Recently, members of the sandwich generation began becoming anxious about their aging parents. The parents insisted on living on their own and aging in their own home, and their adult children became concerned. Are their parents safe in their home? Is the home equipped for folks their age? Who is going to make those fixes needed to keep the house in good repair? They contacted the Jewish Home at Home’s Safely@Home membership program and were relieved to be able to subscribe to the benefits provided by this inclusive program.
For those elderly aging in place in the comfort and familiar surroundings of their own homes, falls are the leading cause of accidents for this population. Which of the following are some easy ways to create a safer environment?
- a) Securing rugs to the floor with double-sided non-skid tape
- b) Applying contrasting, reflective, colored tape to stairs and landings
- c) Adding additional lighting
- d) Having handrails professionally installed
- e) All of the above
If you answered e) All of the above, you are correct. Although it cannot be guaranteed that you will never fall in your home, there are some easy ways to create a safer environment, such as securing rugs to the floor and applying colored tape to stairs and landings. Having extra lighting and handrails professionally installed is also a great safeguard against falls.
Studies have shown that minimal investments in home modifications and repairs, coupled with coordinated visits by supportive services such as occupational therapists, nurses and handymen, reduce health risks such as falls and enable people to remain in their homes for a much longer period of time.
Safely@Home, the Jewish Home at Home’s program that helps seniors remain in their homes confidently, has launched a subscription-based service to provide basic home maintenance, home modification and access to the Jewish Home Family services, such as care management and home assessments. The program also provides discounts on service and materials from trusted providers in collaboration with BRAD-CORE Property Management. It will provide the subscribers with a single point-of-contact for a complete range of services to address all of the lifestyle needs for aging in place.
The Safely@Home Membership Program involves an annual membership fee of $500, which entitles subscribers to the following benefits:
Safety assessment to ensure the subscriber’s home is as safe as possible for their circumstances
The development of a home modification plan to improve home safety and comfort
Quarterly check-in calls from an Aging Life Care Specialist
Property inspections from a trusted Property Management Company three times a year
Single point-of-contact for all required home modifications, emergency service calls, repairs and renovations
Discounts on labor and materials for home renovations and repairs
Emergency service calls
For more information on enrollment, contact Safely@Home Director Stacey Orden at 201-518-1175 or [email protected].
By Stacy K. Orden
Stacey K. Orden has spent over 15 years volunteering for those in the community who are at risk and less fortunate. She served for five years as a professional with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey’s Bonim Builders and most recently has become the Jewish Home Family’s director of volunteer services as well as the director of their Safely@Home program.
