My Safety

What kind of safety measures do you take in your daily life?

How will these change as you age?

Resources

Elder abuse

Elder abuse is a serious problem and anyone has the potential to be affected. Sage Safe House is available to seniors in hostile home situations. Call Sage Safe House at 780-702-1520 or click here to visit their webpage for more information on the services that Sage provides.

If you are interested in learning more about elder abuse, you can click here to visit the Alberta Elder Abuse Awareness Council website. They provide information, resources, training, and more.

If you or someone you know is suffering, you can call the Seniors Abuse Hotline at 780-454-8888. This service is offered by the Canadian Mental Health Association and provides 24-hour confidential listening and support.

Fall prevention

Here are some quick tips to prevent falls around your house. You can visit finding balance for more thorough information regarding health, medications, diet, as well as your environments: Click here

Bathroom

  • Use non-slip surfaces in the tub and shower.
  • Well-anchored grab bars by the toilet and bath will help you sit and stand.
  • A raised toilet seat and a bath seat in the shower.
  • Immediately clean water and spills.
  • Mats are tripping hazards.

Stairs

  • As with the rest of your house, the stairs should be well lit.
  • Install sturdy handrails on both sides of the stairs.
  • Take your reading glasses off when you're taking the stairs.
  • Take your time with the stairs.

Exterior

  • Maintain a clear walkway; remove snow, ice, and leaves regularly.*
  • Light the front entrance.
  • Keep your yard tidy from tools when not in use.


Living Room and Bedroom

  • Remove or control clutter like wires and cords.
  • A cordless phone means having it near you, and not rushing to answer.
  • Maintain good lighting throughout the house; consider motion sensor night lights.
  • Keep a clear path between the bedroom and bathroom, especially at night.
  • Mats are tripping hazards.

Kitchen

  • Keep frequently used items, like pots and pans, within easy reach.
  • Keep heavy items in lower cupboards.
  • Have a stable step stool with a safety rail handy for reaching higher places.
  • Immediately clean water and spills.
  • Keep in mind whether your floor cleaner makes the floor slippery.

General

  • Keep your pathways clear.
  • Take your time.
  • Ask for help when you're not sure!


* Senior Home Supports is an Edmonton based organization that will refer you to a reputable company for services such as yardwork, housekeeping, snow removal, and home repair and maintenance. Click here to visit their website.

Fall Detection Devices and Systems

A serious fall can either leave you unconscious or unable to call for help; there are technologies available that can safeguard you from this situation. These range from thorough home monitoring systems to small personal devices, and can be selected depending on need or concern.

Consider things the system or device should be able to do, like: able to call for help, detecting and alerting to a fall, GPS tracking, daily check-ins, activity monitoring, home security monitoring (also for fire, or carbon monoxide).

As well, consider these aspects:

  • wearable
  • durability rating & waterproof
  • range of service and function
  • battery life
  • will it need updates? are there fees associated?
  • can family members connect with the device?
  • customizing the response to a fall
  • does the company have good cyber-security? Is your personal information safe?
  • does the service require a contract?

Click here for a CTV News article for more information on the technology.

Click here for a Consumer Reports introduction to fall detection technology, and brief comparisons between products.

Welcome Home Care offers a thorough guide to researching the right system or device for you or your loved one. Click here to view the resource.


Your security

The Mounties have a great online guidebook to senior's safety and security. It includes resources on elder abuse, security in your home, street safety, and fraud and online scams. Click here to access this resource.

Scams and Fraud

Scammers frequently target older folks; keep this in mind as you age, and make sure you stay aware of the latest schemes. The Competition Bureau has put out a Little Black Book of Scams , a guide to protecting yourself from fraud. Consider this in addition to the information provided by the RCMP, discussed above.

They offer the book as a PDF, EPUB, in print, braille, and other formats as necessary. They host free copies of the books online. You can access the book and their contact information by clicking here.


"Every year, Canadians lose millions of dollars to the activities of scammers who bombard us with online, mail, door-to-door and telephone scams."

-Little Black Book of Scams

You can also visit the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre for information on fraud types, how to protect yourself, and if you ever need to report fraud. Click here for their website.