Safety renovations for seniors’ homes
ADVERTORIAL
BRIGHTON EYE
March is Workplace
Eye Safety Awareness
Month
Clinical Assistant Professor
of Ophthalmology NYU
Visit our state-of-the-art facility located at 2025 Kings Hwy
718-339-6868www.brightoneye.com
Most insurances accepted
TAKING CARE OF BROOKLYN’S EYES FOR OVER 27 YEARS
Caribbean L 52 ife, March 15–21, 2019 BQ
Millie R. Fell, MD, FACS
Injuries which occur at the
workplace can cause loss of work
time and of income.
Depending on your occupation
or hobbies, different eye gear may
help keep your eyes safe. What
kind of eyewear are we talking
about?
Safety glasses with side shields
protect your eyes from fl ying
objects.
Wearing goggles or safety
shields can protect your eyes if
you are exposed to splashing
liquids.
Special-purpose safety goggles
and helmets designed for special
tasks can protect the eyes of those
exposed from welding or lasers.
Something as simple as wearing
a pair of safety glasses can prevent
serious eye injuries.
Every week I see a patient
who either on the job or at
home was hammering metal
and got a piece of metal stuck
in his cornea. This foreign body
causes pain and tearing. If it’s not
removed immediately it can cause
permanent vision loss.
In fact, I insist that any child or
adult who has only one functioning
eye use regular glasses even if
he doesn’t require prescription
glasses. This is to protect the
healthy eye.
So, in March and every month,
protect your eyes when you are in
a situation that portends danger to
them.
Wellness
Feeling safe and secure at home is a priority
for any homeowner. But safety is of particular
concern for aging men and women who are at
greater risk of being involved in accidents at home
than younger men and women.
Harvard Health Publishing says that accidents
at home are among the leading causes of injury
and death in the United States. The chances for fatalities
increases as one ages, and by age 75 and
older, men and women are almost four times as
likely to die in a home accident as people a decade
younger.
As people age, their balance, eyesight, and general
physical abilities can begin to diminish. Furthermore,
a fall or incident that may only bruise a
younger individual can cause more serious breaks
or damage for seniors, resulting in potentially
lengthy recovery times.
The Home Care Assistance organization says
that one million elderly people are admitted to the
emergency room for injuries every year. People
concerned about the safety of their homes or the
homes of their aging loved ones can retrofi t such
properties to make them safer:
Falls
According to The Senior Social Club, which offers
care and community services to seniors, falls
are the most common accidents affecting seniors.
One out of every three seniors aged 65 and older
falls at least once a year.
In addition to working with doctors to improve
mobility and modify medications that may cause
unsteadiness, changes around the home can help.
Grab bars placed in bathrooms and high-traffi c areas
can help seniors stay more stable when changing
from sitting to standing positions.
Potential tripping hazards should be assessed.
Area rugs without nonskid backings, clutter on
fl oors, extension cords that extend into walking
areas, and uneven fl ooring pose tripping hazards.
Anti-slip coatings can be added to fl oors
to reduce the risk of tripping.
Poorly lit staircases and entryways also can
contribute to falls. Consider the installation of
motion-activated lighting so that dim areas can
be automatically brightened when necessary. A
nightlight or LED lights placed near molding can
help guide seniors to the bathroom during midnight
visits.
Physical limitations
Arthritis can impede seniors’ ability to turn on
and off appliances, water faucets, or handle certain
kitchen tools. Kitchen and bathroom modifi -
cations can include the installation of ergonomic
and user-friendly handles and spigots.
Task lighting can make it easier to prepare
meals, and appliances that automatically turn off
after a certain period of time can be a safety feature
for forgetful individuals.
Reorganize kitchen cabinets to make commonly
used items as accessible as possible.
Smart homes
Friends or family members can have greater
control over seniors’ homes by installing smart
home systems. This way they can remotely adjust
thermostats, control lights, view cameras, engage
locks or alarm systems, and much more without
having to be at the home. This can seniors allow
seniors to maintain their independence while offering
peace of mind to their loved ones.
Certain home modifi cations can reduce seniors’
injury risk.
Anemia and aging
Aging is accompanied by a number
of physical changes. Some
of these changes, such as vision
impairment or loss of hearing, are anticipated,
while others may arrive unexpectedly.
One condition many adults unexpectedly
encounter is anemia. It is
common in older adults and its prevalence
increases with age, but it is not
a condition that is widely considered
part of the aging process. Anemia is
often a symptom of a hidden problem
that needs to be addressed promptly.
Anemia is one of the most common
blood disorders, affecting more
than three million Americans, says
the National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute. The American Society of Hematology
notes that anemia is characterized
by insuffi cient levels of red
blood cells in the blood. Anemia also
occurs when red blood cells, which are
responsible for carrying oxygen to the
various organs and tissues throughout
the body, are not functioning properly.
Very often the signs of anemia are
overlooked or go unnoticed until a
blood test determines low hemoglobin
or hematocrit concentrations. Some
people discover they have anemia as
they attempt to donate blood, at which
time their red blood cell count is found
to be inadequate. When the body lacks
oxygen, any number of the following
symptoms may be experienced:
• Weakness
• Dizziness
• Extreme fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Pale or yellow skin
• Cold hands or feet
Frequently, existing disorders or
conditions, such as congestive heart
failure, are made worse by anemia.
But unless doctors specifi cally consider
anemia as a possible cause of
symptoms, its presence can go undiagnosed.
The American Academy of Family
Physicians says the most common
causes of anemia among older men
and women include chronic diseases
and iron defi ciency. Vitamin B12 defi -
ciency, folate defi ciency, gastrointestinal
bleeding, and myelodysplastic syndrome
are other causes of anemia.
The main way to treat anemia is
to discover its source and reverse the
outcomes. For instance, a gastrointestinal
bleed may need to be repaired.
If iron defi ciency is the source of the
anemia, iron supplements may be prescribed.
Many methods to correct anemia
involve trial and error and experimentation,
especially when the source
of the anemia is unknown.
As people age, their balance, eyesight, and general physical
abilities can begin to diminish.