Posted May 13th, 2014
By Kris Powers
May is Older Americans Month. In 1963, our government declared May to be a time to recognize our nation's older persons for their contributions to society and to provide them with information and resources to help them stay healthy and active for years to come.
The 2014 Older Americans Month theme is Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow. According to the official website for Older Americans Month, Older adults are at a much higher risk of unintentional injury and even death than the rest of the population. Unintentional injuries among older adults result in 6 million medically treated incidents and over 30,000 deaths each year.
With a focus on safety during Older Americans Month, the Administration for Community Living plans to use this opportunity to raise awareness about this critical issue. By taking control of their safety, older Americans can live longer, healthier lives.
To improve older adult health, the CDC also works to reduce risk factors for injuries and ensure widespread adoption of effective injury prevention strategies. Information on fire safety as well as steps to take to prevent falls among older adults, can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety.
Other ways to stay safe today / healthy tomorrow:
Discuss physical activities that are right for you with your medical professional
Have your vision checked regularly
Manage your medications
Prevent falls by wearing non-slip shoes, installing handrails, installing adequate lighting of all areas and using canes or walkers if indicated
Check smoke detectors regularly
Set water heater to manufacturer’s specifications
Drive wisely and know when it might be time to retire the keys to the car
“The complete life, the perfect pattern, includes old age as well as youth and maturity. The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquility of the evening. Old age has its pleasures, which, though different, are not less than the pleasures of youth.” W. Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up
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