NEW YORK (PRWEB)
December 09, 2020

The Council on Accreditation (COA) would like to congratulate Alternative Family Services (AFS), a Resource Family Agency and mental health service provider serving Northern California, as winner of the 2020 Innovative Practices Award for its “Enhanced Visitation Model: Foster Care” program.

The Innovative Practices Award identifies, documents, and celebrates examples of successful approaches to management and service delivery practices adopted by our accredited organizations. Too often great ideas are kept in-house, without recognizing their potential to create change beyond. The purpose of the Innovative Practices Award is to amplify the effect of one great idea by elevating it to the national stage and offering it as a resource for direct service providers, leadership, researchers, and advocates across the full spectrum of human services.

This year, innovation is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged every sector of our society, but it has presented special obstacles for the human and social services field. 2020 has also reinforced the urgent need for better equity, diversity, and inclusion. With that in mind, COA requested that Innovative Practices Award submissions address one or both topics.

This year’s evaluation process began with a preliminary round of submissions in which applicants provided a one-page synopsis of their innovative practice. Four finalists were selected to move forward and submitted their full case studies, which were reviewed by a team of expert judges. The community got to weigh in, as well, with hundreds of public votes making up 5% of each submission’s final score.

You can view the case study of the Enhanced Visitation Model at coanet.org/afsenhancedvisitationmodel/.

ABOUT THE ENHANCED VISITATION MODEL

Visitation frequency between parent and child is one of the strongest predictors of successful family reunification within the foster care system. The initial response to the COVID pandemic for many agencies and institutions charged with overseeing family visitation was to restrict face to face services. Even as government and private agencies have begun to reinstitute face-to-face visitation, it is clear that the pandemic will ebb and flow. If visitation is going to be available to all families, some families will need to practice social distancing or utilize virtual technologies during visitation in order to contain contagion and meet foster parent fears and demands for safety. Families involved in the foster care system are often distrustful of how resources are allocated and rules are applied. When restrictions are placed upon parents’ right to visit their child, it is imperative that the process be transparent and equitable. To accomplish its purpose, the visitation experience must also be positive and encourage healthy interaction.

AFS’ Enhanced Visitation Model incorporates risk assessment and visit planning tools to assist staff in developing transparent and equitable visitation plans for all families. They have coupled this with replicable visitation activities or venues that can safely provide a continuum of healthy visit experiences regardless of risk level. Three levels of visitation service delivery address the special needs of families required to adhere to community, social distancing, or quarantine requirements. AFS’ Enhanced Visitation Model is designed to inspire clients and parents to play and communicate freely while minimizing the potential for client and family re-traumatization that can be caused by difficult to enforce rules and restrictive visitation environments. Their Enhanced Visitation Model is intentionally easy to replicate. They hope their model inspires and encourages family visitation providers to address the challenges of the COVID19 environment with innovative and creative visitation practices for all the families they serve.

Learn more about Alternative Family Services at afs4kids.org.

ABOUT COA

Founded in 1977, the Council on Accreditation (COA) is an independent, nonprofit, international, accreditor of community-based behavioral health and social service organizations. Designed to meet the needs of the varied human services field, COA accredits over 47 different service areas and over 125 types of programs. COA has separate Accreditation Programs for private organizations, public agencies, Canadian organizations, military programs, and child and youth development programs (including out-of-school time and early childhood education).

Currently, COA accredits or is in the process of accrediting over 1,600 organizations or programs that serve more than 7 million individuals and families each year. Learn more at coanet.org.

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OMAHA, Neb. (PRWEB)
November 30, 2020

While this past year has been especially challenging for many, it has also reminded us of the things we are most grateful for, but often take for granted. As we enter the holiday season, now is the perfect time to slow down and reflect on the positive aspects of our lives and find opportunities to give back to those who could use a little extra help, particularly older adults.

This time of year, there are several ways to make a difference for those who need it most, both locally and on a national scale. For instance, participating in observances such as National Day of Giving can make a big impact in someone’s life. National Day of Giving – also known as Giving Tuesday – is a day dedicated to encouraging people to give, collaborate and celebrate generosity. The observance is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year’s celebration taking place on December 1.

When considering which causes to contribute to this year, Home Instead encourages you to explore organizations that benefit older adults. Though 2020 has not been an especially good year for anyone, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected seniors, greatly disrupting their day-to-day lives and isolating them from their family and friends. This year, it will be up to each of us to find ways to embrace and give back to our aging loved ones and neighbors.

