For Safety's Sake Accessibility Design Consulting

03/21/2025

Spring Rain = Slippery Sidewalks 🌧️⚠️
🚨 Did you know? Wet sidewalks & poor lighting contribute to 20% of outdoor falls in older adults (CDC).

🏡 Make your outings safer:
✔️ Install outdoor handrails
✔️ Wear non-slip , supportive shoes; use walker, cane, rollator if needed
✔️ Invite someone to walk with you for safety, socialization
✔️ Take your phone--in pouch or pocket to keep hands free; inform someone of your plans and direction of your walk or outing in case of emergencies
✔️ Wear smartwatch or GPS communication two-way wearable such as LifeAlert or GeoComm
✔️ Monitor weather and road conditions and plan outings accordingly as well as dress for the weather

OTs are experts in fall prevention and accessibility and function.

As many re-emerge into more outdoor activities and outings this spring, make it safe & enjoyable!

01/15/2025

Wandering and elopement are common safety concerns for individuals living with dementia.

Succumbing with weather, injured in traffic, risk for exploitation, falling/injury in desolate areas that impact time for being found and receiving care, are terrifying however real scenarios for many.

Creating a space that is intentionally and functionally designed, intuitive, person-centered, evidenced based can reduce falls, injury, elopement, barriers to activities of daily living and care.

It's imperative that our 🏠be a safe haven for all phases of life. Education, resources, occupational therapists specializing in aging in place, home modifications, dementia, health, mobility can help your loved ones safely thrive at home.

Dementia Friendly Fairfax has an informative Dementia Friends (virtual) session on Wednesday, February 12 | 12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. EST.

Register Here:
https://bit.ly/DementiaFriendlyFairfax

Virginia Occupational Therapy Association American Society on Aging National Council on Aging Alzheimer's Foundation of America Administration on Aging Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Virginia Dept. of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)

Environmental/Residential Safety Assessments | Custom & Universal Accessibility Design Consulting | Virtual & In-Home Consultations
CAPS(Certified Aging in Place Specialist)
ECHM
HARP

01/07/2025

Isolation impacts health: Older adults and people with disabilities living in isolation are 26% more likely to face premature death.

🏠 Inclusive housing builds inclusive communities. Accessible, affordable homes must be integrated near transportation, parks, shops, and services. Proximity to community resources reduces isolation and fosters participation, improving health and well-being.

Let’s connect housing to quality of life, ease, accessibility, function, safety, community🏠

Located steps from City Hall, the symphony, public transit and more, a new development where 25% of homes are reserved for people using supportive services is changing the face of disability housing.

01/01/2025

🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE🎉

Your home should be your safe haven, a space that supports your lifestyle and enhances your well-being and health outcomes and quality of life for years to come.

If it doesn’t feel that way right now, let’s change that.
In the new year, let us, For Safety's Sake, help you create a home that works for you, not against you.
From customized accessibility solutions to elegant, functional, intentional, inclusive designs, we specialize in transforming living spaces into safe, functional, and beautiful environments.

🛋️ Start your journey toward a home that truly meets your needs.

📅 Contact us today to book your consultation for the new year. Virtual consultations available now for the last week of January.

202-696-0634 info@forsafetyot.com

Don't wait for a fall, injury, or hospitalization to improve the functionality of your home.

Most often, low cost, high value, changes can create a space that is safe, functional, inclusive, and beautiful for you and any visitors that stop by your 🏠

💡 Because your safety and comfort are worth it — For Safety’s Sake.

Here’s to a year filled with possibilities, joy, and the home of your dreams! 🏡✨

hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag hashtag

12/23/2024

As the year comes to a close, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my clients who entrusted me with their residential safety and accessibility needs. Together, we’ve made homes safer, more comfortable, and future-ready.

Don’t wait for a fall or crisis to force changes in your living environment.

Did you know falls are the leading cause of injuries for older adults, yet most are preventable? Occupational therapists like me specialize in proactive safety assessments, aging-in-place solutions, and human-centered design tailored to your unique needs and goals.

Planning ahead isn’t just wise—it’s empowering, responsible, and saves $ and frustration.

If you or someone you know values safety, independence, inclusion, and human-centered functional design, I’d be honored to help them in the new year.




