We Want Our Seniors to Stay in their Homes, But Are We Keeping Their Homes Safe?

This winter there will be news stories about fires, carbon monoxide and other hazards taking the lives of senior citizens. Most seniors prefer to live in their own home with a lifetime of memories and the freedom to pick when to have a meal, watch TV or even go for a walk. A national program, the Senior Home Safety Network (SHSN), is a network of home inspectors dedicated to keeping seniors safe in their homes.

The recent deaths of two seniors, Dorothy and Ingram of Allentown Florida was one such story. They passed away in their own home shortly after returning from church Thanksgiving week. Their story is tragic by itself, and even more tragic because it will happen to other vulnerable senior citizens somewhere today and then again tomorrow. Dorothy and Ward died in what is preliminarily believed to be an electrical fire caused by faulty wiring. If you think that this could not happen to your loved ones, you are wrong. More importantly, there is a need for programs that can keep seniors safe in their homes.

We remember Walt Disney as the wonderful man who made us smile. He was on TV welcoming and entertaining our families every Sunday night. He was creator of some of the happiest places on earth. Yet, he was haunted with the burden that the home he bought for his parents killed his mother and almost killed his father. Neal Gabler, in his book ‘Walt Disney’, relays the story of the home the Disney brothers bought for their parents. One of the features that sold them on that home was a wonderful “modern furnace.” As soon as their parents moved into the home, the furnace began to malfunction. Walt sent a maintenance person from his studio to repair the furnace but the repairs were not properly made. Soon after, Flora, his mother died in that home from carbon monoxide poisoning.

We know about programs to take them to the doctor, bring them food, and send in visiting nurses. We help seniors to stay in their homes ….but what are we doing to make sure that their homes are safe? The Center for Disease Control states that home hazards are one of senior's most significant health risks.

As senior citizens age or become ill, it becomes more difficult to keep up with the demands of home ownership. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can be confused with the flu. Electrical hazards, frayed wires, bad extension cords or unsanitary plumbing conditions are ignored. Walt Disney’s mother died from carbon monoxide in the home her sons bought for her. They never got over it. Would you?

Calling a contractor to repair or remodel an area is not a home safety inspection. Specialized contractors almost never look at safety hazards in the entire home. The electrical contractor does not “see” the sewer or roof leak. Walt Disney’s repair man didn’t look past the question of “did the furnace turn on.” Some contractors even defraud our seniors with bad, inappropriate or unneeded repairs.

George Harper of the Senior Home Safety Network stated that: “The ironic thing is that most homes get inspected and repairs made when the home is sold. Think of it. The seniors live with unsafe conditions. Sometimes they result in injury, sometimes it diminishes their health. Roof or basement leaks can cause the mold that affects the lungs and the resident gets pneumonia which can lead to congestive heart failure. The loose rail results in the broken hip that is the injury that keeps the resident from returning to their home. In the end, the repairs will happen before a new owner moves into a home. Let’s identify the needs and have them fixed while it can improve the life of our seniors, not after they are gone.”

One of the difficulties of caring for seniors is that more adult children live away from their parents and do not realize the conditions of their parents’ homes. Even if they do, they do not have the time or knowledge to correct the home safety hazards.

The Senior Home Safety Network performs a range of testing and inspections that addresses the needs of our seniors and other “staying in place” individuals. Children living in any part of the country, can order testing and inspections across the country. Additional information about the Home Safety Program is online at www.SeniorHomeSafetyNetwork.com. There are also other populations such as disabled or mentally challenged individuals now living in their homes that previously were forced to live in institutions or group homes that will be served by this program.

Dan Howard of the SHSN National Office located in Freeport PA states “all of our inspectors must pass police clearances, provide insurance certificates, undergo state of the art training and certification. These specialized inspectors understand the needs of seniors and other at risk individuals. They are equipped to deal with safety and home environment problems. Each inspector must pass the “Grandma Test”. This simply put is “would we send these professionals into our own grandmothers house.” Our inspectors, such as George Harper of Long Beach, understand that the health and safety of our “staying in place” citizens can be fragile and needs handled with extreme tenderness and care.

The details of each inspection are important. It is common to check if a railing is secure. Checking to make sure the stair treads and risers are secure is not so common, but very needed. Another example is the issue of too high of a hot water tank temperature can result in a burn injury to a senior. On the other hand, too low of a temperature can allow Legionella to grow in the hot water tank resulting in Legionnaires’ Disease, often misdiagnosed as pneumonia.

SHSN inspectors are trained to identify the correct temperature for a hot water tank.
The bottom line is that while we were young, our parents kept us safe at home. They value the security and warmth of being in their home as much as we did as children. Now it is our turn to keep them safe. They took care of us when we needed it.

ABOUT US
The Senior Home Safety Network is a national network of inspectors dedicated to keeping seniors safe in their homes. Inspections can be ordered in all areas of the United Sates. Inspectors must pass police clearances, specialized training, have insurance, meet local and national requirements and maintain continuing education. Reports are available online.

Have your home or the home of a loved one inspected today!
Phone: 562-852-5206

Please see:
Senior Home Safety Inspections