“All of us can play a role in helping older adults feel connected and supported,” said Erin Albers, vice president of Social Purpose at Home Instead. “Perhaps you call an aging family member, friend or neighbor to check-in regularly. Or you may identify an organization focused on the needs of seniors that allow you to give back.”

But giving back doesn’t have to mean donating financially. There are many other ways to make a lasting impression including volunteering your time, lending your talents or raising your voice to advocate for older adults. To help get started, Albers suggests the following four ways to give back:

• Give Your Time. 1 in 4 adults aged 65 and older are considered to be socially isolated, according to the CDC. The pandemic has older adults experiencing feelings of loneliness and a lack of companionship more than ever. Setting aside time to connect with aging loved ones can make a meaningful difference and brighten their day. Virtually volunteering at a local senior center or becoming a pen pal through Home Instead’s Ready to Care movement are other great ways to give back.
• Give Your Talent. If improving the lives of older adults is something you’re passionate about, caregiving might be the career for you. Looking after seniors is a labor of love that requires a special person with just the right touch. If you’re interested in enhancing the quality of life for seniors near you, consider exploring a career as a CAREGiver.
• Give your Treasure. Less than 2% of funding from the nation’s largest grant makers is specifically focused on seniors. Consider donating to causes that provide critical resources to older adults such as food, shelter, medical care or transportation. For inspiration, explore the local charities involved with GIVE65℠, a 65-hour crowd-fundraising event that raises money for organizations and services supporting seniors. Or, give back through Home Instead’s Be a Santa to a Senior gift-giving program benefiting those who might otherwise go without any gifts or visitors during the holidays.
• Give your Voice. Show your support for older adults near and far by joining organizations working tirelessly to advocate for their rights and benefits. Visit the National Council on Aging’s website to get the latest news on public policy affecting older adults and explore their Advocacy Toolkit to access tips and best practices for speaking up for seniors.

Through simple, kind actions, we can fearlessly create today the world we want to grow older in tomorrow. For more inspiration and ideas to give back to the older adults in your community, visit ReadyToCare.com.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers℠ worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.

Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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CHICAGO (PRWEB)
November 30, 2020

CSG Government Solutions, a national leader in government program modernization, has joined the National Child Support Enforcement Association (NCSEA) as a Silver Corporate Partner.

NCSEA serves child support professionals, state agencies, and partners worldwide through professional development, communications, public awareness, and advocacy to enhance the financial, medical, and emotional support that parents provide for their children. NCSEA’s Corporate Partners are key players in the child support arena, providing critical goods and services to child support agencies and organizations.

CSG is a national leader in child support systems, providing consulting services to state child support system modernization projects including feasibility study, cost benefit analysis, project management office, quality assurance, organizational change management, software testing, and system certification support services. As a Corporate Partner, CSG will continue to support NCSEA in the important communications, conferences, and events that provide continued education and best practices for child support professionals throughout the nation.

“CSG has been actively engaged in NCSEA since 2013 and values the important work it does to serve as the voice of the child support community,” says Tim Lenning, CSG’s Child Support Practice Director. “We are honored to continue our partnership with NCSEA and support the organization’s important work.”

CSG Government Solutions deploys highly experienced teams and innovative methods, knowledge, and tools to help governments modernize complex program enterprises. CSG clients include 46 state and territory governments, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Labor, and large municipal governments.

CONTACT:

Tim Lenning

Director, Child Support Practice

CSG Government Solutions

180 N. Stetson Ave

Suite 3200

Chicago, IL 60601

312.444.2760 Fax: 312.938.2191

tlenning@csgdelivers.com

About CSG Government Solutions:

CSG Government Solutions is a leading government operations consulting firm helping states modernize critical program enterprises. We help governments leverage innovative technology and processes to meet the challenges of administering complex programs. Founded in 1997, CSG has established itself as a trusted advisor to government agencies across the U.S. For more information, visit http://www.csgdelivers.com and connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.

