SENIOR LIVING My mother lives in an assisted living facility yet is very independent. With the holidays approaching we are wondering about decorations. Can you offer some advice on what should and should not be used? We want to decorate but we want to do it safely Chuck Jensen Assistant A. This is a great question and one that should be asked. Decorations should be as fire resistant as Administrator possible. By that I mean that real trees, real wreaths, corn stalks and other similar items should never be used. I would encourage you to limit the amount of paper decorations as well and never attach them to the entrance door. Entrance doors must be able to close and latch properly to inhibit smoke travel, so be careful if using over the door hangers. Do not hang from; attach to; or otherwise interfere with the fire sprinklers, smoke detectors or other safety devices in the apartment. Make sure that all lighting or other electrical decorations have the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) tag on them. There are other testing labs that are acceptable so when in doubt ask your facility manager or maintenance staff. I strongly discourage the use of any electrical product with no safety test tag attached. Limit the use of extension cords and always check all wiring for fraying, cracks, or other unsafe conditions. My last suggestion is to never use anything that has a flame - it is just too risky If in doubt ask your facility staff. They are there to assist you with all your needs! For more information on WoodsEdge Senior Living Campus or to schedule a tour, contact (218) 333-6211. You may also visit our website at www.sanfordhealth.org. Sanford Health Senior Services includes WindSong Trillium, Neilson Place and Baker Park. Sanford Health WoodsEdge Senior Living Campus 1000 Anne Street NW Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-6211 www.sanfordhealth.org SANF:3RD HEALTH WoodsEdge