Home Safety for the Elderly
If you have an elderly family member living at home, or alone nearby, take the time to review a few simple safety measures with them to avoid accidents. Accidents that may result in minor injury to younger, stronger, and more active people may be serious and even life-threatening for an elderly person. Luckily, making the home safe for elderly loved ones is a task that generally just requires presence of mind and precaution.
Lighting
While the general quality of vision often fails with old age, night vision is even more dramatically impaired. Keep stairways, bathrooms, and other potentially dangerous areas well-lit to avoid accidents for lack of visibility. Use bright night lights in wall plugs for those late night trips to the bathroom or kitchen.
Stairs
Stairs can be especially problematic for elderly people with impaired mobility and weaker leg muscles. What's more, falls on stairs are a startlingly common cause of serious injury amongst older folks and can prove fatal to their weakened immune systems. Make sure handrails are at a customized, comfortable height and are sturdily attached to the wall. If they are of polished wood or other potentially slick material, add a non-slip covering to prevent hands from slipping off. The same goes for the steps themselves. If possible, move the person's bedroom downstairs to reduce risky, unnecessary trips up and down.
Bathing
Make sure that showers and tubs have complete coverage with non-slip surfaces. Install a support bar for use in the shower and place a non-slip bathmat outside of the tub.
Smoke and Fire
Make sure smoke alarms are in working order and regularly tested. If the home does not have carbon monoxide detectors, install these as well. Many new smoke detectors are combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If the home has a home alarm system, look for the option to have integrated smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring through the security company.
Ease of Access
Think about the placement of kitchen accessories, toiletries, and other frequently used items with a frail body in mind. Keep commonly reached-for items at a level where excessive bending or reaching is not necessary. Nothing that is regularly used should require an elderly person to stand on a chair or a ladder.
Electronic Appliances
Appliances such as toasters, curling irons, and coffee pots should have automatic switches or off timers to prevent failing memory from causing dangerous accidents or fire.
Cords
Keep cables and cords well organized and attached to walls or bundled under dressers, couches, or entertainment centers to prevent dangerous falls due to tripping. Similarly, do a check for loose tiles or floorboards, rugs that may slip on wood floors, or any other floor-level obstacles that could cause a fall.
Home Security System
Many home security systems include one-touch emergency buttons that can alert a monitoring service in the event of a break-in or medical emergency. Look for home alarm systems that include a remote control that your elderly loved one can keep with them as well as units that can be installed in the bathroom and the kitchen.
Lighting
While the general quality of vision often fails with old age, night vision is even more dramatically impaired. Keep stairways, bathrooms, and other potentially dangerous areas well-lit to avoid accidents for lack of visibility. Use bright night lights in wall plugs for those late night trips to the bathroom or kitchen.
Stairs
Stairs can be especially problematic for elderly people with impaired mobility and weaker leg muscles. What's more, falls on stairs are a startlingly common cause of serious injury amongst older folks and can prove fatal to their weakened immune systems. Make sure handrails are at a customized, comfortable height and are sturdily attached to the wall. If they are of polished wood or other potentially slick material, add a non-slip covering to prevent hands from slipping off. The same goes for the steps themselves. If possible, move the person's bedroom downstairs to reduce risky, unnecessary trips up and down.
Bathing
Make sure that showers and tubs have complete coverage with non-slip surfaces. Install a support bar for use in the shower and place a non-slip bathmat outside of the tub.
Smoke and Fire
Make sure smoke alarms are in working order and regularly tested. If the home does not have carbon monoxide detectors, install these as well. Many new smoke detectors are combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If the home has a home alarm system, look for the option to have integrated smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring through the security company.
Ease of Access
Think about the placement of kitchen accessories, toiletries, and other frequently used items with a frail body in mind. Keep commonly reached-for items at a level where excessive bending or reaching is not necessary. Nothing that is regularly used should require an elderly person to stand on a chair or a ladder.
Electronic Appliances
Appliances such as toasters, curling irons, and coffee pots should have automatic switches or off timers to prevent failing memory from causing dangerous accidents or fire.
Cords
Keep cables and cords well organized and attached to walls or bundled under dressers, couches, or entertainment centers to prevent dangerous falls due to tripping. Similarly, do a check for loose tiles or floorboards, rugs that may slip on wood floors, or any other floor-level obstacles that could cause a fall.
Home Security System
Many home security systems include one-touch emergency buttons that can alert a monitoring service in the event of a break-in or medical emergency. Look for home alarm systems that include a remote control that your elderly loved one can keep with them as well as units that can be installed in the bathroom and the kitchen.
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