Whether you are an older adult who lives alone or someone who cares for seniors, condo safety is always vital and it should never be compromised. That is especially true if you want the optimal condo living experience.
An increasing number of older individuals living independently is all the more reason to consider condo safety. Falling is the elderly people's most frequent type of accidents in their homes. Elders living alone might also be potential victims of scammers that target older individuals.
Vista Residences believes that safety for elders, along with everyone else, should always be a priority, to avoid those unwanted mishaps. Here are a few ways to manage the perfect and safe condo living for golden-aged elders.
Improving the lighting
As individuals grow older, visual impairments are inevitable. That's why adequate lighting is essential to every condo unit. Appropriate lighting, which is free of glare and shadows, may minimize eye strain and headaches for seniors while also enhancing the visibility of the condo's space and other condo safety concerns in the condo. In addition, good lighting decreases the risk of accidents and injuries caused by "momentary blindness."
You can improve lighting by doing the following:
- Making sure that all areas in the condo are lighted correctly.
- Installing more lights in the stairs, corridors, and passageways.
- Putting up a table lamp beside the bed.
- Setting up a nightlight in the dark to simplify access to the restroom.
- Investing in motion sensor lights.
Although lighting will not entirely cure the problems that come with becoming older, bright, high-quality lighting can assist and improve visual function and residents' quality of life.
Reducing fall hazards
Elders' most common cause of injury is from falling. One of the most essential things to decrease the danger of falling and promote condo living security for seniors is making the condo fall-safe.
You can achieve condo safety from falling by doing the following:
- Getting rid of decorative rugs. These can be attractive but generally lack a rubberized backing to grip the floor more effectively. If letting go of the rug isn’t an option, you can also use rug fasteners that you can buy at any hardware store to keep them in place.
- Clearing the clutter that has accumulated. Newspapers, loose clothing, and shoes are all examples of this.
- Old furniture should be discarded or donated.
- Making sure that you wear non-slip footwear when inside, especially on smooth floors. Slippers with rubber or non-slip bottoms or flat, thin-soled shoes that fit well are the best thing to use.
- Refraining from using extension cords on the floor. You might trip on them while walking.
- If you have a cane or a walker, always utilize it rather than gripping on the furniture and walls.
Setting up a medical response system
If you are living alone, you may consider implementing a medical warning device. You may buy a wearable alarm in case of an emergency for you or your loved one. If you ever have an emergency, you only need to press the gadget button and notify the right urgent service.
Some elders would also prefer using elder-friendly mobile phones. In that case, make sure to keep important emergency numbers at hand or posted on your condo walls.
For emergencies in the Philippines, please alert local authorities at the numbers below:
National Emergency Hotline in the Philippines: 911.
Philippine National Police Hotline: 117 or (02) 8722-0650.
Philippine Red Cross: 143 or (02) 8527-8385 to 95.
Bureau of Fire Protection: (02) 8426-0219 or (02) 8426-3812.
Protection against fire hazards
In a residential setting such as a condo in Manila, fire safety is a top priority. Many people living in close quarters naturally raise the risk of accidents and other circumstances that might result in a fire. A fire in your condo has an impact on not just you but also several of your neighbors.
You can take extra precautions from fire hazards by doing the following:
- Make sure that smoke detectors are working. Just because your condo unit has a visible smoke detector doesn’t mean it operates. Test smoke sensors and make sure that batteries are changed twice a year.
- Do not attempt to extinguish a fire in your house. Leave immediately and dial emergency hotlines. Know how to escape out of your condo unit in at least two methods.
- When you're cooking, avoid wearing loose or long-sleeved clothing.
- Electrical cables that are frayed or broken should be replaced.
- Don't overload a socket or extension cable with electrical cords.
- Never smoke in bed or leave candles burning in an empty room, even for a short time.
- Heaters should be kept at least 3 feet away from anything that might catch fire, such as curtains, beds, or furniture. When you leave a room, turn off space heaters.
Avoiding bathroom and toilet hazards
Did you know that the typical person uses the restroom seven times each day? That is precisely the reason why condo safety for elders in the bathroom is so crucial. Balance problems, weakness, frailty, and cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's can make even the most basic activities difficult, if not dangerous. As challenging as using the toilet might be for them, it's equally critical to assist them while maintaining as much independence as possible.
You can avoid bathroom incidents by doing the following:
- To avoid scalding, set the water heater's thermostat to no more than 120° F.
- To make going in and out simpler and safer, add grab bars in the shower and near the toilet.
- To avoid sliding in the bathtub, use rubber mats. For you or your loved one's comfort, choose a smooth-feeling shower mat. A shower mat prevents accidents and falls while also improving the bathing experience for the elderly.
- If you're experiencing trouble getting in and out of the tub or getting on and off the toilet, ask your healthcare practitioner for assistance in obtaining a customized tub chair, bench, or elevated toilet seat.
- In addition, choose a no-threshold or walk-in shower if you're creating a new shower, and consider including a seat in the design. If you're remodeling an existing shower, base-row wall tiles that contrast with the floor tiles might make it easier to tell the difference between the wall and the floor.
