Visiting Professor, Department of Public Health Medicine, Faculty of Social Sciences, North Carolina State University, USA
China has entered a period of rapid population ageing. Statistics from the Office of the National Committee on Aging Work show that nearly half of the elderly people belong to urban and rural empty-nest families or empty-nest families. Old people living alone do not accompany their partners, and children do not spend most of their time around, so we must pay attention to health. And security, 7 items need to be prepared at home.
1. Medical kits. Routine configurations include triangular bandages, elastic bandages, medical absorbent gauze, iodophor cotton swabs, band-aids, and thermometers, sphygmomanometers, blood glucose meters, etc. In addition, nighttime is the peak period of unexpected accidents for the elderly. Place near the bed, prepare cardiovascular and cerebrovascular drugs, such as nitroglycerin; digestive drugs, such as morphine; constipation drugs, such as Kai Sai Lu.
2. Crutches. An elderly person lives alone. A crutch is an indispensable tool to keep the body in balance, avoid obstacles in the way of the action, and prevent the elderly person from falling down. The walking stick must be bought with a regulator, and the family should help to adjust to the best condition. Adjust to an angle where the elbow feels comfortable. The wrist can stick to the tip of the crutch.
3. Lightweight carts. Elderly people who live alone need to buy food and cook for themselves. The dishes are too fast to buy. A lightweight stroller is indispensable. The grocery shopping cart, walking multifunctional folding walker, Very practical.
4. Radio. Family members can buy a portable radio for the elderly. They can listen while walking. Radios that can manually select stations and adjust the volume are best for the elderly. The sound of the speakers should be loud and loud, and it should meet the needs of long-distance listening. It is best to have a memory card. The old man is always listening to operas, stories and storytelling.
5. Keep warm underwear. If the children are not around the elderly, prepare one or two sets of thermal underwear for them: First, the pure cotton content should be more than 80% and should be relaxed; Second, the breathability is good. You can take a breath from a side of 3cm. On the other side can feel the temperature better; Third, light-colored, can be found to be dirty, so that timely cleaning; Fourth, no lint, or floating easily into the lungs of the elderly, causing respiratory infections and other issues.
6. Mobile phones with long standby time. Mobile phones for elderly people living alone should meet several requirements: 1. Large font size so that old people can see clearly; Large volume, Old people's hearing has different degrees of decline, Oversized volume can avoid missed calls; Standby, so that the elderly forget to charge, family members can not contact; there is a positioning function, the child can always find the location of the elderly, so as not to lose; remote assistance, the elderly will not use or will not be set up once the situation, family members can be through remote assistance.
7. A set of smoke alarms. At present, China's home-installed smoke alarm has not yet been popularized, but it is very necessary for elderly people living alone to ensure safety. It is recommended to buy good quality, full-function alarms, not only smoke, fire And abnormal temperature sensing alarm, but also to the food burning, electrical short-circuit signal in a timely manner. Bedroom corner is the best location to install smoke alarm. ▲