📞 202-969-0634 | 🌐 www.forsafetyot.com (website currently in process of rebranding)

10/26/2024

🎃 Relocating bulky Halloween decor to the sides of your porch reduces tripping hazards as well as allows space for trick-or-treaters to easily and safely reach you to get 🍬.

Illuminating decor with yard/flood lights can improve visibility as well as lends for sensory regulation and informed choice, if afraid or wanting to avoid certain Halloween decor features.

10/03/2024

is rapidly growing in numbers as well as age. One of every five Virginians be older than 65 by 2030.

If you have driven in northern Virginia and/or the DMV(DC, Maryland, Virginia) area, you know first hand by the never ending traffic🚙🚗🛻🚚

Several counties here in our commonwealth--including mine, is expected to increase by 24% within the next six years.

Now is the time to address inclusive housing, , caregiver support, fall/injury prevention, home safety and modifications, universally designed homes, --hint, hint, we are all aging with every day that we awaken; inclusive and supportive communities for our diverse and aging communities.

Fellow , I urge you to reach out and connect with your localities first, to learn of what is being done to improve the dynamics, housing, support services, programs for older adults and persons with disabilities as well as care partners to safely thrive in their homes and communities.
Please take the time to educate and highlight how the expertise of led, person-centered, evidence based best practices can positively impact the needs related to aging and disability.

Virginia's population will be even bigger, and its residents older and more concentrated in metropolitan areas by 2030, according to the UVA Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

10/01/2024

So many lives, communities impacted directly and indirectly by the devastation of Hurricane Helene🙏🏾

Please do what you can to share hope, help, resources, services, time for those in need.

Virginians—here’s some information that may be of assistance:
https://lnkd.in/e6N2MkNx

09/16/2024

For Safety's Sake joins NCOA (National Council on Aging) Sept. 23-27, 2024, for Falls Prevention Awareness Week to raise awareness on preventing falls, reducing the risk of falls, and helping older adults live without fear of falling.

08/06/2024

Did you know that meal delivery programs like Meals on Wheels America can play a pivotal role in enhancing home safety and accessibility for older adults?

With 28% of seniors living alone and at risk of falls, meal delivery programs offer a unique opportunity to identify potential home safety hazards, reduce feelings of isolation, improve nutrition/health outcomes, and much more.

Meal delivery program volunteers can bridge the gap with identifying and reporting concerns that can impact home safety, accessibility of quality of life. Upon arrival to an individual's home there may be clutter/tripping hazards at doorway, inadequate lighting, no railing at stairs. Or the person may report falls or have bruising from pushing their wheelchair or walker through a narrow door frame or decreased hygiene/grooming.

Many meal delivery program volunteers have an established route for years and begin to establish a rapport and heart to serve and advocate for home safety/security in other ways that all starts with meal.

27% of older Americans live alone
29% of older Americans have a disability
More than one out of four older people fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor(they may feel comfortable telling their meal delivery volunteer)

Occupational therapists (OTs) are experts in home environments, aging in place, and fall prevention.

By integrating OT-led home safety assessments, meal delivery programs can help create safer living spaces and reduce fall-related injuries by up to 30%.

Working together to serve our rapidly growing and aging community, supports dignity of choice and health outcomes for people to safely thrive at home and in their communities.

07/05/2024

Aging Together Dementia Friends 1 hour info session is an hour well spent to learn about dementia as well as how to respond, support individuals with dementia--whether in your family, neighborhood, workplace, etc.

As an occupational therapist, accessibility consultant; working with adult children caring for parents with dementia, spouses caring for spouses, and working with hospice and memory care communities, it is imperative to learn(unlearn and relearn), listen, support, advocate for best practices to support persons impacted directly and indirectly by dementia.

To Register:
https://www.agingtogether.org/upcomingprograms.html

07/04/2024

Area Agency on Aging community events are a great time to learn of resources, services to support not only yourselves and aging parents but also your loved ones with disabilities, care partners and more.

Join us for Powhatan Aging Resource Day on Tuesday, August 6th from 10am to 2pm at Powhatan United Methodist Church!

Come learn about your area agency on aging and all of the free services available to support older adults, persons with disabilities, caregivers and more.

There will be free food from Strawberry Street Cafe Food Truck, games, and giveaways. We look forward to seeing you!