- A shower curtain is preferred over sliding shower doors if you have a bathtub and shower combination. The bathtub rim should not be used to build shower door tracks.
- Standard towel bars are not meant to hold body weight. Still, several manufacturers provide grab bars that are made to look like a tow bar and help with movement.
Poison prevention for the elderly
As an elderly individual, poor eyesight and increased sensitivity to medication make them prone to all kinds of confusion. Frequently, older individuals' might mix up their prescriptions. It is easy to become confused while taking several pills, and different drugs might combine and produce unpleasant effects.
The following are ways to prevent the risks of poisoning for the elderly inside their condo:
Medication and drugs
- It's not a good idea to take medicines in the dark! When reading prescription labels, make sure you have enough light to avoid taking the wrong drug.
- When taking medicine, wear glasses or contact lenses to ensure accurate dosage.
- As a precaution, read all drug labels twice and, if necessary, use a magnifying lens.
- Any queries you have about your prescriptions or over-the-counter medications should be directed to your pharmacist or your healthcare practitioner.
- All personal care goods should be kept separate from home objects. All topical products should be kept separate from oral care products.
Carbon monoxide and chemicals
- Never use your stove, oven, or grill to heat your home because carbon monoxide, a dangerous gas that you can't see or smell, might be released.
- Make sure a carbon monoxide detector is near all bedrooms, and test and replace the battery at least twice a year.
- Replace the batteries in carbon monoxide and smoke detectors at least once a year.
- When using chemical products like household cleaners, turn on the fan and open the windows.
- Never combine any household, automotive, or glycemic products.
Making the kitchen elderly-safe
Many say that the kitchen is the heart of a home, but it is also one of the most hazardous areas in a condo. Electrical fires, slips, accidents, and injuries are just a few of the risks that can occur in a kitchen. Even the most chef-worthy individuals can be victims of these mishaps. The elderly are at a much higher risk, especially if mobility, agility, or cognitive loss issues.
You can make your kitchen elderly-safe by doing the following:
- Invest in automated stove and appliance shut-off systems.
- Provide two-handled pots to your elderly loved one to make handling simpler and minimize spillage.
- Determine that the senior has a clean work environment so that oil and grease do not accumulate on surfaces.
- Replace glass objects with plastic and provide bright lighting in the kitchen. Move all cooking equipment to cupboards within reach.
- Move heavy objects out of the house or to a height where they can be lifted more easily.
- To avoid slips and falls, check for leaks near sinks, refrigerators, and other appliances regularly.
Outside threats and how to avoid them
As much as you strive to make your condo accident-proof from the inside, you must also protect yourself from the hazards that lie outside. As previously said, many people regard older persons as easy targets for criminals.
Keep the following tips in mind to defend yourself from these sorts of threats:
Never let a stranger into your condo
Even though this may appear to be basic sense, many individuals will answer their door to someone posing as a maintenance worker or someone in authority. Always attempt to communicate via the door and keep the door secured. Also, especially if you live on the ground floor, keep your windows secured at all times. If you see anything unusual, contact 911 immediately. Don't try to solve the problem on your own.
Do not give your personal information on the phone
There are various scammers out there these days, frightening people into giving them money. Never give up your personal or financial details.
Purchase an alarm system
When you're busy, and especially when you're at home, an alarm system may provide you a lot of peace of mind. Consider purchasing one to keep intruders at bay. Many alarm providers will also supply you with signs to alert people to the presence of an alarm system. Many would-be trespassers would not try to break in if they believe an alarm system is in place; thus, this may be a fantastic crime deterrent.
Condo safety doesn't stop here. You can assist your loved one to be secure and comfortable at home by doing a variety of things. There are condo safety precautions that may not have been as important to you or them in the past. However, if the person you care for has become unstable on their feet, it's critical to handle any potential dangers. You'll have peace of mind knowing you can move about securely and you're giving yourself the finest care possible.
If you're thinking of having an elder-friendly condo that offers a cozy vibe condo design and experience, check out our virtual tour of Vista Residences.
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country's largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., which offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila and Quezon City that is strategically located within inner-city areas, close to premium universities and developed business districts.
To continue its mission in providing condominium homes for Filipinos and investors, Vista Residences is now offering a premium condo living in the other areas away from Metro Manila. You can experience a warm and relax condo vibe in its condo in Baguio – Pinehill, Canyon Hill, and Brenthill. Now in the south, Vista Residences has Suarez Residences, a pre-selling condo in Cebu; and The Loop, a ready for occupancy condo in Cagayan De Oro.
Living in Vista Residences enables you to enjoy convenience, where everything is pretty much within walking distance or a few minutes away from the property; comfort because the project features and amenities are designed to deliver comfort at all times, which makes condo living a worthy investment; security that is 24/7 and CCTV monitoring, which makes the residents safe and secure within the property. It also offers parking slots for families, and young professionals.
In line with Vista Residences' thrust to offer convenience among its residents, it also features an AllDay Convenience Store and Coffee Project in all its projects.
Vista Residences is part of Vista Land's roster of vertical housing brands that cater to millennials and young professionals. The other vertical brands include Camella Manors, COHO, and Crown Asia.
For more information on Vista Residences, email [email protected], follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
