Environmental Safety

Question 1

What do you start with in an environmental assessment?

Answer 1

Occupational profile

Question 2

Aging in place?

Answer 2

Ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level

• Majority of older adults want to age in place

Question 3

Lawton’s Hypothesis on Environmental Docility

Answer 3

A reduction in competence heightens dependency on the external environment, thus, age-related changes cause one to become increasing dependent on the environment.

Question 4

Competency

Answer 4

ability to respond adaptively in areas of functional health, social roles, & cognition

Question 5

Environmental press

Answer 5

the extent to which factors external to the individual affect the ease or difficulty of completing a task

Question 6

In Summation: Lawton’s Hypothesis on Environmental Docility

Answer 6

Those with higher levels of competency will tolerate higher levels of press

Question 7

What may happen with too much press?

Answer 7

Sensory overload

Question 8

What may happen with too little press?

Answer 8

May foster dependent behavior or marginal performance

Question 9

What is the NUMBER ONE cause of home fatality?

Answer 9

Falls

Question 10

What is the MOST critical piece of information for descending stairs?

Answer 10

Stair edge

Question 11

What is the SECOND leading cause of home fatality?

Answer 11

Burns or scalds

Question 12

What is the THIRD leading cause of home fatality?

Answer 12

Poisoning from medication

Question 13

What are three things included in the INTERMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT?

Answer 13

• Indoor
• In-to-outdoor accessibility
• Equipment/adaptability

Question 14

What are three things included in the SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT?

Answer 14

• Primary caregiver
• Family and friends
• Other support systems

Question 15

Assessment types

Answer 15

• Retrospective behavioral mapping
• Floor plans of the intermediate environment
• Photographs or video depictions
• Functional home assessment

Question 16

THREE important questions for INTERMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT:

Answer 16

1. How much time is spent in each room?
2. Where in the room is most of the client’s time spent?
3. What concerns or questions have been voiced by the client or caregiver?

Question 17

Wall-mounted and peripheral light is __________ than overhead light

Answer 17

Better

Question 18

Background lighting should be ____________ than task lighting

Answer 18

Less bright

Question 19

What is the best color for night lights?

Answer 19

Red

Question 20

Environmental problems can be grouped as…

Answer 20

• Design
• Maintenance
• Social support

Question 21

How do you prioritize HE interventions?

Answer 21

1. Safety
2. Independence
3. Comfort