While your genetic makeup affects your overall health, we know that other factors contribute as well such as diet, exercise and vaccinations. Another critical factor is the condition of the places we live and work. This is a major concern, since most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

Creating healthier housing conditions promotes the healthy growth of children and also has the potential to save us all money in terms of health care. Indoor environmental hazards are more harmful to children because their organs and immune systems are not fully developed.  Also, for their size, they eat more food, drink more water and breathe more air than an adult. And young children put their fingers into their mouths, and play/crawl on the floor.

A healthy and safe home can be broken down into these 8 categories:

Accessible

Improve access inside and outside the home to help reduce/prevent trips, falls and isolation. Taking care of access issues allows for less stress and increased physical activity.

Clean

Keep dust, allergens, and food debris to a minimum through regular cleaning of surfaces.  Dust may contain lead, allergens can cause respiratory irritation, and food debris can increase pest activity.

Contaminant-free

Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint.  Keep all painted surfaces intact and keep floors and window areas clean. Do not allow any type of smoking or vaping in the home, as this leaves harmful chemicals behind in the air and on surfaces. Test your home for radon to ensure high levels are not present. If problems appear, quickly address them.

Dry

Prevent water from entering the home through leaks. Check for indoor plumbing leaks.  Increased moisture leads to mold growth and creates an environment for dust mites and cockroaches.

Maintenance

Regularly inspect, clean and repair your home. Take care of minor problems before they become larger and more expensive.

Pest-free

Seal cracks and openings throughout the home; securely store food, and properly dispose of all garbage. Cockroaches are an asthma trigger, and rodents can spread disease. Follow all instructions for pesticide use to prevent illness or hire a professional.

Safe

The main types of home accidents include falls, drowning, fire, poisoning, suffocation, choking and firearm use. Securely seal and store all chemicals out of reach of children to prevent possible poisoning or off-gassing of VOCs. Eliminate all slip, trip and fall hazards in and around stairs, kitchens, play areas and baths. Install smoke and CO detectors on each level.

Thermally Controlled

Homes that do not maintain adequate temperatures may place the residents at increased risk health problems related to extreme heat or cold.

Ventilated

Use bath and kitchen exhaust fans to remove excess moisture and supply fresh air to reduce the concentration of contaminants in the home. Change furnace filters according to the manufacturer’s directions.

Resources

• Consumer Product Safety Commission – senior safety
• Home Security Checklist
• Senior Fall Prevention