Fire Safety For Seniors

Why Seniors Are At Risk And What To Do About It
Eighty-two percent of all fire deaths occur in the home.  People over the age of 65 are one of the groups at highest risk of dying in a fire.  People age 65-75 are twice as likely as the general population, 75-85 are three times as likely, and 85+ are four and one-half times as likely to be killed in a house fire.
 
Why is this?  Decreased mobility, health, sight, and hearing may limit a senior citizen's ability to take quick action necessary to escape during a fire emergency.  Depending on physical limitations, many of the actions an individual can take to protect themselves from the dangers of fire may require help from a caregiver, neighbor, or outside source.

Fire Life-Saving Tips
-Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home
-Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change frequently
-Consider installing a 10-year lithium battery smoke alarm
-Develop and practice a home fire escape plan
-Keep a fire extinguisher handy

Go Room To Room: Kitchen
-The kitchen is a high danger zone for fire, so be cautious when cooking.
-Do not leave food unattended when cooking.
-Don't weat loose clothing while cooking.
-Never use the range or oven to heat the home.
-Double-check the kitchen to be sure everything is turned off before going to bed.
-Double-check the kitchen to be sure everything is turned off before leaving home.
-Don't overload electrical outlets.
-Always keep dish towels away from all appliances.

Go Room To Room: Bedroom

Bedrooms are a common area of fire origin.  Many bedroom fires are caused by misuse or poor maintenance of electrical devices, such as overloading extension cords, using damaged electric blankets, or operating portable space heaters too close to combustibles.  Many other bedroom fires are caused by children who play with matches and lighters, careless smoking among adults, and arson.  Before you tuck yourself into bed for the night, make sure you take the time to prevent possible fires in the bedroom.

Free No-Obligation In-Home Assessment From Visiting Angels®

We can provide you with peace of mind and perform a free in-home safety assessment at your convenience.  The safety and security of seniors is our first concern at Visiting Angels, so contact us today.  We can be reached at 813-909-2550 or 727-841-8440.  If you prefer, you can send us an email at wecare@visitingangelstampabay.com  and one of our friendly and knowledgeable Angels would quickly get back in touch with you.

When Is Home Care Needed?

The question is often asked of us, "When is home care needed for a loved one?"  The following are warning signs which might indicate when homecare is needed for someone you love:

He or she poses a threat to their own well-being
Is recently discharged from the hospital
Has physical limitations
Is undergoing rehabilitation
Experiences lapses in memory
Cannot prepare their own meals
Cannot maintain their lifestyle independently
Cannot make it through the night unattended
Over burdens your personal schedule
Can no longer be satisfied through your care giving efforts

Here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, let us demonstrate that VISITING ANGELS® is "America's Choice In Home Care!"  If you would like to set up a free no-obligation assessment for your loved one, or just want to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable Angels, please give us a call at 813-909-2550, or, 727-841-8440.  If you prefer, you can send us an email at wecare@visitingangelstampabay.com and we'll get right back to you.

Not All Home Care Service Providers Are The Same -- Read Why We're Different

There's No Place Like Home!
Nursing homes or retirement centers seem like the only options for care.  VISITING ANGELS® non-medical home care services allow people to maintain the independence of their daily routines and familiar surroundings.  We can help your loved ones avoid the emotional trauma  of leaving their cherished home.  We believe that you and your family should have a choice about where and how to live, as well as who will provide your care.

You Choose Your Caregiver
We know it isn't easy to make the decision to invite a caregiver into your home to provide home care.  That's why our personalized screening system is designed to maximize your peace of mind.  You'll have the opportunity to interview any caregiver that we refer to you.  We let you choose the caregiver you trust.

You Are In Charge
You are in charge of everything.  Because we are a non-medical agency, we will not dictate to you what your schedule is to be.  You are the boss.  Your schedule is our schedule!  It is our job to adjust to your schedule and to keep you comfortable in your home.

You Can Afford The Best
Our philosophy of home care is to never compromise on providing high quality services to your family.  Our system allows you to afford a top quality caregiver.  We keep our overhead low to avoid passing high costs to you.  In addition, we believe that our caregivers should be paid and treated with respect.  For this reason, we can attract and maintain the best quality caregivers available.

No Minimum Number Of Hours
Some home care service providers require that you agree to a certain number of hours per visit or they will not provide assistance.  We don't think that's right. We understand that you may have needs from time to time that don't require large blocks of hours.  That's why we don't require that you give us a certain number of hours per visit.  Instead, we give you options!

We're Proactive
You won't get "lost in the shuffle" with us.  Some agencies simply react to calls from clients rather than anticipating your needs in advance.  We begin by reviewing your needs through discussions with family members and when necessary, with healthcare providers.  Our service coordinator carefully selects the caregiver with the necessary experience and personality that is best suited to the needs of each client.  Next, we arrange for the caregiver to visit your home so that you can participate in the selection process.  After services begin, we implement our system of ongoing personalized contacts with your family to insure that the care recipient is receiving the best possible care.

15 Minute Response Time
If you call a home care agency in the evening or on weekends, nothing is more frustrating than to receive an answering message and wait long periods of time for a return call.  If you receive a voice message when you call us, we'll call back within fifteen minutes.  We're committed to serving your needs in the way that's most convenient to you!

We're America's Choice
When you need care for a loved one, you'll want the agency you choose to be deep in home care experience.  Visiting Angels franchised home care agencies serve thousands of client families from hundreds of Visiting Angels office locations in more than 40 states across the USA.  Here in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, we are proud to be among them. 

Contact Us Today
Don't hesitate to contact us to receive further information or arrange for a free no-obligation assessment.  Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is available to walk you through any questions or concerns you might have. Call us at either 813-909-2550 or 727-841-8440, or, if you prefer, send an email to wecare@visitingangelstampabay.com and we'll get in contact with you.