Safety

The most important step you can take in preventing hearing loss and other complications from diabetes is to control your blood sugars. Diet, exercise and appropriate medications all play a role in keeping your blood glucose within a healthy range. ...

Really? Cell phones can be dangerous? Until I dropped a pitchfork and punctured my foot while talking on my cell phone in a chicken coop, I wouldn't have believed it. But it's that sort of multitasking that can result in a trip to the med center. Read more about good cell phone habits. ...

You may need to up your grandparenting game now that winter weather has arrived. Blankets, snacks and other supplies will come in handy in a roadside emergency. A Cleveland Clinic doctor tells us what to include in a winter driving car kit. ...

Throughout September, the Ohio Department of Aging partnered with individuals, groups, and organizations around the state to raise awareness of the epidemic of older adult falls and the many things older adults can do to reduce their risk. The fifth-annual “10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls” campaign boasted 114 local walking events or groups. In all, 13,242 individuals walked 50,693 miles, or 126.7 million steps, in the name of older adult falls prevention.

One in three older adults will fall this year. An older Ohioan is injured in a fall every five minutes on average, and two older Ohioans are hospitalized each hour. Three older Ohioans die each day because of a fall-related injury. While older adults make up nearly 17 percent of our population, they account for more than 87 percent of fatal falls.

“Older adult falls are a community issue, which is why ’10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls’ engages partners at all points in our communities,” says Ursel J. McElroy, director of the department. “We thank all our partners for making fall prevention a priority. We far exceeded our goal and posted a record number of steps.”

Regular physical activity, such as walking, is one of the most basic things older adults can do to reduce their risk. “10 Million Steps to Prevent Falls” encourages older adults to remain active as the weather begins to turn colder. The agency’s goal is to have at least 4,000 Ohioans of all ages walk at least one mile to raise awareness.

Community partners volunteered to create local walking groups or events. The events were spread around the state and throughout the month, with the majority taking place on National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, Sept. 23. Partners included state agencies, area agencies on aging, senior centers, local health districts, local school districts, health care providers, long-term care providers, Alzheimer’s Association Chapters, businesses, and more.

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Criminals will often watch different individuals to determine who is not paying attention and who is most likely to be surprised by their actions.  Criminals are looking to take the victim by surprise because if the victim is surprised, the criminal is much more likely to be successful. ...

Trusting others also makes the elderly a target for scammers. The “grandparents” scam is one that seems to always be around. The “grandparents” scam is when an older person receives a call, usually in the middle of the night, from someone claiming to be their grandchild. The caller claims they’re in trouble and need money immediately and to not tell mom and dad. They play on your emotions. The caller will usually ask the victim to buy gift cards and scratch off the back of the card to reveal the ID number, and then have them read the number over the phone. This is a scam that has been going on for years. ...

It's coming. But are you ready to pay for it? We're talking about winter heating bills which can be a burden to folks on fixed incomes. In Ohio, several agencies and government organizations have partnered together to provide heating assistance for older adults. They include the Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, Ohio Department of Development, agency of aging centers and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. They provide information and financial assistance and conservation programs. Money and grants can help pay cooling or heating bills. ...

How can you tell if a loved one or senior neighbor is the victim of elder abuse? There are plenty of signs but only if you know what to look for. Keep alert, try being a little bit nosy and then take action to help. Your watchfulness can make a big difference in someone's life. ...