AAHP & MCFRS Conduct Home Safety Checks for Seniors

AAHP’s aging liaison Elisse Barnes collaborated with Jim Resnick of Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service (MCFRS) to combine AAHP’s health screenings with free home safety inspections provided by MCFRS. In observance of Fall Prevention Awareness Month in September, AAHP completed 43 home safety checks. In this engagement, AAHP, Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the Community Risk Reduction Section of MCFRS touched African American seniors in all parts of Montgomery County from Germantown to Burtonsville to Takoma Park.

The Home Safety Checks included:

• blood pressure screening
• blood glucose testing
• completion of Fall Prevention Checklist
• smoke alarm checks
• carbon monoxide alarm check
• completion of the File of Life

By The Numbers:

• Home Safety Checks Completed: 43
• Smoke Alarms Installed: 26
• Carbon Monoxide Alarms Installed: 1
• Back-up Batteries Replaced: 16
• File of Life Packets Distributed/Completed: 46
• Fall Prevention Checklists Reviewed: 38
• Blood Pressures Taken: 42
• Blood Glucose Levels Tested: 32
• Homeowner Average Age: 75.8 (oldest 96, youngest 60)

By all accounts, the program was a positive experience for the seniors, community health workers, nurses, and firefighters involved. MCFRS and AAHP are discussing opportunities to continue the program on a regular basis.