Study Shows Importance of Senior Home Safety and Care

The physical limitations and safety issues surrounding seniors underscore the need to take precautions and make their homes safer. Respiratory Homecare Services is helping children keep their parents safe and independent as they get older.

Tulsa, Okla. (PRWEB) July 12, 2007 -- A recent study showed that the older people get, the more trouble they have with doing the simple activities of daily living, from those like housework, grocery shopping, driving, managing money and using the telephone to simpler ones like eating, dressing, bathing and walking around their homes.

According to the Health and Retirement Study, as men and women age, they need more help with both the instrumental activities of daily living and the conventional activities of daily living. By the time they're 85, 32 percent of men and 66 percent of women are no longer driving, and many either have limitations in what they can do, or require regular assistance.

And it's a valid concern. After so many years of being on their own, taking care of themselves, they now have difficulty performing even the simplest tasks. It's a hard pill to swallow.

The physical limitations and safety issues surrounding seniors underscore the need to take precautions and make their homes safer.

"It's an unfortunate but natural part of aging that people will need more help doing the daily activities they once performed with little or no thought," said Rick Trujillo, president of Respiratory Homecare Services. "Although it won't be the same independence they once enjoyed, helping them retain mobility and autonomy will go a long way."

The same study also looked at the mental health of seniors. Seniors in America suffer higher depression rates as they become unable to do the most basic daily activities, like driving. Fifteen percent of seniors under the age of 85 have problems with depression, while 20 percent of seniors 85 and older have depression issues. The study also showed that seniors with the highest depression usually suffered from a new illness within the next two years.

"Seniors can get depressed at the thought of losing their mobility and independence," said Trujillo. "And it's a valid concern. After so many years of being on their own, taking care of themselves, they now have difficulty performing even the simplest tasks. It's a hard pill to swallow."

However, it is possible for people to take care of their aging parents and relatives and help them retain some sort of independence, according to Trujillo. By taking the time to remove tripping hazards like area rugs and rearranging furniture to make walkways larger and clearer, people can make it easier for their elderly loved ones to get around.

Respiratory Homecare Services provides a number of products like beds, motorized wheelchairs, and oxygen and other respiratory products designed to help seniors keep up with the lifestyle they once enjoyed. For more information on their products, or how to make life a little easier for your elderly friends and relatives, visit HomeMedEquipment.com.

About Respiratory Homecare Services
Respiratory Homecare Services, located in Tulsa, Okla., provides professional, reliable service and compassionate care to the greater Tulsa area. Their mission is to provide personal home care excellence, treat each and every patient with the same compassion and care as they would prefer to be treated, and to improve health care services that will be responsive to the community and patient needs geared for comfort and independence.

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