Safe v. Unsafe
You feel dizzy when you walking to the bathroom so you walk faster to get there before you faint. Safe or Unsafe?
Unsafe - What should you do when you feel dizzy while walking?
A 2 or 4 wheeled device used to help with balance.
Walker
You have to use the bathroom in the night. The room is dark but you get out of bed quickly so you don't have an accident. Name 2 reasons you could fall.
Dark, rushing, dizzy, etc.
You realize at lunchtime you forgot to take your morning medications. What should you do?
Call your doctor, take you medications at with lunch, etc.
You wake up in the middle of the night with sudden chest pain and numbness in your left arm. Is this an emergency?
Yes. Why is chest pain an emergency and what will you say to the EMS team that arrives at your house?
Safe - Why do you want you walker close by at all times?
A long handled tool used to pick up objects without bending or stretching
Reacher/Grabber
You are going to physical therapy and decide to wear sandals with no support and it is raining outside. Name 2 fall risks.
1. shoes with no backs/no support
2. water/puddles
Your newest refill of your blood pressure medication looks different from the pills you had before. What should you do?
call your pharmacist or go to the pharmacy to verify the medication is correct.
Why might the medication look different?
You are watching "The Price is Right" when the ceiling light burns out in your living room. Is this an emergency?
No, a burned out light is not an emergency. If you are unable to change the light by yourself what could you do?
You get out of the shower without using your grab bars as you step out of the shower. Safe or Unsafe?
Unsafe - why should you always use handrails/grab bars?
A container with separate sections that helps organize medications by day or time.
Medication Organizer/ Pill box
You are walking across your living room and do not notice that your oxygen tubing is in your walking path. Name the problem and how you would solve it.
Solution: Look for potential hazards before you walk, pick up your oxygen tube, etc.
Your doctor adds a new medication for you to take daily but does not tell you if you can take it with your other medications. What should you do?
Call your doctor/pharmacist to make sure that it is safe to take with your other medications.
You wake up in the morning and are unable to sit up in bed, don't know where you are, and in pain. Is this an emergency?
Yes - when you call 911, what will you tell the operator? What are 2 things that the EMS team coming to your house may need to know?
You go to check the mail at the end of your driveway without using your cane because "it's not that far". Safe or Unsafe?
Unsafe - why should you always have your assistive devices (e.g. cane, walker, wheelchair) with you?
A chair with wheels used by someone who cannot walk safely or needs assistance getting around.
Wheelchair
You are walking with your cane to take your dog outside and he runs between your feet on the way to the door. What is the fall risk?
Your dog could trip you and make you lose your footing.
You accidentally take your morning medications twice and start to feel dizzy and nauseated. What should you do? What could you do to help this not happen again?
1. Call your doctor and follow their directions.
2. Use a medication organizer
You need to call you pharmacy to refill your blood pressure medication and cannot find your cellphone. Is this an emergency?
No - what could you do to not misplace your cellphone?
You just finished baking cookies and leave the kitchen without making sure the stove was turned off. Safe or Unsafe?
Unsafe - why is it important to make sure stoves, curling irons, etc. are turned off and unplugged when you are done with them?
A light that helps illuminate walking areas, especially at night
night light
You are thirsty so you walk to the kitchen with your walker and get a glass of water. On the way back to your chair you leave your walker next to the fridge so you can carry your drink. Name the fall risk.
You left your walker in a place that is not accessible and are walking unassisted.
You find an old prescription in your medicine cabinet and cannot remember whether it is still appropriate to take. What 2 things can you look for on the bottle to help you decide? Who should you call?
1. RX/prescription number and expiration date
2. Call the pharmacy to verify this medication is still safe to take.
You decided to take a shower without help because "I can do it myself". As you get out of the shower, you fall and hit your head on the side of the tub. Is this an emergency?
Yes - why is a head injury an emergency? What are 3 things you could do different to make this safer?