Yeonggwang-gun Installs 'Safety Handrails' in Senior Centers

[Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong] On the 18th, Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it will install ‘safety handrails’ in all registered senior centers in the area to prevent falls and slips, which are the second most common cause of accidental deaths among the elderly (approximately 830,000 people annually), following traffic accidents.

Elderly people can suffer serious injuries such as hip and lumbar fractures even from minor falls, and reports indicate that half of the elderly who suffer hip fractures eventually die, highlighting the increasing importance of safety and convenience facilities in elderly welfare institutions.

Previously, in December last year, the county received recommendations for 52 senior centers with high usage frequency, including ‘Yeonggwang-eup Usan Women’s Senior Center,’ through the town and township offices, and completed the installation of safety handrails.

Based on the satisfaction results from the completed installations, the county plans to expand the installation to the remaining senior centers by the end of May.

The ‘Senior Center Safety Handrail Installation Project’ installs 3 to 4 safety handrails per senior center, targeting places where there are floor level differences (thresholds) such as ‘entrances, bathrooms, and multipurpose room doors,’ where elderly people need to step with one foot and move their steps.

The newly installed safety handrails have silicone-coated surfaces that prevent slipping even with wet hands, and unlike the previous aluminum material, they are not cold in winter. Additionally, the handrails are made with phosphorescent material to function effectively even in dark environments.

A county official stated, “Most senior centers in the area are over 20 years old since construction and have deteriorated, and the architectural design standards are based on average adults, so improving facilities for the safety and convenience of the elderly is very important. We will strive to improve the quality of life so that local elderly residents can live safe and comfortable later years.”

Yeonggwang=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Jeonseong leejs7879@asiae.co.kr