According to the Home Safety Council, falls are the leading cause of home injury death among older adults, accounting for 52.5% of all home injury deaths for adults between the ages of 65 and 74. And yet, falls are often preventable with the proper information and simple, inexpensive home modifications. A home safety inspection by a knowledgeable provider of home care services to seniors will often eliminate dangerous conditions before a mishap.
There are some simple things that families and seniors can do in their homes to enhance their independence and safety.
Print this list out and consider going room to room to ensure that you are enjoying your home to the fullest degree while at the same time remaining as safe as possible.
Emergency Procedures:
- Do you know how to summon for emergency assistance?
- Have you considered a personal medical alert system (for example Phillips Lifeline)?
- Do you have a phone system that works for you/family despite any vision or cognitive declines? Large dial phones and ones that use pictures can be very helpful and can be ordered on line.
Floors:
- Is the home free of scatter rugs? If not, are all rugs secured at the edges?
- Are pathways and hallways clear of excess furniture and debris?
Lighting:
- Are night lights used along areas traveled after dark?
- Are light switches easily visible and within reach? Glow in the dark tape can be placed on light switches to make them visible and avoid night time incidents of not being able to see a switch.
Bathroom:
- Are there hand grips by the tub/shower?
- Are there hand grips by the toilet? Have you considered replacing low toilets with a newer and higher model which makes getting on and off the toilet safer and easier. As we age we lose muscle strength in our legs which makes this act more difficult.
- Can someone in the home with cognitive decline recognize the bathroom? If someone with Dementia/Alzheimers is having difficulty locating the bathroom, you may want to 1)always keep the light on in the bathroom; 2) place a picture of a toilet on the door of the bathroom as a visual reminder.
- Can someone get safely in and out of the tub/shower safely? Consider hiring a caregiver to assist with bathing needs if this is a difficult task. Bathing is important not just for hygiene itself, but also to ensure good skin integrity and minimize infections in personal areas.
Kitchen:
- Are the homeowners able to identify expired foods? As we age we often experience changes in our vision, taste and smell which puts us at high risk for exposure to expired food. Plan on regularly checking the food in the fridge and cupboards.
- Are sharp objects kept out of the reach of cognitively impaired occupants?
- Are adaptive devices available (extended graspers, eating devices, etc)
For more home safety ideas, contact our office at 480-483-8531. Request an Elder Caregiving Workbook which will give you more ideas and helpful hints.
And, as part of our free in home nurse assessment service, Carefree Homecare will reveiw your home for dangerous conditions that could lead to an un-necessary fall.
Carefree Homecare Companion Service provides premier non-medical home care for seniors in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley. Call us today at 480-483-8531
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