LeisureHome & GardenSociety & CultureRelationships

Senior Safety Advice

Esther C Kane CAPS, C.D.S.

A podcast focused on the topics of senior safety, aging in place and caring for older adults.

Play

Open in

102 episodes
daily
Avg 9 min
English

Support the show

Goes straight to the publisher. podnod takes nothing.

Support Helpful Content

Episodes 102

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Yesterday · 7 min
Stop Carrying It All: How to Ask Your Family for Help This Holiday Season
The holidays bring the whole family together, which makes them a rare chance to talk about who is doing what for an aging parent. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains why so many caregivers hesitate to ask for help and how to clear up the common myths behind that hesitation. She shares simple, practical ways to start the conversation, assign small jobs that fit each person, and keep your parent’s wishes at the center. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more tips and resources for older adults and the families who care for them.
- Transcript
Tuesday · 9 min
How to Check a Driveway and Walkway for Ice and Slip Hazards
Winter ice can turn an ordinary trip to the mailbox or car into a dangerous situation. In this episode of the Senior Safety Advice Podcast, Robin Schiltz, Senior Home Safety Specialist, explains how older adults and family caregivers can identify hidden ice hazards on driveways, sidewalks, and outdoor steps. Learn where ice is most likely to form, how to check outdoor areas without risking a fall, and simple ways to prepare your property for freezing weather. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical tips on preventing falls and staying independent at home.
- Transcript
Monday · 6 min
Warm Without the Worry: Heated Throws and Space Heaters for Senior Bedrooms
Chilly nights are coming, and many older adults are reaching for heated throws and space heaters to stay comfortable. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains what to look for when buying them and how to use them safely in the bedroom. She covers cords, clearances, shut-off features, and special cautions for people with nerve problems or dementia. Family caregivers will find simple steps that ease the worry about a loved one sleeping warm and safe. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical safety tips and resources.
- Transcript
Sunday · 9 min
When the Holidays Bring Up Everything You've Been Pushing Down
The holidays can bring unexpected sadness, grief, frustration, and emotional exhaustion, especially for older adults and family caregivers. In this episode of the Senior Safety Advice Podcast, Robin Schiltz, Senior Home Safety Specialist, explores why familiar holiday traditions can stir up difficult feelings and offers gentle, practical ways to manage them. Learn how to adjust expectations, cope with changing family roles, and find moments of peace without feeling guilty. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more resources on aging, caregiving, and living safely and independently.
- Transcript
Saturday · 7 min
Up Again at Night? How to Keep Your Parent From Falling in the Dark
When an aging parent gets up at night, family members often lie awake worrying about a fall. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains why night trips are risky and what actually helps. She covers simple fixes like better lighting, clear walkways, safer bathrooms, and smart questions for the doctor. Esther also offers guidance for families dealing with nighttime confusion from dementia. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more safety tips and resources for older adults and the people who care for them.
- Transcript
Friday · 10 min
What's New in Caregiver Support Resources for Late 2026
What's changing in caregiver support as 2026 comes to a close? In this episode, Robin Schiltz, Senior Home Safety Specialist, explores Medicare's GUIDE dementia care program, expanded 211 caregiver assistance, respite care initiatives, VA caregiver benefits, and online support options. Family caregivers will learn where to look for help, what questions to ask, and how to find practical assistance before becoming overwhelmed. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more caregiving tips, home safety advice, and helpful resources.
- Transcript
November 5 · 8 min
How to Create a Winter Emergency Kit for a Senior Living Alone
Winter storms can knock out power and block roads, and for older adults who live alone, being unprepared can turn a bad night into a dangerous one. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains how to build a simple, easy-to-lift emergency kit with water, no-cook food, warmth, light, medicines, and a one-page information sheet. She also shares tips on phone backups, check-in plans, and where to store the kit so it can be reached quickly. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more daily safety tips and resources for older adults and the families who care for them.
- Transcript
November 4 · 8 min
How to Help an Aging Parent Who Is Showing Signs of Depression
Depression is not a normal part of aging, but its signs can be surprisingly easy for families to overlook. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains changes that may signal depression in an aging parent, how to start a supportive conversation, and when professional or immediate help may be needed. She also shares practical ways families can offer support without overwhelming their loved one. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more resources for older adults and family caregivers.
- Transcript
November 3 · 8 min
How to Winterize Your Parent’s Home Before the Cold Sets In
Cold weather is on its way, and for older adults, winter brings real risks like falls on ice, unsafe heating, and power outages. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane walks families through a simple, doable plan for winterizing a parent’s home. She covers safer entrances, heating and alarm checks, drafts, frozen pipes, and a daily check-in routine that brings peace of mind. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more daily safety tips and resources for older adults and the families who care for them.
- Transcript
November 2 · 8 min
The Best Bed and Chair Alarms for Seniors at Fall Risk
Bed and chair alarms can give caregivers valuable warning when an older adult at fall risk begins to get up, but choosing the right type matters. Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explains pressure-pad, motion-sensing, and wireless alarm options, along with important considerations such as false alarms, nighttime confusion, placement, and caregiver response time. She also explains why an alarm should be only one part of a broader fall-prevention plan. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical tips and resources for safer aging at home.
