Safety refers to the condition of being protected from harm, danger, or risk, ensuring that individuals or environments are free from injury, damage, or adverse outcomes.
Tips & Links
Changes in your health can increase safety risks, as these conditions may impair your ability to perform daily activities, affect your mobility or mental alertness, and compromise your overall well-being.
Learn More
- Know that people with health conditions or disabilities may face unique challenges in maintaining safety due to physical, cognitive, or sensory limitations.
- Learn about strategies to prevent falls such as removing tripping hazards, installing handrails and grab bars, and ensuring adequate lighting. Complete a home safety checklist from the Government of BC.
- Medication safety can include making a list of all medications, their dosages and schedules, using pill box organizers and asking your pharmacist about potential drug interactions as outlined by the Government of BC.
- Review the medication safety tips from Health Quality BC.
- Learn about identifying abuse or neglect for seniors or people who are more vulnerable from Healthlink BC.
Things You Can Do
- Ask for an in-person visit with your physician or nurse practitioner if you are experiencing any physical or mental health changes.
- Be aware of changes in your vision, hearing, or mental awareness. Get a driving assessment if recommended.
- Talk to your family and care partners about getting a home safety assessment if you have had changes in your health, daily functioning, memory loss, confusion, or mobility. Learn more from the Government of BC.
- If you are experiencing mobility concerns or falls, consider using mobility aids/devices and making recommended home modifications, such as installing ramps, handrails, or walk-in showers.
- If you are at risk for falls, there are services available that alert others in case you fall or are unwell. Check out Lifeline or Living Well Companion.
- Develop your care partners list and include regular home checks in person, by phone, or online.
- Be aware of the signs of elder abuse and learn ways to get help from the Government of BC.
- Know about the Senior Abuse & Information Line (SAIL) you can call 8am-8pm for assistance at 1-866-437-1940.
- Seniors and people who are more vulnerable can be the victims of financial fraud – learn about financial fraud. Learn about tips like ensure no personal or financial information is shared over the phone or online from the Government of Canada.
Have a Plan
- Have a plan to contact your emergency contact, health advocate, or a care partner if you need immediate help.
- Talk with your physician, specialist or pharmacist to determine who to call for what and when.
- Call emergency services (911) if symptoms become life-threatening or you have difficulty breathing, severe chest pain, or loss of consciousness.
- Call 811 for general health information, direction on how to monitor your symptoms, or help in finding health care in your community, if needed. Navigation services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Healthlink BC.
- If you or someone you care about talks about feeling helpless or is showing warning signs of suicide, find help right away. Call the BC Crisis Line at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) or call 911.
Create a network of support by completing your Care Partners list in your Mywell Health planner. Talk with your family and care partners and complete the activities Changes in My Personal Needs and Getting a Home Care or Safety–Assessment.