COVID-19 Information - Click Here
Skip to Content
Homewatch CareGivers
LocationsIcon of Map Pin
  • Caregiver Jobs
  • Franchise Opportunities
  • Care Community Blog
  • Contact Us
close
  • Back
  • Home
  • About Home Care
    • Back
    • What is Home Care
    • Types of Care
    • Financing Options
    • Cost
    About Home Care Homewatch CareGivers® believes good care should not interfere with your quality of life. We deliver the compassionate care our clients need to help complete day-to-day activities while still maintaining a healthy dose of independence.
  • Types of Care
    • Back
    • Elder Care
    • 24-Hour Care
    • Child Care
    • Respite Care
    • Senior Transportation Services
    • Companion Care
    • Hospital Discharge
    • Chronic Conditions Care
    • Dementia Care
    • Nursing Services
    • After Surgery Care
    • Personal Care
    Types of Care Our clients have many different reasons for requiring care, so we strive to provide services tailored to their individual needs and circumstances. Homewatch CareGivers delivers various types of in-home care that focus on the whole person—not just their condition.
  • Resources
    • Back
    • ALS
    • Arthritis
    • Dementia
    • Developmental Disabilities
    • Diabetes
    • Heart Disease
    • Parkinson's Disease
    • Senior Safety
    • Stroke
    • For Health Care Providers
    • Ask The Experts
  • Our Story
    • Back
    • Team Bios
    • Facts & History
    • National Quality Forum
    • In the Media
    • Home Care Association of America
    Our Story Homewatch CareGivers was founded on the concept of person-directed care: focusing on the specific needs of the individual and treating each client as a whole person, not just a condition. We strive to provide in-home care services that allow people to continue living safely and happily in their own homes.
  • Why Choose Us?
    • Back
    • Our Caregivers
    • Questions to Ask
    • Homewatch CareGivers University
    • Client Testimonials
    • In-Home Senior Safety
    Why Choose Us? Let our family care for yours. At Homewatch CareGivers, we value not only highly qualified caregiving services but also human interactions and relationships. Our people make the difference.
LocationsIcon of Map Pin

New Year, New Home Safety Device Checkup

New Year, New Home Safety Device Checkup Dec 30, 2013
Blog Categories
  • COVID-19
  • A Business with a cause
  • Addressing Isolation & Loneliness
  • Age at home
  • Age in place
  • Aging at Home
  • Aging Parent
  • aging parents
  • animal therapy
  • Anxiety Support
  • Best Home Care
  • Care for Aging Parents
  • Care for My Aging Parent
  • Caregiver
  • Caregiver Assistance
  • Caregiver Stress
  • caregiving assistance
  • caring star
  • caring star award
  • caring.com
  • caring.com award
  • Coping and Caregiving
  • Coronavirus
  • Cost of Care
  • Dementia
  • dementia care
  • Elderly Parent Care
  • Essential Caregiver Skills
  • Events
  • Falls Prevention
  • Family Caregiver
  • Financial Resources
  • Franchise
  • Franchising
  • handling caregiver stress
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Holiday Celebration
  • Home Care
  • Homewatch CareGivers
  • how to manage caregiver stress
  • In-Home Safety
  • Job Fair
  • Local
  • Long Term Care
  • Long Term Care Options
  • National Public Health Week
  • New Office in New Haven
  • older parents
  • parents aging
  • Parkinson’s Symptoms
  • Passion of Caregiving
  • Pet Therapy
  • Planning Ahead
  • Provider Choice Award
  • Senior Care & Aging
  • Senior Exercise
  • service dog
  • Social Distancing
  • stress
  • therapy dog
  • top rated home care agency
  • wandering

The start of a new year is a perfect time to check out all of your home safety devices and procedures.

“Any special day can be designated to change batteries – a birthday, anniversary, New Year’s Day,” said Judy Comoletti, a Division Manager with the The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Public Education Division.

