Reducing The Poison Risk For An Elderly Loved One

Many of us have grown up familiar with Mr. Yuk, the symbol that appears on products warning us that it’s poison. The bright green face with closed eyes and stuck out tongue taught many residents of Manchester and elsewhere to avoid whatever material has the warning on it so they won’t get sick or die.

Mr. Yuk has definitely served as a good visual for kids – and maybe even has been more effective than the classic “skull and crossbones” icon that used to denote something poison or hazardous to one’s health in literature and cartoons. But the green sticker may not necessarily work for older people, including those receiving palliative care who might have a higher risk of accidentally poisoning themselves.

The team at Above and Beyond Home Health Care and Hospice work with a variety of clients who are more likely than others to eat something or drink something they shouldn’t, which could make them sick or even kill them.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children under age 5 and adults over age 65 are both at the highest risk of getting sick due to food poisoning. (The list also includes pregnant women and those with weak immune systems.)

With children, this may be due to unfamiliarity with certain tastes, smells, sounds, or visual cues. Younger children may not be able to read or see warning labels, but they do enjoy tasting new things.

With seniors, there are other factors that can put them at higher risk.

• Not being able to see. Poor vision can make it harder to inspect food, which means it’s more likely to spoil and become dangerous without anyone noticing it.
• Poor sanitation. Perhaps vegetables or old leftovers have been sitting in the back of the refrigerator for months, too far back for them to reach when cleaning the kitchen.
• Poor lighting. A senior may have light bulbs burned out in their kitchen and doesn’t know how to change them or isn’t able to reach them. They also may not have anyone to take care of this task. Dimmer lights can also reduce overall visibility making it hard to read labels or check the condition of food. (It can also increase the chances of tripping hazards – if it’s too dark, it’s easier to stumble.)
• Health conditions. Certain forms of dementia, including advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, may make it difficult for someone to determine if something is food or not. So, there’s a higher risk of putting something into their mouth that is harmful without realizing it.
• Immune problems. As people get older, their bodies are less efficient at processing things that aren’t good for them, such as ingredients that can cause food-borne poisonings.
• Prescription errors. Medications can cause a variety of poisonings, such as if someone takes more than they’re supposed to for their daily dosage. They could also take the wrong medication or have negative reactions to other medications or food. Although health care providers can try to carefully manage each patient’s prescriptions to make sure everything works as intended and also works in conjunction with others, there’s always the possibility of a reaction between some of them.

Offering help

With all of these potential reasons for possible poisoning, it’s certainly a challenge to figure out strategies to eliminate all of these or then be able to monitor someone all the time, especially in a home health environment as opposed to an assisted living center.

Caregivers can do a lot to help but they can’t watch someone all of the time, and a client who prizes their independence also won’t appreciate this level of monitoring either, even if it ultimately helps them.

The next best thing is to create situations where some of these factors are eliminated or at least reduced. It can start with having a bright and clean kitchen where it’s easy to spot something that is spoiled.

A home health aide may be able to assist with tasks like changing light bulbs or going through the refrigerator or cupboards to get rid of old spoiled food. Like a parent would do for a child, he or she could move potential toxins out of the way where they could get mistaken for food, such as taking cleaners to the garage.

Caregivers can also help organize weekly pills so it’s obvious whether certain ones have already been taken for the day. They could also alert a provider if there are problems, such as reactions right when they take them. Maybe a different dosage or schedule could be established.

Getting a client’s eyes examined regularly can be a good idea to help their daily living efforts. They might need new glasses or ways to hold them and keep them nearby – maybe a chain around their neck?

Resources

Since 1961, the third week of March has been dedicated to National Poison Prevention Week. It’s an initiative created by the Health Resources & Services Administration with a goal of preventing large-scale poisonings as well alerting people on how to get help. There are poison centers around the country.

Businesses are also encouraged to share information about why they support poison prevention efforts internally and externally.