Case study ( individual )

Elderly and Their Independences

A program launched recently by De Pere Fire Rescue and The De Pere Health Department, in US. 

The program's goal is to keep the elderly who lives alone safe as long as possible. 

The firefighter from their team have visited the senior's home and talk to them in order to teach and giving advice on how to avoid accidents in such as falling. The team have visited around 20 individually in the senior's home and conducted one group session to about 30 people in a senior housing complex. They are still hoping to do more session. 

According to what they have learnt from this program, the elderly who 65 and above who were involved in the house fire are more likely to die more than the younger people and those who are 75 and above are more likely to die four times than the younger one which worst. They are also learnt that falling is the most kind of accident that happens to the elderly who age over 65 and this leads to the serious injury such as hip fractures. The patient from this accident likely to die within a year.

 

Their solution to these problem is to give a session about safety and they have names the program

 "Remember  When". This program offers the eight tips for fire safety and avoid falling and it seems likely to work because the number of emergency needs from the elderly are reducing.  These tips are actually what they have learnt in the school curriculums which is very simple such as " Stop, drop roll" but they are forgetting and can not perform well as they grow older. 

In order to help with the specific problem of different seniors, tailer-made strategies keyed to their own abilities and disabilities  and to the layout of their homes. The installations of the suitable items in the elderly's place is very important because it might safe their lives later (e.g. smoke alarm).

The service is this program is not only giving the session but they also provide, the checking of fire hazards ( like overloaded circuit ), falling hazards,  poor lighting , loose carpet and uneven walk surface. More over, they also help the senior with their prescription medicine schedule with a medical needs survey. 

The service is free to everyone over 65 who live in De Pere. they are also hope that this will reach to their daughter and sons 

Thank you to this website:

http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/life/2016/03/09/two-team-up-elderly-safety-independence/81524108/