SOSMagJulySeptember2021

Frailty makes older adults more likely to die in a house fire. In 2017 a study found, “Thirty-two percent of all home fire deaths were among the elderly age 65 and older, although they represented only 13 percent of the U.S. population.” (nist.gov) If you don’t know your local Fire Marshall, introduce yourself. They can help you prepare an escape plan, if there is a fire in your home. Ask if you purchased smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms would your fire department install them for you? In Sandusky, Fire Marshall Steve Rucker, will do FREE fire prevention inspections and point out the dangers. In the summer, more people are likely to use window air conditioners and an extension cord. “Using the wrong extension cord or placing extension cords under rugs create heat. This can create a fire,” said Rucker. Fire Prevention Extends Your Life Span Here Steve is explaining to Julie Baumbick that surge protectors work well for small electronic devices, but this one is not made to handle an air conditioner. Another fire hazard is mixing oxygen with smoking. Rucker explained, “If someone smokes and uses oxygen, the oxygen that is not consumed by the body, can settle in the chair. So if you are a smoker -- even if you take the cannula off before smoke -- the chair can catch on fire from smoking in that chair. The care you receive in later life is going to depend on you. Always remember... The passive patient receives the worst health care. Here are some beginning steps you can take to improve your understanding of your current health condition and the care/treatment being prescribed for you as you age. 1. Know your medications. Be able to pronounce the name of the medications you take and know what problem each drug is supposed to treat. Serving Our Seniors has medication wallet cards to help you. Call us at 419-624-1856 if you would like our assistance filling in the information. 2. Make an appointment with a consultative geriatrician. Ask for thorough assessment and a “plan of care.” If you are a healthy older adult this assessment gives you a baseline. If you have existing health problems the assessment gives you and your doctor certain measures to identify when the declines in your health have occurred. YOUR AGE IS NOT A DIAGNOSIS By Sue Daugherty The nearest consultative geriatrician is at the Cleveland Clinic in Lakewood and the main campus. Serving Our Seniors can assist in navigating the Cleveland Clinic’s call center, using 3-way calling. We can help you make your first appointment. To request such help, call 419-624- 1856 and ask for a Senior Advocate Assistant. 3. Inform your primary care doctor/nurse practitioner you are using the services of a consultative geriatrician. Explain to him/her, as a health care consumer, your expectation is that he/ she will work cooperatively with the geriatrician, based on the assessment and any additional follow up appointments. 4. If your doctor tells you your health problem(s) is due to your age, know that chronological age is not a diagnosis. If this what you are told… You might want to find a doctor who doesn’t see age as an illness. 23