Lately, your house seems more dangerous. You never noticed how steep the staircase is or how slippery the shower floor.
Home, sweet home has become hazardous to your health. One bad fall caused by a loose rug could lead to a cascade of medical problems that might have been avoided with a few easy modifications.
Home injury control (HIC), as it’s known in the industry, is a simple way to stay safer and longer in your home. Handrails, grab bars and even brighter lightbulbs are inexpensive and effective for increasing your safety.
Making minor changes – or even larger ones like installing a stairlift or wheelchair ramp – is much less expensive than moving into an assisted living community.
Kristin Wilson, the Area Agency on Aging 1B’s program manager of social services, points out that many older adults own their homes outright, so the absence of house payments makes it still more cost-effective than moving.
“To get a ramp installed, you’re adding a cost, but if you moved to assisted living, you’re taking on a monthly payment,” she points out.
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) generally does not cover home injury control modifications like grab bars, shower and bath chairs, or raised toilet seats.
The Area Agency on Aging 1-B (AAA 1-B) provides funding for home injury control programs in each county it serves (with the exception of Livingston and Oakland). Seniors who are eligible can get a free in-home assessment and have grab bars, handrails, smoke detectors and other devices installed at no cost. (There are companies in every county that offer ‘aging in place’ devices; AAA 1-B can provide that information to callers.)
One program AAA 1-B helps to fund is Macomb County’s Home Injury Control program. Steve Schuster, program manager, says there are often telltale signs during an assessment that a senior needs an assistive device.
“You can tell what they’re using to help themselves up because there are signs in the walls” including cracks, he says. For example, a person might be using a towel bar to stand up from the toilet, showing a need for grab bars or toilet safety rails. Schuster says some people use towels or ropes to hoist themselves up.
Grab bars are by far the most common installation, along with interior and exterior handrails, raised toilet seats, shower chairs and transfer benches. Schuster’s staff will install battery-powered backup nightlights in case of a power outage and smoke/carbon monoxide alarms. For those who can afford it, the cost is minimal. There is no cost to those who can’t pay.
In-home assessments have resumed now that the pandemic seems to be receding. Funding allows for 275 home assessments per year; with an additional grant from United Way of Southeastern Michigan, Macomb Community Action is anticipating doubling that number to handle all the requests.
To find a referral in your county for an in-home assessment, call 1-800-852-7795. Our Information & Assistance specialists can provide information about all programs, including those not funded by AAA 1-B.
Here are tips for reducing your risk of falling and tripping in your home:
• Use brighter lightbulbs
• Place battery-powered lights in darker areas of your home, like hallways
• Make sure banisters on staircases are secure
• Place handrails on both sides of steps
• Use grab bars next to toilets and in showers
• Remove or secure rugs with double-sided tape or non-skid pads
• Remove soap buildup on the bathtub and shower floors
• Use non-skid shower mats for the bathtub and shower
• Keep cooking gear and clothing within reach
• Remove potted plants and furniture (and other obstacles) that are in high-traffic areas
• Get annual eye exams
• Wear shoes with non-slip soles
• Talk to your doctor if your medication makes you dizzy
Story courtesy of Area Agency on Aging 1-B
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