Mary Alexander: Hi! I'm Mary Alexander from Home Instead Senior Care, and today I'm going to talk to you about home safety for seniors and some simple things you can do to help them remain in the comfort of their own home.

The miracles of modern medicine are enabling all of us to live longer and more independently. It's a wonderful gift for many seniors to be able to stay in the home where they raise their families or to be in a new place that has become their retirement home. In fact, nearly 90% of senior say they want to stay home. Doing so gives them a wonderful sense of continued independence and frees them from feeling like they might be a burden on family and loved ones.

But despite their sense of freedom having mom or dad live alone can be a source of worry for their adult children. The what/if scenarios can often overwhelm the mind. What if she falls down? What if the smoke detector goes off and they don't hear it? What if he forgets something on the stove? What if she doesn't tell me it's getting harder to get around? If you feel like this you are not alone.

In 2007 AARP surveyed boomer women and found that two-thirds are all concerned about their parent's ability to live independently. Certainly, there are legitimate concerns and many factors to consider. We've all heard the old adage that accidents happen closest to home. There is certainly a ring of truth to that.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention falls and fires pose the greatest risk of danger for seniors. Here are the facts, adults age of 65 and older are among those at highest risk for residential fire deaths and injuries. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths for Americans 65 and older. Each year about one-third of adults, 65 and older, fall at least once.

The rate of fall related deaths among older adults rose significantly over the past decade. 20% to 30% of people who fall suffer moderate to sever injuries such as bruises, hip fractures, and head traumas. These injuries can make it hard to get around and limit independent living. They also can increase the risk of early death.

Certainly, those are some pretty scary statistics. But knowing about the dangers gives you and your loved ones the power to take steps to prevent accidents before they happen.

In this video series we'll touch on a number of topics that will help you make life easier for your senior. While giving you a sense of comfort that mom and dad are living safely. We'll talk about why it's important to be vigilant about home safety. Warning signs that your senior maybe struggling, potential dangers lurking at a home. Simple things you can do to make life easier for the independent senior and you, considerations for seniors with special care needs, and consulting professional help.

Home Instead Senior Care, the national leader in providing in home care services for seniors is bringing you this video series to help you help your senior loved ones. Helping seniors is something Home Instead has been doing passionately now for more than 15 years. I not only work for Home Instead, but I am a Certified Senior Advisor. More importantly I am currently a long distance caregiver for my dad and I spent several months caring for my mom locally. Now let's get to those safety warning signs.