Elder Care in Dana Point CA
Each year throughout the United States more than 100,000 people end up in the emergency room to seek urgent medical attention for non-fatal injuries sustained due to burns. Burns continue to be one of the leading causes of accidental injuries and deaths, and among the hundreds of thousands that occur each year, approximately 73 percent occur in the home. As a family caregiver for an elderly adult, it is important that you recognize these risks and take the necessary steps to protect your parent from the potential devastating effects of these injuries. This starts with going throughout their home to identify possible hazards and observing behaviors and choices from your parent that might put them at additional risk so that you can make meaningful modifications to their surroundings and their lifestyle to protect them as they age in place.
One room that people often overlook when it comes to risk for burns is the bathroom. While you might immediately think of this room as being risky for falls and other such injuries, it is important to keep in mind that there are also burn risks here that you can reduce with proper support and meaningful changes.
Use these tips to help you reduce the risk that your aging loved one will suffer a burn in their bathroom:
- Check to make sure that the water heater is set to 120 degrees. Temperatures lower than this can contribute to the growth of bacteria and mold, but any hotter increases the chances that your parent will suffer a scald injury
- Always check the temperature of the water before your parent gets into the bath or the shower, even after adjusting the temperature of the water heater. Invest in a water temperature indicator that you can place in the tub that will let you know if the water is too hot. If you do not have one of these, use the inside of your wrist to check the temperature
- Consider installing an anti-scald device on the faucets throughout the bathroom. These devices detect the temperature of the water and will automatically stop it if the temperature gets too high
- Never leave any appliance such as a curling iron, hair dryer, or curlers unattended and be sure that your parent uses these with proper supervision
- Do not leave an electrical appliance plugged in if there will be water in the sink
- If you use a space heater to warm up the bathroom, remove it before your parent gets into the bath or shower to prevent both contact burns and the chances of shorting
Starting elder care for your aging parent can be one of the most nurturing, effective, and meaningful decisions that you can make for them throughout your care journey. Their highly personalized approach to care ensures that your aging parent gets the support, encouragement, and assistance that is right for them. This means taking into consideration not just your aging loved one’s individual challenges, limitations, and needs, but also their personality, goals, and lifestyle as well as the care efforts that you put forth for them. This allows your parent to continue enjoying as much independence and autonomy as possible, while also staying safe, healthy, and comfortable. When it comes to helping your aging loved one reduce their risk of suffering a burn in their bathroom, this care provider can help your senior recognize risks and adopt safer lifestyle choices to lower the risk and keep themselves safer as they age in place. They can also provide vital support services to help further reduce the risk, including running their bath and supervising use of electrical devices.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in Dana Point, CA, please contact the caring staff at Canaan Home Care today! 1-844-CANAAN-1 (1-844-226-2261)
Sources:
http://makesafehappen.com/articles/burns-and-scalds-in-children
- Follow These Four Steps and Create a Respite Plan - December 18, 2020
- End of the Year Holidays Can Cause Aging Veterans to Feel Lonely, but What About Home Care? - December 11, 2020
- Is Your Senior Battling Edema in Her Legs? - December 3, 2020
