SAFETY INFORMATION - Archived

Below, you will find information on the following topics:

• Senior Safety Tips, 4/21/02

• Driving for seniors, 5/26/02

• Car seat safety for grandparents, 5/19/02

• First Call for Help - Senior information line, 3/31/02

• How to protect a loved one in a nursing home, 6/16/02

• Keeping your home safe during the winter, 1/12/03

• Adult Protective Services, 5/11/03

FIRST CALL FOR HELP

Show 163

Air date: 3/31/02

Maybe you can’t mow the lawn or plow the snow, or you can’t afford the heating bill, or your mom can’t cook meals anymore. Trying to figure out where to call for support services you need can be a frustrating all day job, but there’s hope.  Stephen Wertheim will tell us how First Call for Help can help you find the aid you need.

Question: What exactly IS First Call for Help?
 

Answer: First Call for Help is a 24-hour, 7 days a week information and referral agency. To contact First Call for Help, call 216-436-2000.
They serve as a link to over 12,000 agencies offering 10,000 services.  First Call for Help also has a Senior Information Line, which you reach by calling the same number. The Information Line helps link seniors to services they may need.

Question: Can you give us some examples of services to which you can refer seniors?
 

Answer: The whole continuum of social services seniors may need, including Meals on Wheels, Alzheimer’s support, where to go for nursing, etc.  Also, the needs and responsibilities with which seniors are faced are changing. For example, we now refer to agencies that help grandparents who are raising grandchildren.

Question: Now, you have started a new program that goes into people’s homes? Can you tell us about it?

Answer: Yes, we have begun a Navigator Program, where outreach workers with laptop computers go into people’s homes with the referral information.  Also, this summer we will be part of the new 211 information phone line. Just like 411 is for phone information, 211 will be a line for Comprehensive Information Referral

Question: How else can people get referral information?
 

Answer: We have put together a Directory of senior resources that is available for free if you call First Call for Help during regular business hours.
 

---Stephen Wertheim
Director, First Call for Help

For more information on this topic, call

First Call For Help

216-436-2000

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SENIOR SAFETY TIPS

Show 166

Air date: 4/21/02

Are you concerned about someone breaking into your home or attacking you in the parking lot? Unfortunately, older people become frequent targets. So who do we call for help? The police, of course. Today, Commander Marvin Cross of the Bureau of Community Policing and Patrol Officer William Gant, the coordinator of the Senior Power Program, will give us some important senior safety tips.

Question: Are seniors more vulnerable to crime? Why or why not?
 

Answer: Seniors ARE the most vulnerable to crime in society.  Because seniors are often lonely, trusting and trying to be polite, so criminals and scam artists take advantage of them.

Question: What’s the most important thing seniors can do to protect themselves?
 

Answer: Be aware of their surroundings. If something doesn’t feel right, act upon it. Trust your instincts.

Question: What are some concrete tips that seniors can do to keep safe?

Answer: First, in the home:

• Your house should be well-lit and well-maintained. There is a perception that a house that is well taken care of will be more difficult to get into.

• Your doors should be deadlocked and double-locked at all times. 

• Do not open your door to someone you do not know.

While shopping:

• Don’t weigh yourself down with bags. You are too vulnerable if your arms are occupied.

• Don’t show large amounts of cash by pulling a wad out of your wallet/purse. Instead, use credit or debit cards. If these are stolen, you can call in and cancel.

• Put items into the trunk of your car rather than on the car seat. Lock your car doors.

• Travel in well-lit areas and routes.

Scams:

• Many scams have people coming to your home in the guise of utility workers. Before you let them into your home, you should make sure they are from a reputable company. Ask them for an identification number.

• Keep a list of utility company numbers nearby in your house to call and ask for verification. Do not ask the person at the door for the phone number. If they are a scammer, chances are they have a phony number with someone on the other end ready.

• Be wary of healthcare workers who come to your home. Most are honest, but every once in awhile someone gets into the business to scam.

• Phone calls: If someone calls and says that you have won a prize, be wary. DO NOT give personal information (i.e. address, Social Security number, or credit card number) over the phone if YOU did not initiate the phone call.

• Check companies out with the Better Business Bureau. If something sounds too good to be true, it most likely is.

• Don’t put your phone number on an answering machine. People can find out your address from your phone number.

• Another popular scam is when someone comes to your door saying they are the police and need your help investigating a banker at your bank. They then proceed to ask you to put up a large sum of money as bait. The real police will NEVER ask you to front money for an investigation.

