From resident Dr. John T. Shulz III (11/2/19)

Our Aging in Place Group gathered on Saturday, November 2, 2019, to discuss the crucially important topic of “staying safe” for seniors and what those whose goal is aging in place can do now and in the future. The discussion was led by Dr. John T. Shulz III, a physician and Medical Director at MGH specializing in burns, wounds, and trauma and a new member of our group (joining along with Ed Sullivan) who offered to give this talk for us. Because of his expertise and experience, John has gained valuable insights into safety concerns we might not otherwise be aware of since he regularly sees seniors in his practice and his clinics. Indeed, while he was preparing for this talk, he was returning from hours in the operating room with a seriously injured senior whose clothes had caught on fire while cooking, so he has literally seen everything.

According to John, “if nothing else does, gravity will get us in the end,” and we should thus do whatever we can to educate and protect ourselves against falls. Up to one-third of those over 65 falls annually, often resulting in a broken hip or other injury. Above 85, that number is one in ten. Things to consider, John recommends, are: remove obstacles and clutter that could cause tripping; ensure adequate, bright lighting without glare; place night lights in the bedroom (and one in reach of the bed), bathroom, and hallways; secure loose rugs and wooden floorboards; paint doorsills with highlight color; install shower, tub, and toilet bars in the bathroom and place no-slip mats in shower and bathtub; choose properly fitting, sturdy shoes with nonslip soles; check vision often and regularly; review medications with doctor for side effects and interactions that may affect balance; consult doctor for any dizziness, joint pain, numbness, or shortness of breath when walking to assess muscle strength, balance, and gait; moderate use of alcohol; try not to have large, rambunctious large pets; use assistive devices such as canes or walkers if helpful; and consider a Personal Emergency Response System device to alert others when help needed.

With regard to avoiding burns, John pointed out a number of fire safety hazards. Steps to avoid include not wearing loose clothing or long loose sleeves when cooking, turning one’s back next to the stove while cooking, keeping one’s head away from stove top since some hair products are flammable, and bending over a hot open oven. Most important of all is to follow the RACE procedure before attempting to extinguish any fire, especially one in the kitchen. R = remove oneself from the kitchen or immediate scene; A = alert, call 911 and the desk; C = confine, close doors to the fire hazard; E = extinguish/evacuate, extinguish with fire extinguisher if fire impedes evacuation but evacuate immediate scene immediately.

On medications, John recommended that we should know the side effects of our medications and try to limit them to what is essential for our health. He noted too that over-the-counter NSAID’s have gastric and renal complications to be aware of. Frailty, John said, is something that creeps up on seniors and something that we all can become more aware of and try to do something about. Exercise on a regular basis, both aerobic and resistance, as well as tai chi and yoga can increase muscle and joint flexibility, balance, and strength, according to John. Eating a diet with plenty of protein and calcium and staying adequately hydrated are also important. Finally, getting household help if one needs it can make aging in place work for seniors of all ages. A lively discussion with many questions for John occurred throughout his fascinating and helpful talk.

Ed often illustrated the points made with examples from his 92-year-old mother who now resides in a memory care facility. Group members also shared solutions they had come up with, including the use of walking poles for long strolls, topical creams instead of NSAID’s, and regular massages, and getting recommendations from our concierge desk for installers of grab bars. We were all grateful to John for bringing to our attention things we do not focus on, and maybe avoid focusing on, but hopefully now will going forward as we try to maintain our independence, dignity, and health for as long as possible in our wonderful community.