Names: Calunsag; Juan; Montecillo; Semblante 10/18/20 Score:______

BSN 3D Clinical Instructor: Mr. Mark Ebony Sumalinog

ACTIVITY NO. 8

A. Identify 5 modifications on how to make furnishings or furnitures

appealing, hazard-free, functional and comfortable to use for elderly
residents.
1. A firm chair with armrests - provides support and assistance in rising from
or lowering into the seat; low, sinking cushions are difficult for older people to
use. Chairs should also be of an appropriate height to allow the individual’s feet
to rest flat on the floor with no pressure behind the knees. Rockers provide
relaxation and some exercise to older people. Love seats are preferable to larger
sofas because no one risks being seated in the center without armrests for
assistance.

2. Table lamps -
bolting them to the table surface or attaching it to the wall can prevent their being
knocked over in an attempt to locate them in the dark. Nightstands also need to
be sturdy.

3. Upholstery - should be fire resistant, with a firm surface without buttons or

seams in areas that come in contact with the body. Rather than the back, seat,
and arm rest being one connecting unit, open space where these sections meet
allows for ventilation and easier cleaning. Recliners can promote relaxation and
provide a means for leg elevation, but they should not require strenuous effort to
change positions.

4. Drawers - should be checked for ease of use. Sanding and waxing the corners
and slides can facilitate their movement. In hanging mirrors, the height and
 function of the user must be considered; obviously, persons confined to
wheelchairs will need a lower level than their ambulatory counterparts

5. Indirect lighting - The area can be kept naturally bright through the opening of
curtains. Keep flooring smooth and level, to reduce trips and accidents.

References: Eliopoulos, C. PhD, MPH, RNC. (2010). Gerontological Nursing, Seventh

Ed. Safety (p. 198). Philadelphia:Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

B. Enumerate 5 ways on how to make a bathroom senior friendly.

1. Non-slip bathroom mats - this can prevent older adults from stepping on wet,
slipper tiles, and also helps provide a visual cue for elderly relatives who may
have poor depth perception.

2. Proper lighting - to prevent accidents, proper lighting in the bathroom is

highly suggested. It allows easy location of the bathroom especially at night.

3. Raised toilet seats - this is for older adults who experience trouble in raising
and lowering themselves onto a standard-height toilet.
 4. Grab bars - for older adults who have poor balance, grab bars may be helpful in
order to help steady the older adult.

5. First floor access - to not tire the older adult and to allow immediate access to
the bathroom as opposed to having to climb the stairs just to access the
bathroom.

References:
Moylan, J. (2020). 8 important bathroom remodeling tips for senior citizens. Retrieved
on October 17, 2020 from https://www.designbuildersmd.com/blog/8-important-
bathroom-remodeling-tips-for-senior-citizens

C. Identify 5 ways on how to make homes free from fire hazard or prepared
for fire situations.
1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms
and outside sleeping areas. Test smoke alarms every month. Caregivers are
encouraged to check the smoke alarms of those who are unable to do it
themselves.
 2. Check the kitchen after you finish cooking to make sure the oven
burners and other appliances are turned off. Adults over the age of 65 are
at significantly higher risk of dying from a kitchen-related fire.

3. Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your

home. Install extinguishers high on the wall, near an exit, and away from heat
sources.

4. Routinely check cords, outlets, switches,

and appliances for signs of damage. Do not
use damaged electrical devices. All electrical work in your home should be
performed by a licensed electrician in accordance with local and national codes.

5. Develop a fire escape plan around one’s capabilities for fire safety.
a. If you use a walker or wheelchair, check all exits to be sure that you can go
through the doorways.
b. Make sure you place seniors in a location they’ll be able to escape from in
case of a fire, preferably in the ground floor.
c. Review and revise your fire escape plan as necessary to accommodate new
health or mobility concerns.

Reference:
ESFI Home Fire Safety for Older Adults Safety Awareness Program Toolkit. (2015 ).
Retrieved October 17, 2020, from https://www.esfi.org/resource/home-fire-safety-for-
older-adults-safety-awareness-program-toolkit-248
D. With the current transportation system of our country, identify 5
recommendations on how to make transportation elderly-friendly.
1. A lift or ramp to board a bus can be helpful for people using wheelchairs or
other mobility devices, elderly people who cannot climb stairs safely, wheelchair
ramps increase mobility by enabling seniors and those with disabilities
comfortable and safe paths with which they can enter and exit the vehicle.

2. A reader board on a bus will provide access to spoken announcements for

people who are Deaf or hard of hearing, or for any passengers who missed the

announcement when the bus is crowded and loud.