- Transcript
November 1 · 7 min
Thanksgiving With a Difficult Parent: How to Protect Your Peace and Still Show Up
For many family caregivers, Thanksgiving with a critical, angry, or abusive parent brings more dread than joy. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains how to tell whether sudden hostility could have a medical cause, and how to protect your own wellbeing if the behavior is lifelong. She shares practical ways to shorten the visit, change the setting, set calm boundaries, and know when to step away for safety. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more tips and resources for older adults and the families who care for them.
- Transcript
November 1 · 7 min
How to Carry Peace and Strength Into a New Month of Caregiving
A new month can bring fresh hope, but for family caregivers, the same worries often come along with it. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane busts three common caregiving myths and shares simple ways to plan the month ahead, ask for help, and protect your own health. She also walks through a quick monthly home safety check that gives caregivers real peace of mind. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more daily safety tips and resources for older adults and the families who care for them.
- Transcript
October 31 · 9 min
"My Parent Was Scammed Online — What Do We Do Now?"
When an older parent is scammed online, families often don't know what to do first. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz walks through practical steps for protecting bank accounts, passwords, credit, identity, and devices while helping a parent recover without shame or blame. She also explains why families should watch for follow-up scams after the first incident. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical senior safety and caregiving resources.
- Transcript
October 30 · 8 min
Why Winter Hits Harder After 65: What Research Says About Cold, Your Heart, and Every Step You Take
Cold weather does more than make older adults shiver. It can raise blood pressure, cloud thinking, stiffen joints, and quietly raise the risk of falls, even indoors. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains what recent research reveals about cold and senior health, and shares simple, practical steps seniors and caregivers can take before winter arrives. For more tips on staying safe and independent at home, visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com.
- Transcript
October 29 · 8 min
How to Set Up a Safe and Warm Living Space for a Senior This Winter
A bathroom can look perfectly safe while still hiding several common fall hazards. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz walks listeners through a simple ten-minute bathroom safety check, from loose rugs and poor lighting to slippery shower surfaces, awkward reaching, and unsafe supports. Older adults and family caregivers will learn what to look for and which small changes can make everyday bathroom routines safer. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical senior home safety tips and resources.
- Transcript
October 28 · 8 min
The Hidden Fall Risk Nobody Talks About: Staying Safe With Chronic Pain
Chronic pain does more than hurt. It quietly changes how older adults move, sleep, and balance, and that can raise the risk of falls and other injuries at home. In this episode, retired occupational therapist, Certified Aging in Place Specialist, and Dementia Care Specialist Esther Kane explains how pain affects safety, clears up common myths, and shares simple home changes and daily habits that make life with pain easier. Caregivers will also learn better ways to ask about pain and how to spot it in a loved one living with dementia. For more practical tips and resources, visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com.
- Transcript
October 27 · 8 min
How to Check a Bathroom for Hidden Fall Hazards in Ten Minutes
A bathroom can look perfectly safe while still hiding several common fall hazards. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz walks listeners through a simple ten-minute bathroom safety check, from loose rugs and poor lighting to slippery shower surfaces, awkward reaching, and unsafe supports. Older adults and family caregivers will learn what to look for and which small changes can make everyday bathroom routines safer. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical senior home safety tips and resources.
- Transcript
October 26 · 9 min
The Best Reachers and Grabbers That Help Seniors Stay Independent
There's a resource I want to mention before we go any further. The week somebody comes home from the hospital is the hardest week there is — new equipment, new instructions, and nobody getting any sleep. My coming-home checklist gives you the things to sort out before that first night back, so you're not trying to remember it all at midnight. Print it before you leave the parking lot. It's at seniorsafetyadvice.com slash products. Let's head back to the episode.
- Transcript
October 25 · 7 min
Choosing Gratitude When Caregiving Is Hard
Caregiving can be filled with love and gratitude while also being exhausting, frustrating, and painful. In this episode, Senior Home Safety Specialist Robin Schiltz explores a realistic approach to gratitude that doesn’t ask caregivers to ignore grief, resentment, fatigue, or difficult days. She shares simple ways to notice small moments worth keeping while still making room for the harder emotions that come with caring for someone you love. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical guidance and resources for older adults and family caregivers.
- Transcript
October 24 · 9 min
My Parent Has Started Hoarding: What's Actually Dangerous, and What Can Wait
When a parent's home starts filling up, families often panic and reach for the wrong solution — a surprise clean-out that damages trust and rarely lasts. In this episode, retired occupational therapist and Certified Aging in Place Specialist Esther Kane separates what is genuinely dangerous in a cluttered home from what can wait, covering blocked walkways, stairs, heat sources, exits, and medication access. She also explains why hoarding in older adults so often follows a loss or a health change, how to raise the subject without shame, and when to bring in outside help. Visit SeniorSafetyAdvice.com for more practical advice on keeping an older adult safe at home.
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 102 episodes