FREDERICTON (CNB) – New Brunswickers are being encouraged to help seniors stay safe and healthy this Christmas.
"Falls are a serious health risk for seniors," said Social Development Minister Sue Stultz, who is also minister responsible for seniors, housing and community non-profit organizations. "They contribute to injury and a decline in quality of life for the elderly. Our government wants to help New Brunswickers care for their families. This holiday season, I encourage them to consider Christmas gifts that will help prevent falls and injuries for their seniors."
A senior's Christmas wish list may include: battery-operated emergency flashlights; plug-in night lights for bathrooms and hallways; fluorescent tape to mark the edges of steps; rubber-backed non-slip mats; bathroom grab bars and bath chairs; cordless phones; ice-melting compounds for walks and steps; sensor lights for outside entry areas; laundry cart with wheels; garage door opener; gift certificates for snow removal, home repair or yard work; taxi vouchers for bad weather days; a personal emergency response system; or a certificate for an exercise program suited to the senior's needs.
According to a Seniors Falls in Canada report from the Public Health Agency of Canada, a 20 per cent reduction in falls could result in a national savings of $138 million annually. An estimated 40 per cent of nursing home admissions occur as the result of a fall. About 35 out of a thousand New Brunswickers are a risk of falls each year.
"We can help the seniors in our lives stay safe and healthy by providing them with gifts and items to prevent them from suffering a fall, often in their own home," Stultz said. "Living comfortably at home is where our seniors prefer to be for as long as possible."
News Release
Senior and Healthy Aging Secretariat
Social Development
Social Development