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BOSTON and BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (PRWEB)
November 18, 2020

Activate Care®, a provider of integrated health and social care solutions, today announced a partnership with PATH, the agency providing 211 services to 45 counties in Illinois, to positively affect both healthcare and community-focused organizations as well as thousands of hospital patients across the Midwest. Activate Care works with PATH Illinois, the local 211 that provides crisis response, community resources and referrals to callers, to influence better outcomes in behavioral health, community care coordination and referral management. The progress made from the collaboration between PATH’s Executive Director Karen Zangerle and the Activate Care team speaks to the need for better and more comprehensive closed loop coordination in the region to meaningfully impact social determinants of health (SDOH).

“The way we engage communities in social interventions has scaled up dramatically over time, but it’s not enough to merely close the loop on a referral or even develop a shared care plan,” said Ted Quinn, CEO, Activate Care. “I think every care team, which most definitely includes 211 staff, must incorporate a whole person care perspective into care planning. Referrals, care coordination, and data exchange are all meaningful inputs into this process. To improve access to quality care, delivery of social services, and decrease the costs of care, we need to do a better job of actually solving the complex health and social needs that so many individuals share. Our collaboration with Karen and her team at PATH will help us fulfill our joint mission to help organizations in the Midwest improve quality of life in their local communities,” added Quinn.

By collaborating with Activate Care, PATH will leverage its central role in counties across Illinois and convene partners and stakeholders who want to work together to improve how people access community services. When people enter the medical system, they deserve care coordination, and the social services organizations like local 211s deserve to be able to track cases to resolution more effectively. PATH is an entry point to help, but often times there isn’t enough staff or resources in local organizations to make sure no one is left behind. While these challenges are persistent, they can be solved. It takes a community to make health and social needs brief, rare, and non-recurring in nature.

“Over the course of my career, I have been involved with efforts to help impact SDOH in our Illinois communities, and through the development of 211 I know all too clearly that as a community resource people turn to when they are seeking help in human services just how deep and wide the need for help is across this state,” said Karen Zangerle, executive feedback director of PATH. “We have to work together to improve capacity of social services and track people through the system, until they get the help they need. Because of this, I believe Activate Care offers huge value to the healthcare system. To be able to work with a company that is willing to expand a hospital’s ability to follow through is wonderful. Simply put, we want more people to find answers to their problem before it negatively impacts their health.”

In Illinois, state leaders are well aware that chronic homelessness causes many costly consequences, including overuse of emergency rooms and overcrowding prisons, but without a way to care for the whole person who calls the 211 system, those consequences are nearly impossible to track and stop.

“PATH currently serves 45 counties across the state and I’m hopeful that once more and more members in the community benefit from the Activate Care platform we’ll see an improvement in community health outcomes and more robust participation from all our counties, especially those that are rural,” added Zangerle.

About PATH/211 Illinois

PATH began on the campus of Illinois State University in 1971 as a drug hotline. The service quickly expanded to provide crisis response and later to add community resources and referrals. In 1985, PATH was awarded a grant to provide outreach for people age 60 and older. In 1998, PATH was awarded a HUD grant and began providing outreach to the homeless and coordinating homeless efforts in McLean County. PATH now coordinates the Central Illinois Continuum of Care and three homeless services programs, and serves the following counties: Alexander, Champaign, DeKalb, DeWitt, Douglas, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Iroquois, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Kane, Kankakee, Knox, LaSalle, Lee, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Massac, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Moultrie, Ogle, Perry, Piatt, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Sangamon, Shelby, Union, Vermilion, Warren, Washington, Wayne, White, Whiteside, Williamson, and Winnebago.

About Activate Care®

Activate Care’s cloud-based CareHub™ platform connects patients, families, care teams, and community partners to address social determinants of health and create better whole person care on the journey to health and wellbeing. With Activate Care, everyone directly involved with a patient’s health can act together to improve health and social outcomes, making healthier lives happen, wherever they are. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Activate Care is privately held and venture-funded by the disruptive innovation investment firm, Rose Park Advisors. The company was named one of BostInno’s “50 on Fire” in fall 2020, which showcases the 50 companies in Boston “with innovative approaches to solving problems and are making the biggest impact.” For more information, visit https://www.activatecare.com.

BOSTON (PRWEB)
November 04, 2020

Activate Care®, a provider of integrated health and social care solutions, today announced care coordination progress and success in the state of Oregon across five healthcare and community-focused organizations. Activate Care works with the Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Curandi and Catholic Community Services, Advanced Health CCO, and Columbia Gorge Health Council and The Next Door, Inc., achieving results in behavioral health, community care coordination, referral management, and overall customer satisfaction. The progress in Oregon points to a promising future to meaningfully impact social determinants of health (SDOH).