• Be careful if someone tells you not to tell anyone. If that’s the case, ACT FAST!!!!!!!

Question: I understand there is a program to help seniors learn about safety?

Answer: Yes, the Cleveland Division of Police has teamed up with the Divisions of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, along with the Department of Aging, to present four-week safety programs that are free to the community.

For more information on this topic, call

Bureau of Community Policing

216-623-5080

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CAR SEAT SAFETY FOR GRANDPARENTS

Show 168

Air date: 5/19/02

You wouldn’t intentionally risk harm to your grandkids, right? But you do endanger them every time you take them for a ride in your car, unless you properly use a car or booster seat. Certified child safety seat technicians Phil Corpora and Michael Iacobucci, of the Beachwood fire department, will give us tips to make sure that your grandchildren will be buckled up correctly when you’re behind the wheel.

Question: To begin with, to what age should children be in car seats?
 

Answer: According to the law, all children must be in car seats until they are for years of age and weigh at least 40 pounds.
However, the recommended age and height for safety is 8 years and 4 feet 9 inches.
As the child gets older, they may move into a booster seat, because car safety belts do not fit children properly until they are 4’9”.

Question: Say you’re a grandparent. If you have an old car seat from one of your children, is it okay to use for your grandchildren?
 

Answer: Car seats should be thrown out after 6 to 10 years. The plastic deteriorates when not stored properly, and they are unsafe.
Also, do not buy a used car seat from a garage sale or thrift shop. You won’t know the age and often won’t receive the installation instructions.
And if the car seat was in a car where an accident occurred, no matter how minor the accident was, you should throw the seat away.
 

Question: Once you know those basics—how do you install a car seat?
 

Answer: Most importantly—read the manual for both the car seat AND the car. Car seat belts have different ways of locking into place and you need to know this information for proper installation.
NEVER put a car seat in the front seat of the car. In fact, children should not sit in the front – period – until they are 14 years old.

Question: What are some of the common mistakes you see people make when installing a car seat?

Answer: Oftentimes, the seat is too loose. You should not be able to move the seat more than an inch from side to side where the belt passes it.
Another common mistake is when a child weighs too much for a particular seat, which can cause the straps to fail. Grandparents should ask how much their grandchild weighs.
Do not put blankets behind the child in a seat or have a child wear a heavy snowsuit. Keep the child warm by placing blankets on top of the car seat.
Keep the retainer clip (belt over the child’s chest to keep them in place) at armpit level so that the child cannot slip out of the seat.
If you have any questions or concerns, come to one of the many fitting stations in the area to have professionals check the safety of your car seat.

Read the directions, make sure the seat is correct for your grandchild’s age and weight, and don’t be embarrassed to get help. A mistake could be deadly. To find the nearest fitting station near you, call the number below.

---Phil Corpora, Michael Iacobucci
Firefighter/Paramedic

For more information on this topic, call

Greater Cleveland Safe Kids Coalition

216-844-2277

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DRIVING FOR SENIORS

Show 169

Air date: 5/2602

You don’t want to lose your driver’s license.  Yet if you don’t understand all the traffic laws, or maybe you don’t realize how your medications are interfering with your driving, you may wind up getting tickets, causing accidents, having your insurance premiums raised, and eventually losing your driving privileges.  Here, AARP’s Louise Feld, explains how to help you keep your license, and put us on the road to safe driving,

Question: Why should seniors need to come to a class about driving? They’ve been driving for a long time—shouldn’t THEY be the experts?
 

Answer: Yes, but being long-time drivers can be a double-edged sword. You have more experience, but also become more complacent. You tend to drive on autopilot. We discuss some driving situations (such as judging left-hand turns), which make us aware that we must keep alert.
Also, we review Ohio traffic laws to keep older drivers up to date (for example, when must you stop for a school bus?)
In addition, there are some physical limitations on older drivers.

Question: What sorts of limitations are older drivers warned about?
 

Answer: Mainly slower reaction times, vision problems and hearing loss.
When attending the course, students are given a workbook that helps them evaluate their physical condition. They are then urged to see a doctor for their physical conditions.
Another age related issue is alcohol, medication and driving. As you get older, you can get drunk quicker and longer on less drinks, especially if you are taking medications.

Question: When should someone stop driving?
 

