Do you have older parents or grandparents who live alone? If so, you probably know the feeling of terror that grips you when the phone rings at midnight. I've heard from friends with elderly relatives about their concerns:
- Dad often falls and can't get up on his own
- Mom tripped on the stairs and injured herself
- Grandma slipped on the ice in the driveway, out of sight of the neighbors
One simple thing is to know the neighbors. If my husband isn't able to get in touch with his mom by phone, he can call one of her neighbors to check on her. Fortunately, I think we've only had to do that once, but it's comforting to have the option available.
Another is to learn about ways to prevent falls at home. Here are a few tips (for everyone, not just the elderly), and you can read more at the Medical Guardian website:
- Talk to your doctor about preventing falls. Have regular vision and hearing tests.
- Take prescription and over-the-counter medications correctly . Keep a medication record and review it regularly with your doctor. Tell your doctor if your medication makes you dizzy or lightheaded.
- Keep your floor and stairs free of clutter, and avoid the use of scatter rugs.
- Be sure to have at least one handrail (preferably two) on all stairways and steps in your home. Ensure handrails are securely attached and in good repair.
- Wear proper footwear. Shoes, boots and slippers should provide good support and have good soles.


I experienced this quite a bit in the last year or so of my grandmother's life. It is very unnerving especially since she was so far away from me. My mom has been recently telling me about my (other) grandmother who has fallen a few times over the last year. This is a very real concern and products like this are great for those who still want independence.
ReplyDeleteGot the system for my Father-in-Law Mike who's not doing too well. So far so good and we've tested it and set it up. It's $30 a Month and I can send it back if we don't need it anymore. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeletePete Tesh
i need to tell my mom and dad about this..
ReplyDeletethanks!