Post Retirement Issues – Tackling the Potential Problem of Home Emergencies Effectively

Aging is an inevitable part of human life but is accompanied by numerous changes in one’s routines particularly after retirement due to lifestyle modifications. This sudden turn in day- to- day life causes stress, anxiety and sense of deprivation. Seniors also face many home emergencies after retirement leading to dependencies on their family members and care takers.

In many developing countries like India, the percentage of ageing population is likely to exceed the demographic distribution of the youngsters and employed workforce shortly. Hence it is important to address and improve attitudes towards aged persons and ensure government participation in elderly care. Else, there is a prospect of facing a socio-economic crisis globally thanks to this   generation imbalance.

Common Retirement Emergencies for Seniors

Health Issues: Retired adults alone at home are likely to face health issues both life threatening and chronic, physical disabilities, malnutrition concerns and trips/falls   due to aging factor.

Solution

• Have regular and preventive health check-ups to ensure that all vital health parameters are normal and appropriate treatment is dispensed.
• Using walking aids for better mobility and technology/ mobile apps for tracking and sending reminders on medications, diets, therapy schedules and hospital appointments
• Employing trained care- givers for elders through known agencies, utilizing day-care, assisted living or geriatric home facilities
• Making the home safe thorough adequate lighting, security mechanisms, electric shock proof appliances, availability of essential commodities and emergency medication and preventing home-lockouts through spare key availability 
• Maintaining regular communication
• Having emergency contact numbers of family, neighbours, physicians, ambulatory services, chemists offering home delivery facilities and the like
• Deploying Personal Emergency Response Systems, GPS and Automatic Fall Detection Systems to handle crisis 

Power Shutdowns: This is a common but significant challenge faced which is particularly hard for the aged population and young children especially if it occurs frequently and /or for long durations. It harms physical safety and may result in burnouts.

Solution

• Keeping family members and friends informed about your well-being to prevent panic
• Having electricity back- ups like generator or Uninterrupted Power Systems(UPS)
• Having emergency essentials handy including medications, first aid kits, non-electric flashlights, torches, candles, clothing, non-perishable foods and drinking water, battery /solar operated items like fans/cookers, power banks for charging cell phones and equipment for entertainment including battery operated radios and board games
• Additionally failure of Air Conditioners and Heating Systems may be life-threatening. Hence ensuring their proper maintenance and having contacts of professional intervention for repairs in case of faults or damages is crucial.

Gas Leakages - This is yet another potential danger that can cause serious burns, wounds or even fatal incidents due to fires, explosions and gas poisoning.

Solution

• On suspecting a gas leakage, whether big or small, shutting off your gas supply is very important.
• Ensuring proper ventilation by opening up doors and windows 
• Switching off all electrical appliances. 
• Moving away from the leakage site after the above measures to avoid inhalation of toxic substances and suffocation
• Intimating authorised and licensed personnel   for   examining your home, detecting and eliminating/rectifying any gas leakages.

Sanitary Problems – Pipe leakages, clogging in drains or toilets and damaged heating devices like boilers and geysers can cause huge pitfalls to healthy living. Here the danger is posed by dangerous pathogens which can cause various ailments and also due to physical injuries got by slipping or falling on wet floors.

Solution

• Having a slight know –how for independently handling minor but quick-fix plumbing repairs
• Keeping in handy a basic plumbing kit to handle these issues or at least for temporarily blocking the leakages.
• Having contact details of emergency plumbing services available 24/7 on call at your door-step

Dampness, Mold and Roof Damages - It is common that due to extreme cold weather, rain or floods, or blocked gutters moisture is seen on some parts of the home including leakages in roofs which subsequently creates growth of mold (fungus) and mildew. This shouldn’t be ignored as it causes health issues including severe cough bouts, asthma, allergies and lung infections.

Solution

• If possible, the mold may be cleaned with disinfectants like bleaching powder using hard brushes after wearing gloves. 
• However if problems persists or reoccur, it is advisable to seek professional help from reputed companies offering this cleaning service.
• For roof leakages it is better to call a contractor for repair tasks. It is also suggested to have Annual Maintenance Contracts for roof inspections to rectify minor repairs and give advance alerts in case new replacements are needed.

Conclusion

Senior citizens are likely to hit several roadblocks on the intended perception of smooth retired life. However, devising appropriate strategies for emergency care of seniors can give them much needed peace of mind and live life with dignity.