Answer: That’s a difficult question to answer, because it varies from person to person. Age is usually not the determining factor. We’ve had people in their nineties come to the classes and do quite well. If someone has had a number of near misses while driving or does poorly in the physical self-evaluation, it may be time for them to stop. It depends largely on their driving record.
Most people try to drive as long as possible to avoid being a freeloader and to keep their independence. We can help them find alternative methods of travel (senior centers that offer vans, RTA, etc.), so they can keep their independence.
 

Question: Tell us about the driving classes offered by AARP.

Answer: For $10, you can take the senior driving class. You receive the booklet I mentioned earlier. There are no tests or anything like that—the class is to give you information.
We have 40 instructors throughout 10 counties in Northeast Ohio.
Some states mandate that taking this class leads to a discount in auto insurance. Ohio does NOT, but some insurance companies still may give such a discount.

You can teach an old driver new tricks of the road.  Be responsible, and protect your driving privileges, by brushing up on the laws and medical issues that impact motorists. Don’t get caught unsafe behind the wheel. Be a responsible driver and brush up on those important skills. To find the nearest driving class near you, call the AARP.

---Louise Feld

For more information on this topic, call

AARP Program Number

1-888-227-7669

www.aarp.com

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HOW TO PROTECT A LOVED ONE IN A NURSING HOME

Show 171

Air date: 6/16/02

Families often worry about how their parent or spouse is being treated in a nursing home. But you can do more than worry–you can help. Here, Cheryl Stewart, Corporate Director of Risk Management at Harborside Healthcare will help us help our loved ones. And I should mention, Cheryl has joined two tough professions, as both a nurse and a lawyer. I’m very impressed.

Question: Let's start at the beginning - picking a nursing home.  How can we help our family member?

Answer:

• Look for a facility that is near you and has regular visiting hours. Regular visits develop good relations with staff.

• Take time for a tour.  How does your tour guide and administrators interact with the residents? They should know residents’ names.

• Check the dining facility (important part of life). Quality of linens, china, and supervision; sample food.

• Ask activities director about activities and review the monthly calendar.

• Cleanliness - smell test

• Walk the halls and observe the walls (art, activities schedule)

• Do staff talk to and know the names of patients?

• Are there reports of complaints?

• look for family satisfaction surveys and government surveys

Question: Now let's switch.  You have a loved one in a nursing home and you don't like something about the treatment or care.  What should we do?

Answer: The general process is:

• document your complaint in writing

• your complaint is reviewed by administrator/social worker

• hopefully, your problem is handled

• the administrator reports to family

• if the family is not satisfied, go to the regional or corporate director

• if it is still not handled, then go to the ombudsman

Question: Do patients have legal rights?

Answer: Yes. 

• should be free of abuse/neglect

• the right to choose a physician

• the right to self-medicate

• access to a telephone

• and to manage finances

I am very impressed that Harborside has someone like Cheryl Stewart on staff. But don’t rely on the Cheryl Stewarts of the world–there aren’t many of them. Be your loved ones’ eyes and ears. Participate in the life of the nursing home as much as possible. And don’t be afraid to speak up.

---Cheryl Stewart, RN, Attorney

For more information on this topic, call

Harborside Healthcare

216-831-1125

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KEEPING YOUR HOME SAFE DURING THE WINTER

Air date: 1/12/03

Winter poses some special safety concerns, both outside and inside your home. Here with their winter weather warnings and wisdom are Katy Carkhuff, in-home services manager, and Martha Miller, Director of Social Services, for the Lake County Council on Aging. Hello, ladies.

Question: You spend a lot of time at home during the winter months—but how can you be sure that this time is being spent safely? Katy, what are some steps our viewers can take to ensure that their home is safe and snug for the long winter ahead?
 

Answer: First, it’s a good idea to inspect your furnaces, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves annually, making sure they are vented properly. Make sure your inspector comes with references from friends or family.
Clean your chimney every year if you have a fireplace. Oily substances can build up on the chimney and catch on fire. In fact, my father’s chimney caught on fire—he hadn’t had it cleaned in three years. So it’s important to do.
Be wary of space heaters. Many people have burned themselves and started fires using them. Leave the fuel outside the home.
Don’t heat your house with your stove—it can cause a fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.
Make sure you have a smoke detector on every level of your home, even the basement. A carbon monoxide detector is smart in the basement (by the furnace) and near the kitchen stove.
 

Question:   What about outside your house? Is there any way to combat slipping on the ice?
 

