Holiday Safety Tips for Seniors

The holiday season is upon us, and 2020 is much different from other years. Were all paying attention to safety for our health, but sometimes that means other precautions go by the wayside. Here are a few important tips for seniors to ensure all-around safety this holiday season. Decorations. We all have boxes and boxes of decorations weve collected over the years. But if they fill up too much space, try rotating the ones you use so there are fewer on display. The idea is to avoid clutter so that youll have plenty of room to walk without tripping. Also, avoid lighting candles. Theres a risk of forgetting to blow one out at night, which can be dangerous. Consider using electric candles only. Finally, be sure all electrical cords are out of the way so that they arent a trip hazard. Lighting. Although youll occasionally dim the lights to show off the Christmas tree and other lighting decorations, be sure you have easy access to lighting so that the area is well-lit when youre moving around. And keep a nightlight on in the bathrooms and hallways in case you need to get around at night. Flooring. Now is a great time to look around and determine if anything might cause you to trip. Falls can cause serious injury for seniors over age 65, and about a quarter of adults in this age group fall each year. Prevention is the key to avoiding injuries, so ensure that all floor rugs are secured with non-slip pads, keep all traffic areas in your home clutter-free, and rearrange your furniture if its difficult to move around. Shopping. Online holiday shopping is a perfect option for seniors, especially those with limited mobility. However, its important to keep your financial information safe while you shop. Use a credit card that offers fraud protection instead of a debit card in case you have an issue. Create strong passwords that you can remember with combinations of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters (like #, !, %, etc.), and use a different password for each site. Only use a secure internet connection, never public Wi-Fi, to make purchases. Finally, never provide your social security number. That information is simply not needed to make purchases. At Ashbridge Manor Senior Living, we wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season! And when its time to transition to a senior living facility, give us a call. Our professional staff members will make the transition easy, and our facilities and programs are designed to provide a friendly, welcome sense of community. You can find us at 971 E. Lancaster Avenue in Downingtown, PA, call 610.269.8800, or contact us online for more information. Ask us about our move-in special! Ashbridge Manor is a safe, COVID-free senior living community.