YouTube home dealer login
  • About Us
    • About EMP
    • News
  • Mattresses / Bedding Products
    • Mattress Videos
    • Help me select a mattress
    • General Care Mattresses
    • Intermediate Care Mattresses
    • Premium Care Mattresses
    • Mattress Inserts & Spacers
    • Mattress Toppers
  • Rehab Therapy Products
    • Rehab Therapy Videos
    • Bed positioning/protection
    • Fall Prevention Products
  • Wheelchair Products
    • Wheelchair Cushions
    • Wheelchair Accessories
  • Resources
    • Price List & Resource Docs
    • Education
    • Environmental
    • Find a Dealer
    • Warranty
  • Contact Us
about-us1 about-us2 foam

Archive for Elderly

Tips for preventing and responding to falls

By emp
Tuesday, April 16th, 2019

No matter our age, slips and falls are almost inevitable. However, with a little care, we can minimize our chances of falling and seriously injuring ourselves with these simple safety and preventative measures.

Clean up: How many times have you stepped on a lego block, or stumbled over a pile of dirty clothes on the floor? The simple act of clearing floors, stairways, and pathways in and around your home is one easy way to avoid falls.

Install Lighting: Install motion sensing lights along dark hallways and along exterior paths to your home for those who have difficulty seeing clearly at night.

Use Railings: Encourage children and the elderly to hold railings on stairs. This way if they accidently slip, they could catch themselves before risking serious injury. You can even install safety bars around toilets and shower stalls for anyone who needs a little help up and down (or in and out).

Install non-slip surfaces: Wood or concrete paths and stairs can get slippery in cold or wet weather and socks on wood or smooth floors can make for a slippery situation! Install non-slip pads on exterior walking surfaces, and consider covering inside floors with rugs (with a non stick bottom) to minimize slipping.

Organize your home logically: By this, we mean put things closest to where you use it most. You wouldn’t store your coffee mugs in the bathroom right? The less distance you need to travel to get things done, the lower your chances of slipping become.

Notice your footwear: Make sure you wear well fitting shoes (or slippers with non-stick bottoms). Shoes that are too big or small affect your natural walking rhythms, making you more likely to fall.

Exercise for strength: Stronger legs give you a good foundation to help minimize slips and falls.

By practicing these safety precautions, and seeking help when you need it, you can minimize your chances of serious injury from “common” slips and falls around your home.

On a related note, did you know that today, April 16 is National Healthcare Decisions Day, a day dedicated to increasing awareness of advanced healthcare directives and planning? If you or your loved one doesn’t have a medical plan for emergencies, please contact your local healthcare provider who can help you prepare one, or refer you to a legal professional to help.

Follow the discussion today on social media using the hashtag #HealthcareDecisionsDay.

Categories : Elderly, Safety
Tags : Elderly home safety, falls, stairs

Reducing medication errors in Canada: Canadian Patient Safety Week

By emp
Monday, October 29th, 2018

Patient safety is always top of mind for us at Essential Medical Products. As such, we’re proud to talk about Canadian Patient Safety Week (October 29 to November 2, 2018), and this year the campaign is focusing on medication safety and reducing medication errors across Canada.

According to the Patient Safety Institute, preventable medication hospitalizations cost over $140 million in direct and indirect costs! Globally this cost is over $55 billion!

The medication crisis is very serious and is especially prevalent in the elderly population:

  • 37% of seniors in Canadian provinces were given a prescription that was not safe for their age
  • 66% of seniors take at least five medications
  • 27% of seniors take 10 or more medications
  • One in 143 seniors were hospitalized due to harmful effects of their medications (2016)

This national patient safety campaign started in 2005 to jumpstart and motivate the healthcare community to improve patient safety and quality. It’s not just something for healthcare institutions and staff. Everyone is part of our healthcare system so by working together we can raise awareness, and generate new innovations and ideas to make Canada a safer place.

In the spirit of Canadian Patient Safety Week, look for and participate in social posts using the hashtags #NotAllMedsGetAlong and #asklistentalk.

Even if we all take little steps to make the Canadian health and medical system a safer place for everyone, we can make a huge difference. Learn more about Canadian Patient Safety Week.

Categories : Elderly, Events, Safety, Seniors
Tags : canadian safety week, medication, safetey

How to Prevent Dangerous Falls

By emp
Thursday, September 28th, 2017

When an elderly person falls it is much more dangerous than when a young adult or child falls.

Unlike young people, seniors’ bodies simply aren’t able to withstand and recover from the trauma. These falls can result in lacerations, hip fractures, and head traumas, among other injuries. And in many cases, the initial injury isn’t the cause of death; the associated problems are to blame.

prevent-falls

Understanding that this risk is prevent is important. Take the following steps to reduce the likelihood of a dangerous fall to protect the elders in your home:

  • Exercise regularly. Leg strength and balance are crucial, so exercises like walking, weight-lifting, and Tai Chi are very beneficial. Explore exercises that will strengthen your bones, improve coordination, and increase endurance.
  • Test your vision. If you haven’t been to the optometrist lately, stop in soon to have your eyes evaluated. Weak eyesight and blurry vision can cause stumbles and falls
  • Check your medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medications, so that they can identify any prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs that cause dizziness or drowsiness. Find alternatives to these medications if possible. Also, always take your medications as prescribed.
  • Evaluate your environment. Reduce your home’s clutter to prevent stumbles. Remove (or fix) any rugs that might slip or cause trips. Add grab bars in the bathroom, beside the tub and toilet. Add railings to both sides of stairways. And finally, add a non-skid bath mat to your shower.
  • Choose your shoes wisely. Your shoes should be supportive, low-heeled, and provide good friction. Avoid walking around your house in socks, stockings, or slippery slippers.
  • Turn on the lights. All stairwells should be adequately lit, but it’s also important to turn on lights when you get up in the middle of the night. Avoid “feeling your way” through the dark, as you could trip over a loose electrical cord, a fallen object, or a thick rug.

 

Categories : Elderly, Seniors, Seniors Care
Tags : elderly, fall-prevention, seniors
new products environmental our capabilities

Essential Medical Products
Copyright © 2019 All Rights Reserved
Web Design by Stand Out Online
Powered by WordPress