Love means believing in someone, in something. It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer and to rejoice. Satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment are byproducts of dedicated love. They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves; to whom giving is more important than receiving.

• Safety for Adult Foster Care Homes

Safety for Adult Foster Care Homes

Bone loss is progressive so checking someone who is at risk for fractures long before they have osteoporosis is crucial.

Since overall safety contributes to the well being of the patient, you will want a safe and comfortable environment that implies freedom from injury or possibility of injury of any type.

Mechanical Injury Prevention

• Bed rails.  Use bed rails to keep the patient from falling out of bed.  It is illegal to use bed rails as a means of containment unless it is for the safety of the patient.

• Window Guards.  Window guards should be secure but easily removed.  The purpose of a window guard is to help stop a patient from falling through the window if the patient is unsteady while standing or walking.  The patient should know the method of removal in case it is necessary to exit the room via the window due to the primary exit being blocked by fire.

• Cords and Tubing.  Cords and tubing should be securely fastened in place to avoid entanglement.

• Flooring.  Floors should be dry and with a non slip surface when dry. Avoid waxing tile flooring.  Floor coverings should be fixed firmly without wrinkles.

• Wheelchairs, Walkers.  Hold such devices securely while assisting patients.

• Plastic Verses Glass.  Glass containers or dinnerware should not be used.  Use plastic instead to avoid injury from breakage.

• Equipment Checks.  Periodically check equipment to make sure they are safe to use.

• Thermal Devices.  Thermal devices must be watched carefully to avoid burns.  Hot-water bottles, heating pads, electric blankets, steam inhalers.

• Smoking.  Smoking in bed is one of the major causes of home fires and deaths.  Never allow your patient to smoke in bed.  Keep fire escape routes free from obstructions.  Practice good fire safety housekeeping techniques to help eliminate causes of fire. Keep fire extinquishers in handy locations and smoke detectors operable.

• Chemicals.  Avoid using too strong chemicals on the skin and pay particular attention to medication doses to avoid over dosing.  Poinsonous chemicals should not be left within the reach of the patient.  Such chemicals would consist of those used for disinfection or the treatment of wounds.  Store medications appropriately to sustain their chemical character.  Discard medication that have deteriorated.

• Electrical.  Do not overload electrical circuits and do not use defective electrical devices.

• Bacteria.  Bacteriologic injuries are caused by disease bearing microorganisms.  Microorganisms are spread by hands more than any other method.  Always wash your hands thoroughly before and after the care of the patient.  Soaps best recommended for handwashing contain hexachlorophene which has a lasting bacteriostatic effect and are not irritating to the skin.

The room should be kept free from dust, dirt, and organic materials such as food and body discharges.  Using an anti-baterial chemical will help reduce the possibility of bacteria injury.

• Allergens.  Know what allergies the patient has and avoid using items that will cause an allergic reaction and eliminate any possible causes.

• Psychological Safety.  Avoid unpleasant sights. Soiled dressings, soiled bedding, dirty rooms should be cleaned as quickly as possible.  Break the monotony of the room environment with color, flowers etc..  Eliminate disturbing noises.  Sounds above 50 decibels are disturbing.

• 80+ decibles ... loud radio

• 20 decibles ... soft speech

• 10 decibles ... a whisper

Avoid unpleasant sensations of touch such as:

• roughness of blanket fibers

• wrinkled bedding

• course air movement

Avoid disagreeable odors such as:

• soiled dressings

• body drainage

Odors are best reduced by removing the source of the odor and proper ventilation.  Air Fragrants will help also.

• Atmospheric Conditions.  Watch room temperature, humidity, and ventilation or air movement.  Indoor temperature of 65 to 75 degrees is the most comfortable for most people. Care must be taken to avoid drafts about a patient whose resistance is low.

• Good Lighting.  Adequate lighting for movement at night will reduce the possibility of stubbed toes and falls.  Sunlight is warming and cheerful and improves both mental and physical well being.  Artificial lighting should be strong enough to prevent eye strain and diffused enough to prevent glare which injures the eyes.

• A middle aged person requires 10 times more light than a young child.

• An aged person requires still more light.

Source: Michigan Adult Foster Care   MIAFC,  PO  BOX 9278, WYOMING, MI. 49509-0278 http://www.miafc.com 

Foster and Adoptive Care Association of Minnesota
P.O. box 48716
Minneapolis, MN 55448-0716
612-233-3399

Articles have been reprinted from News and Views of Our Families 1992-2004