“There has arguably never been a more trying time for public health in our country, which also indicates it could be exactly the right time for change to somewhat urgently improve the public health issues around social determinants of health that are crippling our communities,” said Ted Quinn, CEO, Activate Care. “It’s truly an epidemic amidst a pandemic, and we will continue to help organizations nationwide and in Oregon, which is leading the charge towards real change to improve quality of life in their communities.”

The Oregon Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Needs at OHSU is the state’s public health agency for children and youth. The Center uses Activate Care’s all-in-one platform to support care planning teams at public health departments in twelve Oregon counties. The pilot program improves communication and coordination for children who are served by a variety of health, education, and community service providers. Families and care team members are easily able to access care plans, track referrals, and organize meetings. When one child had an unexpected health issue, the child’s mother was able to connect with the care team and get urgently-needed medication and supplies delivered within the hour.

Mike Rohwer is the founder of Curandi, a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to advancing 21st century system science to reduce health care costs. He saw benefits quickly after signing on to take advantage of the referral management platform, a key differentiator for the cloud-based CareHub™ platform. “Curandi was founded on the belief that the change we need begins with true collaboration. Activate Care powers so much of that collaboration to help improve patients’ lives through a shared care plan. Referral management helps us reliably delegate and track responsibility leading to far better outcomes for our community members,” said Rohwer. Curandi’s intervention partners include Catholic Community Services, the backbone agency for the Fostering Hope Initiative, a local collaboration of governmental, private and social service organizations providing integrated healthcare and community support services to strengthen at-risk families.

As a Coordinated Care Organization (CCO) of Oregon, Advanced Health, which serves Coos and Curry Counties, is tasked with coordinating whole person care for members, a network of all types of health care providers (e.g., physical health care, addictions and mental health care and dental care providers) who work together in their local communities to serve people who receive health care coverage under the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid). With a focus on prevention and helping people manage chronic conditions, CCOs help reduce unnecessary emergency room visits and provide support. Advanced Health had relied on disjointed communications to do this and knew it needed a more efficient way to conduct its business and improve patient outcomes. Activate Care’s platform has streamlined the process to address behavioral health and improve care coordination during COVID-19. For example, Advanced Health has seen a reduction in emergency department utilization as the platform allows patients to quickly get in contact with health providers to provide the right medical advice and next steps for treatment.

“When organizations in the community using a new tool agree that it works well and is easy to adopt, it encourages more and more members in the community to learn and use it, ultimately improving more patients and community members’ lives,” said Ross Acker, Director of Care Coordination at Advanced Health. “After our first six months using Activate Care, we see our whole person care improving every day. The analytics make it so much easier than it had been to track progress, communications, and satisfaction.”

Columbia Gorge Health Council, a non-profit organization which partners with PacificSource Community Solutions as the Columbia Gorge Coordinated Care Organization, enlisted Activate Care this year for the Bridges to Health Pathways Program, a cross-sector, collaborative approach to providing community care coordination. A partner in their effort, The Next Door, Inc., a social services non-profit organization that serves seven counties in Oregon and Washington, is participating in efforts to improve community coordination for children and families. Columbia Gorge Health Council Senior Program Manager Suzanne Cross, MPH, CHW, said, “Activate Care provides us an easy to use platform for doing our work, tracking data, using that data for data-driven decision making in our community and for collaborating with our community and healthcare partners on shared clients. The level of collaboration that Activate Care allows for is new for us and so important to our mission to improve access to services and resources by addressing disparities in our systems, and increase collaboration of services in and out of healthcare. In addition, as we become more familiar with using the platform, we are excited to invite clients to communicate alongside us as providers within the platform. That feature will help us address our program goal of empowering community members most in need to improve their overall health and well-being.”

About Activate Care®

Activate Care’s cloud-based CareHub™ platform connects patients, families, care teams, and community partners to address social determinants of health and create better whole person care on the journey to health and wellbeing. With Activate Care, everyone directly involved with a patient’s health can act together to improve health and social outcomes, making healthier lives happen, wherever they are. Headquartered in Boston, Mass., Activate Care is privately held and venture-funded by the disruptive innovation investment firm, Rose Park Advisors. The company was named one of BostInno’s “50 on Fire” in fall 2020, which showcases the 50 companies in Boston “with innovative approaches to solving problems and are making the biggest impact.” For more information, visit https://www.activatecare.com.

