4 Ways Home Care Keeps Seniors Safer in the Kitchen

By Evan Loevner, CEO | March 2, 2017

Home Care in Piedmont CA

Staying safe is usually something people take for granted too often. For younger, healthier adults, safety at home is barely a thought. The only time people really become concerned about their safety is if they live in a tough neighborhood, there’s been a rash of crimes in the area, or they slipped stepping into the shower or going down the stairs.Home-Care-in-Piedmont-CA

Those thoughts about safety have a tendency to slip away before long. For seniors, on the other hand, safety is an issue in many parts of the house, including the kitchen. When considering hiring a home care aide, an elderly person who lives alone may be safer in the long run.

There are numerous ways that home care can help seniors stay safer. The most significant four are listed below.

1. There’s less risk of forgetfulness.

When a home care aide is supporting an elderly client, and if that senior is going to cook something, they may forget something is on the stove. They may walk out of the room to get something or sit down and rest in the living room, first example, and completely forget they were cooking.

A home care aide can remind them what they were doing and keep track of things in the kitchen so there’s a significantly reduced risk of a fire due to burned food on the stove top or in the stove itself.

2. An aide can pay attention to knives and other cutlery.

Many people assume a dull knife is much safer than a sharp one, but facts don’t support that. The majority of emergency room visits due to lacerations from a knife are the result of a person using a dull knife.

That’s because when a knife is dull, it requires more force to cut through meat and other food items and if it slips, is still going to be plenty sharp to cut through skin. A sharp knife is simply safer when cooking.

3. They can pay attention to floor cleanliness.

A home care aide is not a cleaning service, but they can certainly assist the senior in keeping their home clean. They can also pay attention to the floor in the kitchen, making sure it’s dry, free of debris, and swept up after preparing meals.

4. They can help seniors reach items.

If an elderly person has difficulty with their mobility and balance, stepping up onto a step ladder or kitchen chair to get a spice or some other item from a tall cabinet can be risky.

A home care aide can get these items as needed, helping the senior simply stay safer in the kitchen.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring professional home care in Piedmont, CA, call the caring staff at Aviva In-Home Care. Call today: (415) 795-2203

 

Evan Loevner, CEO

CEO at Aviva In-home Care
As a former hospital administrator, I launched Aviva with the goal of having a more focused, direct impact on the delivery of care than I could ever accomplish within a hospital setting. For me, the joy of running an organization like Aviva In-Home Care is having the ability to positively improve the lives of individuals needing customized care. As a passionate San Francisco resident, I know that many local seniors can benefit from new approaches to in-home care, that will bring them more connection to the community, and provide families with a greater sense of comfort that their loved one is indeed matched with an ideal caregiver. This starts by including the family throughout the care planning process, a key component of the concept of “family-centered care,” which has been adopted by top medical centers. A strong communication loop between family, the caregiver, Aviva management, and community healthcare practitioners is essential for ensuring that all the needs of the client are met. While this may not sound like a novel concept, it is not commonly practiced within the home care community.

At Aviva, we also use the latest in health technology to maximize opportunities for communication between all members of our client’s care circles. We utilize nursing oversight to ensure that we are in compliance with physician orders, and that our careplans are being properly administered. Lastly, Aviva is a proud member of The Senior’s Choice, a national network of leading home care agencies that share best practices and focus on continual improvement.

As owner of the business, I also promise to you my direct involvement in your loved ones care, and will always make myself available for feedback and improvements in our service. I look forward to working with you and your loved one on creating a care plan that is perfectly suited to the family's needs. Thank you for considering Aviva as your care partner.

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