To increase safety in the house for seniors, complete a room-by-room inspection.
With the vast majority of older adults choosing to continue to live at home during aging, it’s important to perform a thorough home assessment to find and correct any dangers and make certain the seniors you love stay safe. The most effective way to accomplish this is to start outside of the home and work your way in, room by room, visualizing what the experience would be in every location if you struggled with the frequent challenges experienced with age, such as with vision or balance.
Listed here are some useful modification ideas to improve safety in the house:
Outside:
- Inspect sidewalks and other walking areas for uneven pavement, loose bricks, cracks, leaves, along with other debris
- Verify that the address number, either on the mailbox or the home itself, is clearly visible in case emergency responders need to locate the house
- If there are stairs or a ramp leading up to the front door, a handrail should be mounted on both sides
Foyer/Entryway:
- Eliminate any clutter, cords, or other things that could potentially cause somebody to trip
- Utilize a no-trip threshold in the doorway
- Ensure there’s plenty of lighting, and a small table to place packages, a handbag, along with other items when entering the house
Kitchen:
- Keep commonly-used items in easy-to-reach places
- Utilize Lazy Susans, pull out cabinets, and shelves for better access
- Use touch, sensor, or lever handles instead of knobs that turn
- Set water temperature to no higher than 120 degrees F
- Mount grab bars beside the toilet, in the tub/shower, and in any other strategic locations
- Consider a higher toilet, or add a toilet seat riser, along with a shower chair and handheld shower wand
- Always utilize non-slip strips in the tub as well as on the floor, and remove any throw rugs or mats (or ensure they are safely fastened to the floor)
Bedroom:
- Place nightlights both within the bedroom itself, as well as in the hallway leading to the bathroom
- Eliminate any obstacles between the bed and doorway, and any other areas within the room where the older adult may move about
- Replace throw rugs with carpeting
Throughout the house, be certain that walkways are clear and spacious enough to accommodate a wheelchair or walker. It’s equally important to set up smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, testing them regularly and replacing batteries at least every 6 months.
It’s also a good idea to consider an emergency response pendant for the senior to wear, which could be activated to call for help in the event of a fall or other emergency.
Above all, partner with a reliable provider of home and live in care in Bristol and the surrounding area, like Live Free Home Health Care. We are available to perform a house safety assessment and recommend added actions which can be taken to make sure your senior loved one remains safe, as well as offer a number of in-home care services, customized to each individual’s distinct needs.
Call us at 603-217-0149 any time for more information!