How to Prevent Falls at Home: Senior Home Safety & Aging in Place | Fee Gentry

Breathe with Intention: Focus on your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for a moment, and exhale slowly. Conscious breathing helps neutralize overwhelming emotions and brings a sense of calm.
Be Your Own Comfort: Imagine what you would tell a dear friend who was feeling the same way. Now, say those kind, reassuring words to yourself. Whether it’s a phrase like, “It’s okay to let go” or “I’m safe now” , affirmations can help soothe your mind.
Anchor Yourself: Use your senses to ground yourself in the present moment. Notice what you see, hear, or feel around you. This practice helps disrupt the rumination cycle and reorients you to the here and now.

E159
35:25
November 13th 2026

How safe is your aging parent’s home?

In this episode of A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast, Isabel Melgarejo speaks with Fee Gentry about fall prevention, home safety, aging in place, and building a support system for older adults.

Fee shares her personal experience caring for aging parents and explains how families can look beyond obvious hazards to evaluate the entire home environment—including entrances, stairs, flooring, furniture, kitchens, bathrooms, lighting, clutter, and environmental risks.

They also discuss recognizing early warning signs, creating an “A-Team” of family, friends, neighbors, and community, preparing an emergency plan before a crisis, and using technology to help support safety and independence.

For family caregivers, one important takeaway is that keeping an aging loved one safe at home isn't something one person has to manage alone—it takes a system of support.

A Time to Care: The Caregivers Podcast

I’m Isabel Melgarejo, and I was raised never to talk about the uncomfortable things in life and to put myself after everyone else’s needs (just like any other woman I know). In college, after Dad’s passing, I had to change all my beliefs. I had to talk about death, about my mom’s future, and I had to ask for a LOT of favors.

After connecting with many caregivers when I moved to Texas and remembering one of the toughest seasons in my life, I created a program to help caregivers navigate these very uncomfortable conversations and help them through their particular journeys with their loved ones. In this podcast, I want to share advice on how to prioritize your mental health, how to have those difficult conversations, and how to talk you out of feeling guilty and overwhelmed.