Answer: Some people paint their steps with a mixture of paint and sand. The grain makes the steps have more traction.
There are also strips you can put on the steps that make them less slippery.

Question:   Martha, winter can unfortunately bring its fair share of bad weather. How can we prepare for a big storm?
 

Answer: Be sure to keep basic supplies in your home—enough for at least three days. Supplies include drinking water, shelf food, a non-electric can opener, flashlight and batteries, and medication. If you have pets, be sure to have enough water and food for them as well.
There’s always the chance that you may be evacuated during a storm as well. We recommend that you keep a duffle bag on the inside of your door, so you can grab it if you must leave in a hurry. Be sure to include emergency phone numbers, 3 days worth of medication, a pair of glasses if needed, keys to your home, etc.
 

Question: There’s a lot of stuff to think about when it comes to keeping your home safe. Is help available?

Answer: For residents of Lake County over age 60, the Lake County Council on Aging has a Home Maintenance, Modification and Repair Program. We provide a case manager who can look through your home and provide minor safety suggestions (securing throw rugs, putting grab bars in the bathroom, etc) or repairs.
And the Red Cross is available with great information in all counties.

Though the weather outside might be frightful, you can take safety precautions to keep your winter season delightful. My thanks to Katy Carkhuff and Martha Miller for their heartwarming advice.

For more information on this topic, call

Lake County Council on Aging

1-800-755-1402
www.lccoa.org

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ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES

Air date: 5/11/03

Our frail elderly are particularly vulnerable to abuse, neglect and exploitation. The county is charged by law, called Adult Protective Services, to support and protect our senior citizens. But this important program itself is now under attack by the state budget cutters. Here to explain is Bernadine Brooks, Manager of Community Programs for the Cuyahoga County Department of Senior and Adult Services.

Question: Bernardine, you join us today to talk about Adult Protective Services and the danger this program faces in the state of Ohio. Can you first give us an idea of what Adult Protective Services does?
 

Answer: Adult Protective Services provides investigation and protection for adults aged 60 and over who may suffer from abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and exploitation.
 

Question: APS is threatened in Ohio due to the debate over the new budget. Can you explain?

Answer: In the governor’s originally proposed budget, he proposed to eliminate all state funding for Adult Protective Services and the mandate that APS report abuse.
The Ohio House of Representatives argued against this cut and restored some money and the mandate to report abuse. However, we are still unsure of the amount of money restored—APS is no longer a separate line item on the budget, so it is unclear.
Also, word from Columbus seems to indicate that the Ohio Senate might disregard the House’s budget and start debating from the governor’s original budget—again, the one that eliminated all state funding for APS and the mandate.
 

Question: What would happen if state funding for Adult Protective Services were eliminated?
 

Answer: It would be up to the individual county to decide whether or not to provide Adult Protective Services.
In Cuyahoga County, we receive a lot of support from the County Commissioners. In fact, only 16% of our budget comes from the state. However, other counties, especially in rural areas, do not have this kind of support. In fact, the budget for Adult Protective Services in some rural counties comes 100% from the state.
 

Question: Someone calls you and says his elderly neighbor is being abused.  What do you do?

Answer: Send out investigation. If the person is competent, we must leave. Okay to make bad decisions. But if incompetent, then we provide support: homemaker, counseling, adult day care, medical care.
 

Question: What is there's a crime occurring?

Answer: Report to police. Can go to court, have person removed to safety.

Question:   Can you give us an example of the kind of cases that might not be investigated if counties decide not to offer Adult Protective Services?
 

Answer: Sure. Cases range from an older woman who could not care for herself sufficiently and was lying in her own urine and feces to an elderly woman who was convinced to withdraw $20,000 from her bank account and give it to someone in her neighborhood. We also saw a case of a married couple that both suffered from dementia and were being taken advantage of financially by their family.
We investigate a range of problems—in 2002, Cuyahoga County’s APS investigated over 1900 cases.
 

Question: What do you say to those who argue we must all take a haircut in these tough economic times?

Answer: The Government must protect those who cannot protect themselves. These are basics, not extras.
 

Question: What can our viewers do if they’d like to help keep state funding for Adult Protective Services?

Answer: Call your state senators.  The budget is due June 30th.

Our parents, our grandparents, the most vulnerable members of our community. They must be protected from abuse, neglect and exploitation. We must be able to find the funds. Take one moment and call your State Legislators, tell then to maintain the Adult Protective Services Program.

For more information on this topic, call

Ohio State Legislators

1-800-282-0253

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