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HCO# 444700020 600 Frederick Street • Santa Cruz, CA 95062 • (831) 469-4900 • www.lifespancare.com Home Care Personalized care up to 24 hours a day by experienced and registered home care aides. Enhancing life and finding joy through activities that increase engagement, fulfillment, and a sense of connection. Well-Being Program Care management promotes peace of mind through professional, person-centered assessment, coordination of personal care, medical, and social needs. Care Management AGING CARE YOU CAN TRUST SINCE 1983 Best of Senior Home Care Lifespan recognizes the contributions of local older adults during May, Older Americans Month and Aging Life Care Month Seniors Council of Santa Cruz & San Benito Coun- ties has a long history of working to prevent falls among older adults. However, for many years the 'missing piece' has been the means to pro- vide detailed home safety evaluations, since the overwhelming majority of falls occur in-home, and then adequate funding and professional expertise to fix what needs fixing. With additional resources and the recent expansion of our falls prevention program services, we are finally able to include just the sort of individual envi- ronmental and behavioral home safety assessments so critical to identifying potential health and safety risks to older adults and individuals living with certain disabilities who at increased risk of falls. The assessments are based on recommen- dations and guidelines provided by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and utilize a room-by-room checklist of potential hazards and in-depth conversations with individuals to find out how they use their space and what maintain- ing their independence looks like from their per- spective and given their priorities. During the current global pandemic, we are also aware of how difficult and anxiety-pro- voking having people in one's home can be, so Seniors Council Falls Prevention Program also offers the option of a self-guided assessment with a telephone or video call follow-up, for those who would prefer to participate this way. For in-person environmental and behavioral home safety assessments, our professional staff are fully vaccinated, and observe all County Public Health and CDC guidance with regard to masking and physical distancing. The assessments are provided at no cost to qualified individuals, so that ev- eryone can benefit from a safer and more supportive home. So, what is involved? What does a home safety assessor look for, and what do they ask about? Essentially, the assessor is there to take a close look at each room of the individual's home as de- sired, and provide specif- ic and detailed feedback about potential safety hazards which could result in falls, and then about what can be done to address or fix them. Some fixes are as simple as rerouting an extension cord, or even masking down the edges of rugs, or removing a few of them altogether. The assessor will ask about and check for adequate lighting, as well as for clear pathways through individual rooms and throughout the home. The assessor will also want to see other spaces, such as a garage, shed, paths, patios, decks, or garden spaces, if these are areas that are used by the individual. An evaluation of the entryway, or any doorways used regularly to enter and leave one's home - - think about carrying bags or other ob- jects, searching for keys, poor outside lighting, or even that cracked thresh- old or loose step - - is also important to a comprehen- sive assessment. The real focus of the assessment besides the physical space that is one's home is really on who that individual is in terms of their preferences, habits, relative ability, and their own concerns for the space, but even how they use and occupy that space, how frequently, at what time of day or night, and under what circumstances - - are you usually carrying things, is it after dark, and do you usually wear shoes, and if so, what kind? While a home safety assessment is, in part, about the home itself, the home poses little to no risk on its own, unoccupied. It is the manner in which the indi- vidual interacts with that space, and what they put in that space, along with inadequate and improp- erly installed supportive elements, and hazards left unrepaired that can create specific - - and prevent- able - - risks. Seniors Council Fall Prevention Program staff are interested in helping people maintain their in- dependence and ability to do what they love to do for as long as possible. We know that helping to prevent falls is one of the single best and most important things that we can do to help achieve this result. And, finally, we know how difficult confronting risk and real fears can be. Our caring professional assessments and feedback come with no judgement - - only no or low-cost actionable recommendations, and fact-based evaluations of potentially more expen- sive interventions or repairs - - so that you can prioritize, and even begin to make cost-effective or incremental changes - - based on your own preferences and practices - - to remain fall free and maintain your indepen- dence! The importance of environmental and behavioral home safety assessments in preventing falls By Britt Bassoni Losing interest in an exercise regimen is a situation many fitness enthusiasts have con- fronted at one point or another. Overcoming a stale workout routine can be simple for young athletes, whose bodies can typically handle a wide range of physical activities. That flexi- bility allows younger athletes the chance to pursue any number of physical activities when their existing fitness regimens grow stale. But what about seniors who have grown tired of their workouts? Even seniors who have lived active life- styles since they were youngsters are likely to encounter certain physi- cal limitations associated with aging. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the likelihood of dealing with one or more physical limitations increases with age. CDC data indicates that 8 percent of adults between the ages of 50 and 59 have three or more physical limitations. That figure rises to 27 percent among adults age 80 and over. Physical limitations may be a part of aging for many people, but such obstacles need not limit seniors looking to banish boredom from their work- out routines. In fact, many seniors can successfully engage in a variety of exercises that benefit their bodies and are unlikely to grow stale. · Water aerobics: Some- times referred to as "aqua aerobics," water aerobics may involve jogging in the water, leg lifts, arm curls, and other activ- ities that can safely be performed in a pool. The YMCA notes that water aerobics exercises are low impact, which can make them ideal for seniors with bone and joint issues like arthritis. · Resistance band workouts: Resistance band workouts can be especially useful for seniors who spend a lot of time at home. Resistance bands are inexpensive and don't take up a lot of space, making them ideal for people who like to exercise at home but don't have much space. Resistance bands can be used to strengthen mus- cles in various parts of the body, including the legs, arms and back. Resistance bands can be pulled or pushed in any direction, which allows for more versatility in a workout than weight machines and dumbbells. That versatility allows seniors to spice up their workout regimens when things get a little stale. · Pilates: Pilates is anoth- er low-impact exercise that can be ideal for seniors with bone and joint issues. According to SilverSneakers®, a com- munity fitness program for seniors that promotes living through physical and social engagement, Pilates can help seniors build overall strength, stability and coordination. SilverSneakers® even notes that seniors can ex- perience improvements in strength and stability by committing to as little as 10 to 15 minutes of daily Pilates exercises. · Strength training: Seniors on the lookout for something more chal- lenging than a daily walk around the neighborhood should not overlook the benefits of strength train- ing. The CDC notes that seniors who participate in strength training can stimulate the growth of muscle and bone, thereby reducing their risk for osteoporosis and frailty. In fact, the CDC notes that people with health concerns like arthritis or heart disease often benefit the most from exercise regimens that include lift- ing weights a few times each week. Physical limitations are a part of aging. But seniors need not let such limitations relegate them to repetitive, boring work- outs. Effective exercises for seniors By Metro Create

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