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ESTES PARK, Colo. (PRWEB)
October 23, 2020

Harmony Foundation, a longstanding Colorado-based nonprofit addiction treatment center, has announced that it has partnered with Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and is now in-network for their subscribers. This change gives the over 42 million Anthem cardholders more affordable access to the program during the current COVID-19 pandemic, who previously would have to pay a considerable portion of the cost if they wanted to seek the medical detox, residential or intensive outpatient levels (IOP) of care at Harmony.

Anthem has a strong presence in Colorado and Wyoming, two states that drive thousands of phone calls each year to Harmony Foundation from families hoping for treatment at the program or from professionals seeking to refer patients. Established in 1969, Harmony Foundation has helped those with substance use disorders find lifelong sobriety in its secluded mountain setting in Estes Park, Colorado. One year ago this month, expansions helped to provide an IOP level of treatment at its Fort Collins Recovery Center where it also offers activities and support for the recovery community-at-large, regardless of how they found sobriety. Harmony has received the Gold Seal from the Joint Commission, the highest level offered by the global healthcare accreditation body.

Harmony is also a regular partner with universities that send clinical, medical, and pharmaceutical doctoral students to its treatment center for rounds to help provide first-hand experience. Additionally, the campus hosts ongoing lecture events awarding continuing education credits to other licensed professionals in the community.

“In our mission to save lives and provide the treatment necessary for lasting recovery, the Anthem partnership opens the door for so many to access this level of care here,” said Jim Geckler, Harmony Foundation CEO. “We are so grateful to be able to serve those feeling particular strain in these times and prepare them to better navigate the challenges of the future with confidence and wellness.”

 

About Harmony Foundation

Harmony Foundation is a nonprofit alcohol and drug addiction recovery program that serves in a collaborative and respectful treatment environment. Harmony promotes physical, emotional, and spiritual healing, empowering their clients to embark upon the lifelong journey of recovery. Visit https://harmonyfoundationinc.com to learn more.

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OMAHA, Neb. (PRWEB)
September 30, 2020

Six outstanding nursing students’ commitment to serving the needs of older patients earned scholarships for demonstrating distinct leadership and dedication to their geriatric studies. For the third consecutive year, Home Instead Senior Care and The National League of Nursing Foundation for Nursing Education (NLNFNE) partnered to promote geriatric nursing education by awarding $10,000 in scholarships to these deserving individuals, who were recently honored at the 2020 NLN Education Virtual Summit September 23-25.

With our aging population increasing at a rapid pace, it will be more crucial than ever that our health care communities are comprised of individuals who deeply understand and advocate for the unique needs of these vulnerable patients. Through this scholarship, Home Instead and the NLN hope to inspire others to pursue a career benefiting older adults.

“Older adults rely the most on the U.S. health care system and their needs are often complex. Through the continued partnership of the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education with Home Instead, we have helped over a dozen nursing students fulfill their academic goals and become emerging leaders in geriatrics,” said NLN Foundation Chair Dr. Cole Edmonson, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE, FAONL, FNAP, FAAN. “As the voice for all levels of nursing education, the NLN Foundation and the National League for Nursing are proud to help nursing programs to graduate competent nurses to serve at the front lines of public health.”

This year’s scholarship recipients include nursing students from a number of prestigious universities across the U.S., including Home Instead alumni Kristen Lopatka. Now a student at Thomas Jefferson University, Lopatka began working with older adults as a Home Instead CAREGiver in West Chester, Pennsylvania, while attending nursing school. Through this experience she was exposed to how rewarding it can be to provide care for aging adults, which led her to pursue a career in nursing and furthered her desire to help adults through the challenges that come with aging.

“At Home Instead, we are driven every day to live by our mission to enhance the lives of older adults and their families,” said Jeff Huber, CEO of Home Instead Senior Care. “Through our partnership with the NLN Foundation, we hope to foster this mission by helping to prepare a strong and diverse workforce of nurses who share the same passion for providing older adults with the best quality of care.”

