ENSURING QUALITY CARE
SAFETY IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT Safety in the home environment Fire Safety Emergency preparedness September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 2
SAFETY IN THE HOME ENVIRONMENT September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 3
PURPOSE AND KEY TERMS • Accommodations The purpose of this section is to assist the learner in • Barrier-Free acquiring basic knowledge on how to create a safe home • Privacy environment while • Social Needs maximizing the resident’s independence and helping them maintain dignity. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 4
OBJECTIVES The learner will be able to: Describe what makes a home safe and barrier-free Identify 12 areas of your home that must be evaluated to assure the home is safe and accessible Describe the different types of special needs that require additional consideration. Explain the importance of providing residents privacy and areas to socialize September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 5
INTRODUCTION Creating a homelike atmosphere means providing a: • Safe, secure and comfortable physical, emotional and social environment • Barrier-free home to allow residents to function at their highest levels of independence This section outlines basic safety and home comfort issues and specials needs: • Carefully read the “Facility Standards” section of the administrative rules, which defines minimum safety standards for all AFHs. OAR 411-050-0650 September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 6
DOORS, CLOSETS AND CABINETS Make sure all exterior and interior locks and handles work properly. Lever-type door handles are easier to use. Doors are balanced and easy to open/close. All sliding/bi-fold doors move easily and stay on their tracks. • To reduce the risk of accidentally walking into them, large glass doors and windows should be easy to see. Decals at sight level or tinting may be helpful. Cupboards doors open easily and stay closed to reduce the change of bumping into them and causing head or other injury. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 7
ELECTRICAL Keep electrical cords in good condition, and out of the flow of traffic. Place them against walls to prevent people from tripping over them. Do not place cords under rugs or carpeting. Extension cords cannot be used in place of permanent wiring. If you must use an extension cord, use a power strip with a built-in circuit breaker. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 8
ELECTRICAL CONTINUED Assist residents in safe use of electrical appliances and other items. • Some electric blankets should not be tucked in or covered while in use • Residents may have decreased ability to feel the heat and could be unaware a heating pad is too hot • Heating pads should be turned off or removed before going to bed (to sleep) - check manufacturer’s instructions September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 9
HEATING OAR specifies minimum high and low temperatures: Maintain a comfortable temperature for residents. This may be a challenge since a temperature that is comfortable for you some residents may not be for others or for you. Adjust the temperature so it seems comfortable for most residents. Encourage others to wear appropriate clothing for keeping warm (or cool), e.g.; sweaters, warm socks and slacks if temperatures are cool. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 10
HEATING CONTINUED Provide individual temperature controls or heating units in residents’ rooms, if possible. Make sure they are installed properly and meet all building and safety codes. Wall/space heaters must be kept away from flammable items such as bedding or curtains. Wood stoves must be properly installed and meet all local fire and safety codes. • A barrier 36 inches from the stove is required if any residents are confused or have ambulation problems. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 11
HOME DECOR Use a variety of cheerful, yet restful, contrasting colors when decorating. Break up an all-white wall by hanging pictures or wall hangings. Too much white reflects light and causes glare. Avoid a “one-color” décor, which makes it difficult for older people to distinguish objects/surfaces. Pastels tend to fade into each other and dark colors create shadows. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 12
HOME FURNISHINGS The type of furniture and the arrangement of the furniture needs to be comfortable and ensure placement does not create a fall risk. Arrange furniture throughout the home to allow plenty of space for using and turning a wheelchair, or using a walker or cane, so residents can move through the home without bumping or tripping over obstacles. There must be enough furniture in common areas to accommodate the recreational and social needs of all household members at one time. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 13
HOME FURNISHINGS CONTINUED Provide sturdy, firm and stable furniture that is a comfortable height and not likely to tip or move if used for support. Chairs without arms are difficult for residents to use. Overstuffed furniture maybe too low or soft to get out of without help. Provide chairs and couches with firm cushions and stable legs; these items should not have casters . September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 14
HOME FURNISHINGS CONTINUED If a resident has difficulty getting up from a chair, raise the seat height to 18 to 20 inches by firmly attaching blocks to each leg. • Adding more cushions sometimes helps. Ask a physician for a referral to PT/OT if an individual is having difficulty getting up from the bed or chair. They can evaluate the resident and your home to make suggestions. Tables should be at least 30 inches high for residents in wheelchairs. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 15
LIGHTING Proper lighting is essential for residents to be able to see well and reduce accidents: • Provide adequate, non-glare, even lighting throughout the home. • Older people need more light due to normal vision changes, but it is important to increase lighting without creating more glare. Reduce glare. Use frosted bulbs, indirect lighting, and shades or globes on light fixtures. Use window coverings that can be adjusted to reduce the sun’s glare. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 16
LIGHTING CONTINUED Avoid shiny plastic furniture or slipcovers, glass-top tables or highly polished flooring. Provide lamps that can be adjusted to focus upon a resident’s task. Take into consideration individual resident’s visual impairments. Use the correct wattage and type of light bulb indicated on the lamp or fixture. If you are not sure about the correct wattage, use a bulb no more than 60 watts. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 17
RUGS Rugs and other floor coverings must not create a tripping or fall risk: • Secure all rugs and other floor coverings. They should lie flat and not be slippery. • Walkers and canes can catch on the edge of rugs, increasing the chance of a fall. Avoid using scatter rugs and runners. • If you do use scatter rugs or runners, they should have a slip resistant backing or be made slip resistant with double-sided carpet tape or rubber matting. Check regularly to see if backing needs to be replaced. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 18
BATHROOMS Install secure grab bars for toilets, tubs and showers for residents’ safety: • Bars should be at least one inch in diameter and be attached to structural supports (studs) in the wall. • Bars mounted only to the wall surface do not provide secure support. • Bars designed to attach to the side of the bathtub are acceptable if they meet the needs of the residents. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 19
BATHROOMS CONTINUED Make sure all bathroom fixtures such as sinks, toilets towel bars and shower rods are in good repair and properly installed. Bathroom fixtures are not designed to provide support; however, residents may use them to support themselves. Consider reinforcement or providing other fixtures to provide support. Standard bathroom fixtures are not designed to provide support. Equip all bathtubs and showers with nonskid mats, abrasive strips or appliques. Glass shower doors must be made of tempered safety glass. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 20
BATHROOMS CONTINUED Mirrors should not be chipped or cracked. Be sure water faucets work well and adjust easily. Single handle, lever- type faucets are easier for weak or arthritic hands to operate. Provide a bench/seat for use in the tube or shower. It should have removable legs/back and nonskid feet. A transfer bench allows a person to sit down outside the tub (or shower) and then move across into it. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 21
BATHROOMS CONTINUED Equip all bathtubs and showers with hand-held showerheads. • Should be lightweight, easy to grasp and hold, and have a control to turn water flow on and off. • A hand-held shower can make bathing easier and help residents maintain independence and dignity. Place toilet paper dispenser within easy reach. A person should not need to twist, reach back, lean over or stretch too far to get the toilet paper. September 2019 Safety, Oversight and Quality Unit 22
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