Senior Safety Advice

Outdoor steps and walkways can develop hidden fall hazards as the seasons change. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains how older adults and family caregivers can check for uneven pavement, slippery leaves, loose steps, poor lighting, drainage problems, and other everyday risks. She also shares simple changes that can make getting in and out of the home safer and ea...

Most falls happen inside the home, on familiar floors, and what a person has on their feet is often the one thing that could have changed the outcome. In this episode, retired occupational therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Esther Kane shares a five second test anyone can do on a pair of shoes or slippers they already own, using nothing but their hands. She explains why backless sli...

Grieving a parent does not always begin after death. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz talks about the very real grief that can come when an aging parent’s memory, health, independence, or personality begins to change. She offers gentle, practical ways for family caregivers to acknowledge those feelings while still finding meaningful ways to connect with the parent who i...

"I'm fine" may be the most frustrating sentence in family caregiving. In this episode, retired occupational therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Esther Kane explains the four real reasons older adults downplay how they are doing, including the important fact that many parents genuinely do not perceive their own gradual decline. Drawing on years of in-home evaluations, she shares what...

Fall and the approaching holiday season can bring an increase in impersonation calls, shopping scams, fake emergencies, and financial exploitation. Robin Schiltz, a Senior Home Safety Specialist, explains the warning signs and shares practical ways older adults and families can pause, verify suspicious requests, and protect financial accounts. She also discusses how to respond without embarrassing...

Most families choose a home health agency under pressure, with a discharge date looming and a printed list of names in hand. In this episode, retired occupational therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Esther Kane explains the difference between medical home health care and non-medical home care, clears up common confusion about Medicare's homebound requirement, and reminds listeners th...

A new medical diagnosis can be frightening for an older adult and just as stressful for the family trying to help. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains how families can talk about a new diagnosis without immediately taking control away from an aging parent. She shares practical ways to introduce safety changes, preserve choices, and focus on one manageable step at...

Throw rugs are one of the most common tripping hazards in the home, and one of the hardest things for families to discuss without tension. In this episode, retired occupational therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Esther Kane explains why loose rugs are so risky as foot clearance naturally changes with age, and why leading with warnings about falling usually backfires. She shares the...

Choosing the right raised toilet seat or toilet safety frame can make bathroom trips safer and easier for an older adult. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains how to decide whether someone needs extra toilet height, supportive arms, or both, and what families should check before buying. She also discusses common mistakes that can actually make transfers less safe....

Being told to "find joy" while caregiving can feel dismissive — as though someone is asking you to feel differently about something genuinely hard. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains why that framing gets it wrong, and what researchers have actually found: positive and difficult emotions coexist, a...

Nighttime falls can be frightening for both older adults and the family members who care for them. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains why falls may happen more often at night and shares practical ways to improve lighting, bathroom safety, medication awareness, mobility, and nighttime routines. She also discusses when repeated falls may signal that a medical or ho...

The dementia headlines of 2026 have been about blood tests and new medications — but a quieter body of research has been studying something families can actually act on this week: the home itself. Retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane walks through what researchers found this year, including evidence that home modifications re...

Cold weather changes more than the temperature outside — it changes how a home actually works. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane walks listeners through a simple fall home check that prevents the most common cold-weather problems for older adults: early darkness on familiar walking paths, wet entryways, ho...

Every autumn, families watch an aging parent quietly withdraw, and most of them blame it on lost motivation. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains why that's usually the wrong diagnosis, and what's actually disappearing when the days get shorter. She offers practical ways to rebuild the structure of a...

Seasonal depression can be easy to overlook in an aging parent, especially when the first signs look like ordinary winter tiredness or slowing down. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains the subtle changes families should watch for, including increased sleep, social withdrawal, irritability, appetite changes, and loss of interest in familiar activities. She also sha...

Stacking pillows at night rarely works, and it can leave you stiff, sore, and unsteady in the morning. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains how to choose a bed wedge or positioning aid that actually holds its angle all night. She walks through which wedge suits which problem, covering nighttime reflu...

As the fall calendar fills up, caregivers and older adults can quickly feel overwhelmed by appointments, home maintenance, family responsibilities, and upcoming holidays. Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz shares practical ways to simplify the season, protect your energy, accept help, and let go of unrealistic expectations. She also explains why rest and reducing stress can play an import...

Reaching overhead and bending to the floor are two of the most common ways older adults get hurt at home, and a good reacher eliminates both for very little money. In this episode, retired occupational therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Esther Kane explains what actually separates a reacher worth using from one that ends up in a drawer — length, jaw design, grip style, rotating head...

Is your mom or dad getting more forgetful, and you can't tell whether it's normal aging or something more? In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains the one question she always asked first in her clinical practice, and why it tells you far more than counting up memory slips. She walks through the differen...

New research is helping us better understand the connection between diet, gut health, inflammation, and the aging immune system. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains what these findings may mean for older adults heading into autumn, including the role of protein, fiber, colorful plant foods, hydration, and key nutrients. She also explains why supplements aren't a s...

Getting dressed is one of the most demanding balance activities of the day, and most falls happen in exactly those moments when weight is shifting. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane walks listeners through preparing a senior's closet and wardrobe for the fall season. She covers the seated dressing habit th...

As summer activities end, an aging parent’s social calendar can quietly become much smaller. Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz shares practical ways families can help older adults maintain meaningful social connections without making them feel pressured or over-scheduled. She discusses simple outings, transportation, technology, family routines, and ways to choose activities that actuall...

Wet leaves are one of the most overlooked fall hazards around a senior's home, and they're far slicker than most people realize. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains why autumn walkways catch active older adults off guard, why the path you know best is the one you stop watching, and what leaves hide...

Cold weather can make staying comfortable at home more challenging for older adults, but not every warming product is equally safe. Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains what to look for in heated throws, electric blankets, heating pads, and non-electric warming options, along with important precautions caregivers should know. She also discusses automatic shutoff, simple controls, s...

When the seasons change, so does the shape of the day — and that quiet loss of routine is often what leaves older adults and caregivers feeling unsteady. In this episode, retired Occupational Therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains why feeling overwhelmed is usually a structure problem rather than a feelings problem, and why it raises the r...