Family caregivers may want to do a home safety check with their loved one who cannot get up on a ladder to change batteries in smoke detectors or whose abilities may have changed to safely exit the home in an emergency. According to the NFPA, at age 65, people are twice as likely to be killed or injured by fires compared to the population at large.

The NFPA recommends testing smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms at least monthly and states that batteries should be replaced once a year or when the alarm chirps signaling a dead battery.

“It is a good idea to test the smoke alarm at least once a month to be sure it is working,” said Ms. Comoletti. “Working smoke alarms save lives.”

For those with the skill to use fire extinguishers, be sure to check that they are located in the best place in your home. “Fire extinguishers are one element of a fire response plan, but the primary element is safe escape,” said Ms. Comoletti. “Every home should have a home fire escape plan and working smoke alarms.”

For more information about fire extinguisher training and creating a safe escape plan, visit the NFPA website at www.nfpa.org.

Another home health risk is radon, an odorless gas that can potentially cause cancer when someone is exposed over a long period of time. January is Radon Action Month and according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer behind smoking.

Radon is found in every state in the United States in varying levels. An affordable radon test from your local hardware store is the only way to tell if the soil under your house is emitting dangerous amounts of radon. There are companies that can come to your home and conduct a radon test as well. The do-it-yourself test requires putting the device at about chest level in a lived-in area of your basement and leaving it for three months. Once the test is complete, mail in the device to a lab in the pre-addressed envelope that comes with it and expect the results in a couple of weeks.

If the test detects high levels of radon, you can make simple fixes like sealing cracks and holes in your basement or more expensive options that include installing systems to drain off the gas. It’s never too late to run a radon test--you can still reduce your risk for lung cancer even if you’ve lived with the levels for a long time.

To learn more about radon, visit the EPA website at www.epa.gov/radon.

Start this new year off with a safe home for yourself and your loved ones by doing a home safety check today.

Posted By Homewatch CareGivers
  • Share
Blog Home - Previous Post | Next Post
More Posts Like This
  • How The Eden Alternative is Evolving
    Jan 4, 2021

    How The Eden Alternative is Evolving

    Homewatch CareGivers and The Eden Alternative of working together to help educate caregivers. Learn more about their new learning platforms.

    Read More
  • Making Vibrancy Part of Your Life
    Jan 4, 2021

    Making Vibrancy Part of Your Life

    It’s that time to make resolutions, plan for the future, and aim for a better and brighter life through small daily choices and habits. Add vibrancy to your list of resolutions.

    Read More
  • Connecting to Fight Loneliness
    Jan 4, 2021

    Connecting to Fight Loneliness

    Do you know an elder who might be lonely? Learn more about loneliness and how to help end this feeling in others.

    Read More
Homewatch CareGivers Caregiving Services
Find Your Location Homewatch CareGivers is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Help & Info
  • About Homecare
  • Types of Care
  • Financing Options & Programs
  • Our Resources
  • Owner Login
Our Company
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Caregiver Jobs
  • Blog
  • Franchise Opportunities
Other
  • National Homepage Homewatch CareGivers University Login Privacy Policy Site Map
  • Accessibility Notice
  • HIPAA Disclaimer
  • Do Not Sell My Information - California Residents
Follow Us On

Part of the Authority Brands Family

Authority Brands is the leading provider of in-home services, building brands that support the success of franchisees as well as better the lives of the homeowners we serve and the people we employ.
/
Copyright © 2021 | Homewatch CareGivers® is a trademark owned by Homewatch International, Inc.™ and licensed for use to independently-owned franchised businesses that offer caregiver services to the public. All personal services, elderly care, caregiving and home care services offered OR provided under the Homewatch CareGivers™ mark are offered and provided only by independently-owned franchises and, where required, licensed OR registered businesses and care agencies. Scorpion Franchise Internet Marketing
x

⚠

Your browser is out of date. To get the full experience of this website, please update to most recent version.

Update My Browser