, spelling games, brain teasers, trivia and more.

http://www.agameaday.com/

Play classic tic-tac-toe online vs. a computer at:

http://ostermiller.org/calc/tictactoe.html

AARP has a web page with games designed for people 55 and older. Games include card games, word games, arcade games, sports, Mahjongg and many others at:

http://games.aarp.org/games/mahjongg-toy-chest.aspx

You can play Simon, a classic memory game where you repeat the sounds and colors by clicking:

http://www.lilgames.com/simon.shtml

Safety Tips for Senior Citizens
Fire Prevention
Con-Artists Often Target the Elderly
Tips to Discourage Burglary
Never Give Up
Keeping Your Body and Mind Active

Garage door opener

At Handyman Senior Care we dedicate our business to helping seniors. We offer internet links to other organizations to help keep senior citizens informed of safety issues, health concerns and senior activities.