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About Home Instead Senior Care

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources. Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the NLN Foundation for Nursing Education

The NLN Foundation for Nursing Education, works to raise, steward, and distribute funds to support the mission of the National League for Nursing: promoting excellence in nursing education; building a strong and diverse nursing workforce; advancing the health of our nation and the global community. The NLN Foundation collaborates with partners in various industries to empower nurse educators through scholarships and research initiatives that change the landscape of nursing education. As the preeminent funder of scholarships, grants, research, and faculty development programs, the NLN Foundation is committed to empowering nurse educators today and for generations to come.

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OMAHA, Neb. (PRWEB)
September 23, 2020

While staying home is often the best way for older adults to protect themselves from contracting or spreading COVID-19, certain areas of the house can pose other health risks for older adults. For example, frequented areas like the bathroom and bedroom can contain hazards that put an older adult at high risk of a fall.

According to the Center for Disease Control, an older American falls every second of every day – making falls the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries for the aging population. While the instance of falls can increase with age, many slips or trips can be prevented with a watchful eye, inexpensive home modifications and a few practical lifestyle adjustments.

“As time goes on, the same place where we’ve created a lifetime of memories will naturally become more challenging to navigate,” said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist and caregiver advocate at Home Instead Senior Care. “The high risk of falls in the home shouldn’t scare us – but rather, empower us to take the right preventative measures to remain independent and safe for years to come.”

The National Council on Aging’s Falls Prevention Awareness Week (Sept. 21-25) is an ideal time to consider the effects of aging and make quick fixes to help reduce pitfalls in the home. Hogan recommends considering these age-friendly modifications to safeguard your space:

• 
  Spruce up the bathroom. Slick tile floors and tubs can pose high risk of falls and other accidents. Minimize potential slips in the bathroom by installing grab bars near the shower, tub and toilet. To make bathing easier, consider converting a showerhead to a hand-held version or with a trickle or pause showerhead, or adding a rubber mat or adhesive non-stick decals to the bottom of a tub.
• Clean and rearrange. Clutter can make it difficult to get around and locate necessities. Don’t just clean around piles—eliminate them. Then, organize the house so frequently used items are at waist level, minimizing the need to bend or climb. Consider removing or securing throw rugs. Arrange furniture to make rooms easy to navigate and allow enough space to walk around furniture.
• Rethink stairs. A trip up a staircase can be risky for many older adults. Proper handrails are a must where stairs are steep. If stairs become a dumping ground for items such as shoes, dedicate a different space in the house to store loose items. When climbing upstairs begins to feel arduous, consider installing a stair lift or moving a bedroom downstairs to cut down on the number of, and potential for, trips.
• Adjust lighting. Inadequate lighting is a safety hazard and high fixtures often pose a problem for older adults who have difficulty changing out burned bulbs. Make sure the home and stairways are well lit and apply high-contrast colored tape to top and bottom of stairs and thresholds. Use a night light and/or leave a light on in the bathroom to reduce the risk of falls in the dark.
• Consider adding smart features. A fall can be startling and upsetting, even if it happens in the home. In the event a fall does occur, devices like voice-controlled speakers, wrist detection services or medical alert bracelets can alert your family members or connect you to emergency services. This technology not only adds an extra layer of safety to the home, it can also help you feel more at ease.

Your home should be a safe and comfortable place to spend the golden years. Just like you would block off your schedule for a telehealth appointment or another important commitment, devote time to discussing and implementing changes in your home to reduce risks. Whether these simple fixes can be done in one weekend or over several weeks, consider it all time well spent to safeguard your health and safety for years to come.

For other age-friendly tips for the home and to learn more, visit http://www.HomeYourOwnWay.com. Or, for additional resources to recognize Falls Prevention Awareness Week, visit the National Council on Aging’s Fall Prevention website.

ABOUT HOME INSTEAD SENIOR CARE

Founded in 1994 in Omaha, Nebraska, the Home Instead Senior Care® franchise network provides personalized care, support and education to enhance the lives of aging adults and their families. Today, the network is the world’s leading provider of in-home care services for seniors, with more than 1,200 independently owned and operated franchises that provide more than 80 million hours of care annually throughout the United States and 13 other countries. Local Home Instead Senior Care offices employ approximately 90,000 CAREGivers℠ worldwide who provide basic support services that enable seniors to live safely and comfortably in their own homes for as long as possible. Home Instead Senior Care franchise owners partner with clients and their family members to help meet varied individual needs. Services span the care continuum – from providing personal care to specialized Alzheimer’s care and hospice support. Also available are family caregiver education and support resources.

Visit HomeInstead.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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