How can Elderly Avoid Accidents
Most elderly people face dangers in their own homes every day, if their homes are not secure and made fit for their living. Just like baby-proofing the apartment or homes, elderly people also need special equipment and certain caution in order to protect them from accidents like slipping and falling, or colliding against something. Elderly people should take extra care about such things since their body will be sensitive and takes longer to recuperate from accidents. There are several things that the family members must take care of, in order to make the homes suitable for the stay of elderly people.
Clutter free
Firstly, the house of the elderly must be free of clutter, so that there are no inhibitions for their everyday movement around the house. All loose items that are not very clearly visible should be put into storage and de-cluttered. Leaving electric wires loosely around the house may cause them to slip and fall. The flooring must always be kept damp, to prevent any mishaps when elderly people are moving around the house. Elderly people tend to have poor eyesight, so anything that they cannot take notice of must be removed from the floor. If there are hardwood floors, covering them up with slip resistant carpeting or area rugs is advisable. Rearranging the shelves of kitchen and living room, to have most frequently used items at reachable height and distance for the elderly is advisable.
Safety equipment
Elderly people need assistance in climbing up and down the stairs, in order to reach the top floors of the house. Having Stair lift equipment and powered vehicle in the house to help elderly get around the house can avoid unnecessary falls or undesirable circumstances. Special lighting to highlight fire escapes and to give them caution of tricky areas around the house is required. Also, since they have poor vision, they need bright lights to identify things, and prevent unnecessary accidents. If there are any electronics that are used, they should be kept in spacious rooms and if possible at an elevation, to avoid any accidents when they are in use. Installing railing in the bathrooms to help elderly be more cautious in slippery conditions is advised. Checking the walls for loose nails, or checking the porch for loose boards, and other hazardous materials should be part of regular maintenance.
Medical and other emergencies
Elderly people must have an alarm system within accessing distance at all times of the day. They must have an alarm system that they can trigger when they feel it is a health emergency, or they have an undesirable presence in their homes. This makes it easier for them to live in confidence, and will alert the necessary officials in case of an emergency. The security system of housing must be in place, with all the bolts for the doors and windows strengthened. Usually, lonely elderly people are more vulnerable to breaking and entering and thefts, so they need to have a robust security system in place. Elderly people deserve to live in peace, and safeguarding the house against all possible dangers helps them relax.
Clutter free
Firstly, the house of the elderly must be free of clutter, so that there are no inhibitions for their everyday movement around the house. All loose items that are not very clearly visible should be put into storage and de-cluttered. Leaving electric wires loosely around the house may cause them to slip and fall. The flooring must always be kept damp, to prevent any mishaps when elderly people are moving around the house. Elderly people tend to have poor eyesight, so anything that they cannot take notice of must be removed from the floor. If there are hardwood floors, covering them up with slip resistant carpeting or area rugs is advisable. Rearranging the shelves of kitchen and living room, to have most frequently used items at reachable height and distance for the elderly is advisable.
Safety equipment
Elderly people need assistance in climbing up and down the stairs, in order to reach the top floors of the house. Having Stair lift equipment and powered vehicle in the house to help elderly get around the house can avoid unnecessary falls or undesirable circumstances. Special lighting to highlight fire escapes and to give them caution of tricky areas around the house is required. Also, since they have poor vision, they need bright lights to identify things, and prevent unnecessary accidents. If there are any electronics that are used, they should be kept in spacious rooms and if possible at an elevation, to avoid any accidents when they are in use. Installing railing in the bathrooms to help elderly be more cautious in slippery conditions is advised. Checking the walls for loose nails, or checking the porch for loose boards, and other hazardous materials should be part of regular maintenance.
Medical and other emergencies
Elderly people must have an alarm system within accessing distance at all times of the day. They must have an alarm system that they can trigger when they feel it is a health emergency, or they have an undesirable presence in their homes. This makes it easier for them to live in confidence, and will alert the necessary officials in case of an emergency. The security system of housing must be in place, with all the bolts for the doors and windows strengthened. Usually, lonely elderly people are more vulnerable to breaking and entering and thefts, so they need to have a robust security system in place. Elderly people deserve to live in peace, and safeguarding the house against all possible dangers helps them relax.
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