HELPFUL PUBLICATIONS

Simple modifications can help overcome some of the difficulties seniors face in their home. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers excellent resources on home modifications to enable seniors to remain independent. To order these CMHC publications free of charge call 1 800 668-2642, or visit its Web site.  

Maintaining Seniors' Independence: A Guide to Home Adaptations
Can help occupational therapists and other health professionals conduct a comprehensive assessment of a senior's home, identify the senior's needs and develop a plan to address them. (Order # 61042).

Maintaining Seniors' Independence Through Home Adaptations:
A Self-Assessment Guide
Identifies difficulties seniors can experience in their homes, describes adaptations to overcome them and provides checklists to address individual needs. For seniors, their families and caregivers. (Order # 61087)

Preventing Falls on Stairs – About Your House series
Describes the common causes of falls and provides strategies to prevent them.
(Order # 63637)

How Effective Are Bathtub Grab Bars for Stopping a Fall When You Lose Your Balance?
This study examines how individuals who lose their balance use four different bathtub grab bar configurations, and it investigates the effectiveness of these grab bar configurations in preventing falls. (Order # 65670)

Public Health Agency of Canada

One third of Canadian seniors experience a fall each year, and half of those more than once.  Forty percent of those falls result in hip fractures, often causing disability, loss of independence or death.  These publications from the Public Health Agency of Canada explain how falls can be prevented. To obtain, you may e-mail PHAC or call them at (613) 952-7606, or visit the PHAC Web site and click on injury prevention in the Publications section.

You CAN prevent falls. This illustrated information sheet shows how simple adjustments to your home and lifestyle can keep you safe and on your feet (4 pages).

The Safe Living Guide - A Guide to Home Safety for Seniors  Practical tips with recommendations for your home and lifestyle, to help you live comfortably and safely in your own home for many years to come (37 pages).

Bruno and Alice - A Love Story in Twelve parts about Seniors and Safety. Two active seniors, through lack of prevention, end up in awkward situations and almost miss their rendez-vous with love (23 pages).

CHECKLISTS

Download and make copies as needed.

Are you in Jeopardy?
This is a comprehensive checklist to help people identify ways to prevent falls and injuries, maintain independence, and make their home a safer place. You will receive a master copy (11" x 17"). Information on a lively 30-minute video that goes with the checklist is available from the Trauma Prevention Council.

Safety in Your Home
This checklist focuses specifically on preventing falls in the home. Also useful tips on exercise, medication and assistive devices are also available at the following site.  (Ottawa Public Health)