Making Your Home Safe

The following are some key points to watch for in making your home safe for care of the elderly.  This is not all encompassing.  Please keep your loved ones condition in mind.

·         The number one injury of the elderly is falling.  Most of these are due to rugs.  It may be a good idea to remove rugs if possible.

·         Do you have railings on the bed so that the person can safely get in and out of bed?

·         If you live on a floor above ground level have you insured that no one can accidentally fall out of a window?

·         If the person drags their feet or uses a walker is the carpet or flooring easy for them to move on?  Shag carpet or thick pile carpet can be very difficult to move around on.

·         Is the shower easily accessible?  Does it have a low lip so that the person does not have to climb over the edge? 

·         Do you have non-slip grippers on the bathroom floor to prevent falls?

·         Is your water heater gauge set so that the person cannot burn themselves?  Keep in mind that many people do not feel heat as sensitively and therefore are burned more readily.

·         Showers are ideal for care giving.  If you have one make sure that there is a room for a shower chair and that the showerhead can be handheld.

·         Do you have railings by the toilets to assist the person in getting up and down?  A raised toilet seat can help with this as well.

·         Do you have a system for the person to take their food to where they are sitting?  Trays are a good option and some walkers can have trays that attach to free the hands of the person.

·         Does your oven need to be “child-proofed” so that the burners or oven cannot be turned on?  This may be necessary for people with Alzheimer’s or other conditions so that they do not hurt themselves or cause fire.