Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Community Healthcare - (Page 14)

This Picture? TO LIVE AT HOME SAFELY, SENIORS NEED TO CHECK FOR DANGER ZONES. HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK FOR What’s Wrong with » THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, Kitchen step stool If you have to use a step stool to reach kitchen items you use often, get reorganized. Keep frequently used items on the lower shelves. Also be sure your step stool is steady for those times when you do need it, and make sure it has a bar to hold on to. especially as we get older. But every house can pose its share of hazards for seniors, many of them related to falls. “Nearly one-third of people over the age of 65 fall every year,” says Bonita Lynn Beattie, P.T., vice president of injury prevention and lead of the Falls Free Initiative at the National Council on Aging. Falls cause most fractures in older adults, along with other injuries such as head traumas and lacerations. Beattie recommends regular vision checks and medication reviews as one preventive measure. Here are other steps you can take to keep your home safe. Rugs, cords and other items Are there throw rugs or electrical cords in pathways? They need to be securely taped to the ﬂoor so you don’t trip over them. If possible, run cords along the wall instead of across the room. Be extra careful with items other people bring in, like shoes or boxes. Make sure they’re moved out of trafﬁc areas right away. ILLUSTRATIONS BY LUCY DAVEY BY AMY LYNN SMITH 14 Vim & Vigor · W I N TER 2 012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Community Healthcare

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Community Healthcare
Contents
Community Message
Community Briefs
From Silence to Success
Winning the Weight War
Because I Said So!
What’s Wrong with This Picture?
The Future Is Now
Everyday Hero
What Does 200 Calories Look Like?
Johnny Be Good
In the Driver’s Seat
We’ve Got Your Back
Bank on Your Health
Virtual Health
A Symphony of Comfort
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Catherine Hospital
SPOTLIGHT ON: St. Mary Medical Center
SPOTLIGHT ON: Community Hospital
Miracle on Ice

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2012 - Community Healthcare