Q: If I remember correctly, in years past the city of Thousand Oaks has recognized a senior for the volunteer services he or she has provided to the community. Is the honor still being given and if so, when?

A: You remember correctly, and, yes, it is going to happen again this year.

Most people have no idea of the many ways that seniors give back to their communities. Almost every aspect of our lives is enriched by volunteer services, with many of those services being performed by caring seniors.

You will find senior volunteers at local museums and theaters. You will also find them as mentors in our schools, as HICAP counselors providing healthcare coverage information, in the local hospital, volunteering in policing thus freeing peace officers for more demanding assignments, and in almost every nonprofit organization that you can name.

Again this year the Thousand Oaks Council on Aging will recognize a senior for his or her dedicated volunteer services.

During the past months, the council has been soliciting nominations for this esteemed honor and has now announced the names of the 2007 candidates: Bob Fitch, Edward Francis, Irv Kerner, Ida Lee, Joe and Dottie Lewolt, Arlene Norkin and Mary Williford.

The naming of The Senior of the Year will take place at a spaghetti dinner and social at 6 p.m. June 7 at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased at the Goebel Center. Seating is limited, so get your ticket now so you won't miss out on an evening of fun, including big band sounds by the Unforgettables and a chance to recognize these seniors for a job well done.

Q: In the past few months I have had several friends laid up because of falls. I believe this is one of the most serious things that can happen to a senior. Do you agree, and if so, do you have any hints on how to avoid falls especially in the home?

A: Yes, I do agree. A fall in itself is bad enough, but it can, and many times does, result in additional problems. Some victims never fully recover from the effects of a fall.

While not every fall can be prevented, many can be, and so a little pre-thought on behalf of the senior or family can help reduce such occurrences.

A fall can occur in any room of the house, but there are several rooms that can prove to be more dangerous than others. Let's take the smallest room in the house the bathroom. Much can go wrong there. A wet, soapy floor, tub or shower can be more slippery than a skating rink and just getting in or out of the shower or tub can throw one off balance. Grab bars should be in all bathrooms and skidproof flooring would help eliminate the skating rink condition.

The next most dangerous room is probably the kitchen. Again, spills can make the floor slippery. Partially open drawers and cabinet doors can throw seniors off balance when they try to avoid them or bumping into them. A little effort to make sure that spills are wiped up and drawers and doors are always closed when not in use will help eliminate a dangerous situation.

Stairs can be deadly. There can be unsecured handrails, slippery conditions, loose carpeting, poor lighting and objects left on the steps. Handrails should go from the very first step to the very last, and they should be securely attached to the wall. Light switches should be at both the top and bottom of the stairs so they can be turned on when ascending or descending.

Other rooms can create dangerous conditions because of poor lighting, cluttered walkways, lamp cords and throw or scatter rugs.

Perhaps we should all take time to review each room in our homes or those homes of aging loved ones to see if we have any conditions that should be corrected and thus ensure a fall-free environment.

Betty Berry is a senior advocate for Senior Concerns. The advocates are at the Goebel Senior Adult Center, 1385 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91362; call 495-6250. You are invited to submit questions on senior issues.