Fire Protection for Seniors and Family Caregivers

February 19, 2013

Older adults are at a greater risk of being injured in a fire. They may be less able to take the necessary quick action in a fire emergency. They may be taking medications that affect their ability to make decisions. Memory loss may be a factor. And seniors are more likely to be alone when accidents happen.

Whether a senior lives in a house, apartment or senior living community, these five steps can help lower the risk of fire:

Practice Cooking Safety. Most kitchen fires occur when food is left unattended on the stove. If you leave the kitchen while cooking, bring a spoon or pot holder along to remind you to return to the kitchen. Avoid wearing loose sleeves that could come in contact with a burner.

Install Smoke Alarms. Be sure you have a working smoke alarm on every level of the home, outside sleeping areas and inside bedrooms. Replace the battery annually—perhaps while resetting clocks for Daylight Savings Time. And test all alarms once a month.

Practice Space Heater Safety. Buy only Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) approved heaters. Don’t place electric space heaters in the bathroom or around other wet areas. Keep bedding and other combustibles away from space heaters, and don’t dry or store objects on top of them.

Create a Home Escape Plan. Know at least two exits from every room. If you use a walker, wheelchair or other mobility aid, widened doorways and exit ramps add an extra margin of safety. And remember: in case of fire, exiting quickly is more important than trying to save possessions.

If You Smoke, Take Safety Precautions. Not smoking at all is safest, of course. But if you do, don’t leave smoking materials unattended. Empty all ashtrays into the toilet or a metal container before going to bed. Never smoke in bed—and if you start to feel sleepy, extinguish smoking
materials immediately.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Americans over age 65 are at greatest of dying in a fire—and fires at home are the most common. Take steps now to keep yourself and older loved ones safe.

We at Fairfield Family Care can assist in your search for proper home care for you or your loved one or respite relief for family caregivers. We can provide care for just a few hours a day a few days a week to 24 hour live in care if needed. Clients that may have simple needs, Laundry, healthy meal preparation, medication reminders, light housekeeping. and errands to advanced care..We can help .We provide top quality caregivers trained in Dementia and Alzheimer’s care to assist you and your family members in day to day living with safety and comfort as our #1 concern. Our caregivers are insured, bonded and go through strenuous background checks process to ensure the most reliable care possible. We make it our mission to assure that our caregivers will be the best fit in the home.

Fairfield Family Care has a growing database of over 1200 top quality and experienced caregivers to choose from. All of our caregivers go through extensive screening. We only hire the very best, that have years of experience, have passed an extensive background check and have tested negative for TB. We at Fairfield Family Care find it important to assure that our clients will be matched with a diligent caregiver that will fit their needs and personality..

For more information on in home care please call Fairfield Family Care 203-295-3477 or email us at [email protected]

Information Provided By:
Fairfield Family Care
2009 Summer St Suite 204
Stamford, CT 06905
203-295-3477
www.fairfieldfamilycare.com