Dr. Marion's Senior Home Safety Tips

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Dr. Marion Somers visited the KCAL9 studios Monday to share some safety tips for seniors at home.

• Accidental falls are top cause of injury-related deaths for adults 65+ according to the CDC

• The National Fire Protection Association says those over 75 are three times more likely to die in a home fire.

Safety Tips to Keep Seniors in the Home:
• More elderly citizens are choosing to live at home as they age – but believe it or not, it can be fatal
• Many familiar rooms in the house can become dangerous places as we age, (without us even noticing), so it's important to look at each room of the house with fresh eyes.

o SAFETY RAILS are number one. Put them everywhere, especially in the bathroom by the toilet or shower where the most accidents occur. Also, install them by the bed, stairs, and more.
o ALARMS for smoke, CO2, and radon are a must, yet they are so obvious that they're often overlooked. Something as simple as forgetting to change the batteries could lead to a major mishap.
o FAUCET HANDLES should be clearly marked hot or cold to avoid accidental scalding, another big hazard; use red and blue stickers or plastic covers (found in any hardware store) to avoid confusion.
o EMERGENCY NUMBERS should be pre-programmed into phones for fast access. Better yet, consider a "senior cell phone" with built-in emergency access, increased volume, and larger numbers, or subscribe to an emergency monitoring service.
o For the full list, go to www.MedicalAlert.com.