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This week on Healthwatch, we're talking about health topics that hit close to home. With the US population aging, more people are caring for relatives with age-related conditions like Alzheimer's disease and dementia in their homes. Doctors at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say you need to make your home safe and forgiving.
As Alzheimer's disease robs the patient of the ability to reason and sense danger, you may have to use childproofing methods and tools to lock away things like knives, chemicals and medications.
A big risk is falls, which can cause serious injuries to elderly people as well as Alzheimer's patients.
Dr. Peggy Higgins of the Alzheimer's Disease Center at UT Southwestern, says you can help prevent falls by removing clutter, removing throw rugs, having adequate light and night lights and by having the patient wear real shoes with a good grip instead of house slippers.
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August 2005
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