How to Care: Home Modification/Home Safety
September 8th, 2006 by RespiteMatch.com
A Caregiver’s Perspective
By Karen Henderson
My father refused to allow me or anyone else to make any modifications in his home after my mother died. Shortly after he finally accepted a full-time housekeeper, he tripped on a loose area rug and broke his hip. This fall necessitated surgery; his first stroke occurred shortly thereafter. He was never the same again.
I am convinced that had my father not fallen, his health would not have deteriorated so quickly. In retrospect I should have insisted more vehemently that we at least make his home fall-proof. I understand and accept the concept of “dignity of risk” — a dignity allowing people to make choices and take risks — but in this case a few simple interventions could possibly have given my father several more quality years of life.