3. Priority seats have been designated in public transport vehicles by certain

transport operators to allow elderly, disabled, pregnant women and the injured to
ride public transport with an equal degree of access and comfort as other people

4. A clearly marked pedestrian way contributes to the safety of an elderly with

difficulty seeing and reading signs due to deteriorating vision. This prevents
accidents due to mistaken crossing of roads.
 5. Tactile paving also called detectable warning surface is a system of textured
ground surface found on footpaths, stairs and station platforms to warn
pedestrians who are visually impaired or have trouble with clearness of vision.
This also prevents the chances of falls dues to smooth terrain.
Reference:
European Conference of Ministers of Transport (2000). Retrieved Oct. 18, 2020 from:
https://www.itf-oecd.org/sites/default/files/docs/99tphguidee.pdf
Accessible Transportation (2016). Retrieved Oct 18, 2020 from:
https://www.globaldisabilityrightsnow.org/tools/accessible-transportation

E. Identify one facility, infrastructure, country or city (international or

local) that is considered elderly-friendly and cite its elderly-friendly-

features.

Dumaguete City, Philippines

In the Philippines, Dumaguete City is dubbed as the “place of gentle people”.

It is a retirement haven for many expats. It made headlines in 2014 when Forbes
Magazine named it fifth among seven of the best places to retire in the world. In 2019,
the Philippine Retirement Agency, under the Department of Tourism, named
Dumaguete as the best place to retire in the country, making it the first city in the
Visayas area to be given the Best Retirement Area Deemed as Retiree-Friendly
(RADAR) status.

The Philippine Retirement Authority, which is under the Department of Tourism,

noted that Dumaguete City ranks highly in almost all the index criteria as the best place
to retire. It noted that based on United Nations and the World Health
Organization standards, Dumaguete City provides:
1. adequate and affordable food
2. modern and affordable medical facilities and services
3. secure housing
4. thriving leisure and entertainment venues and choices
5. infrastructure is adequate based on Western standards
 6. reasonable cost in transportation.

Best Retirement Area Deemed as Retiree-Friendly (RADAR)

Elderly-friendly Features
Safe
- The city is a relatively safe place and security is visible almost anywhere
and drivers are generally law abiding and courteous and serious accidents
are rare
Friendly Community
- Dumaguete is not named the “place of gentle people” for nothing. The
warm, kind and hospitable people of the city makes it easy for expats to
love the place even more.
Climate
- Geographically nestled between Cebu and the Mindanao islands,
Dumaguete and the rest of Negros Oriental are rarely affected by the many
typhoons that ravage the country each year. It is warm and sunny for most
of the year, perfect for enjoying the scenic beauty the place has to offer.
Low Cost of Living
- One of the main reasons why Dumaguete and the Philippines as a whole
attract retirees from all over the world is the relatively cheap cost of living.
Rent, utilities, and other living expenses come at just a fraction of their
monthly pensions.
- Eligible senior citizens in this capital city receive financial assistance with
PHP3,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development
Office in Region 7 or Central Visayas.
Modern Healthcare Services
- Dumaguete has four major tertiary hospitals and a number of private
hospitals that are well-equipped that can cater to any of their health needs.

Silliman University
Scenic beauty
 - Dumaguete is home to some of the most amazing beaches, old stone
churches, and the famous Rizal Boulevard. Retirees will never run out of
places to see in their spare time.

Apo Island near Dumaguete City

Cathedral of St. Catherine

References:
City of Dumaguete. (2018). Dumaguete is the 2018 Best Retiree Friendly City in the
whole country. Retrieved from https://dumaguetecity.gov.ph/2018/08/09/dumaguete-
is-the-2018-best-retiree-friendly-city-in-the-whole-country/

Partlow, M.J. (2020, June 1 ). Philippine News Agency. Dumaguete City hands out
social pension for senior citizens. Retrieved from
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1104588

Villareal, M. (2020, June). Out of town blog. What makes Dumaguete City a favorite
retirement place for EXPATS. Retrieved from https://outoftownblog.com/what-makes-
dumaguete-a-favorite-retirement-place-for-expats/amp/

F. The World Health Organization has set a checklist or guide for

transforming cities into age friendly ones. Explain using the diagram
attached or uploaded on this assignment

The World Health Organization had set a checklist or guide for age-friendly cities
and communities to address better adaptation of structures and services to the needs of
the older people. The guide highlights 8 domains namely the built environment,
transport, housing, social participation, respect and social inclusion, civic participation
and employment, communication, and, finally, community support and health services.
The 8 domains to achieve an age-friendly city or community facilitates in making both
cities and rural communities safe for older adults to live in and influences the successful
aging of the older adults in the community. This engages cities to become more age-
friendly so as to tap the potential that older people represent for humanity. This
describes the converging trends of rapid growth of the population over 60 years of age
and of urbanization, outlines the challenge facing cities, and summarizes the research
process that led to identifying the core features of an age-friendly city.

References:
World Health Organization. (n.d.) Age-friendly cities and communities. Retrieved on
October 17, 2020 from https://www.who.int/ageing/projects/age-friendly-cities-
communities/en/#:~:text=The%20WHO%20age%2Dfriendly%20cities,participation
%20and%20employment%2C%20communication%2C%20and.