Home Safety

with Donna D. Davidoff, M.D., Physiatrist, Columbia St. Mary’s

Last Updated: July 1, 2003

Dr. Donna Davidoff is a physiatrist, a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation. In her capacity as director of the occupational, physical and speech rehabilitation programs at Columbia St. Mary’s, half her patients are seniors, many of them recovering from strokes or joint-replacement surgery.

Donna D. Davidoff, M.D., Physiatrist, Columbia St. Mary's "I tell my older patients that it's not a stigma to grow old, it's a privilege. And it's not a stigma to do less as you grow older."

“Physiatrists are much more practical and holistic than many other specialists. We know that when a senior has a stroke it isn’t just about blood pressure, cholesterol and weakness. It’s also how you move and interact with your family. It’s about independence,” the doctor said.

Along with physical rehabilitation, Dr. Davidoff's staff works to arrange other things that improve function and independence such as handicapped stickers for seniors' cars, or Transit Plus services for those who can no longer drive.

"I tell my older patients that it's not a stigma to grow old, it's a privilege. And it's not a stigma to do less as you grow older." She advises her older patients on what she terms "common sense safety" and is passing these suggestions on to seniors, their families and their caregivers to help prevent the more common accidents she sees.



Home safety
Dr. Davidoff recommends the following:

• Make sure you have good lighting throughout your house, particularly in the bathroom, and use it.
• Rearrange furniture to create wide pathways throughout the home. This will make it easier to move through the house with a cane or walker.
• Get rid of obstacles on the floor such as throw rugs and extension cords. It's easy to trip on these items. Falls are dangerous for anyone, but more so for seniors who take longer to recover.
• As you get older, realize that home maintenance may require outside help. "There are certain things that aren't safe to do any longer, such as climbing two stories to clean your gutter," Dr. Davidoff said.

Kitchen advice

• Minimize the need to stand on a stool or a chair by putting the things you use most within easy reach.
• Don't put things in glass containers, especially if they are stored on a top shelf.
• Don't cook breakfast in your pajamas. "Most of the burns I see are from ladies who were cooking breakfast and the flimsy fabrics ignited," she said.

Bathroom safety

• Install grab bars by the tub or shower, as well as inside it. "A lot of accidents occur when the floor is wet," Dr. Davidoff said.
• If possible, use a bench in the shower. These are available through a medical supply store and should have non-skid feet. Some of the wider benches can also straddle the side or the tub so that a bather can sit down and slide into it rather than having to step over the side.

General safety

• Seniors need to have regular checkups of their vision and hearing. "As your senses go, you aren't as safe anymore," Dr. Davidoff said.
• Don't be too proud to use a walker or cane when necessary. And be certain that the little rubber foot is in good shape. Worn rubber will decrease traction, making it easier to fall.
• A daily or weekly pillbox will help you regulate your medication. "It serves two purposes. First, if you have trouble remembering to take medication, put the box where it will be seen to remind you. Second, if you can't recall if you took a medication, the box will keep you from taking it twice," Dr. Davidoff said.
• Seniors who live alone need to set up a system where people check on them. "This can be a lifeline system or a call-in system or just a friend checking on you. Even for people with no family whatsoever, there are community programs that can help set up a call-in system," she said.

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