Today so many more people are living longer and staying in their homes. We need to make sure their homes are safe and have the safety precautions in place that they require. There are lots of safety products available to make the seniors life at home more enjoyable and easier on them. It’s very easy to make sure the home of a senior citizen is safe. Start by asking the senior if there is anything that they could change in their house to make life better for them. Then walk around from room to room and look for things that might be unsafe.
General House safety for Seniors
1. Some things to look for would include items that could cause a fall such as throw rugs that slide around easily, electrical cords, or anything that might be in the way of a clear walkway through the house.
2. Make sure there are handrails on all stairs. Make sure the handrails are secured properly. Place handrails on stairs even if there are only two or three steps. Seniors can become unsteady with the littlest of change in balance. Check that there is adequate lighting above all stairs. Make sure any carpeting or runners on the stairs are secured in place.
3. Check the batteries in all smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
4. Make sure any light bulbs that have burnt out are replaced. Walking into a dark room and fumbling around to change a light bulb could cause a senior to become unbalanced. If the senior had to climb on a step stool or ladder they could become unsteady and fall.
5. Make sure furniture is arranged in a way that allows the senior to easily get around the home without having to worry about bumping into anything.
6.Make sure there are flashlights in every room in case the power was to go off. This way the senior could avoid injury by walking around a dark house.
Bathroom Safety for Seniors
1. Place a handrail in the shower or bathtub. This will make getting in and out easier and give the senior something to hold onto in case they should feel unsteady while bathing. Consider a bath seat, this can make the time in the shower easier by allowing the senior to sit while showering.
2.make sure the bottom of the bathtub has a nonskid runner or strips to prevent falls from the slippery surface of the wet tub.
3.Hand held shower attachments are something to consider. They can make showering a lot easier for the senior, especially if they are using a bath seat.
4.Check to make sure the senior can get on an off the commode without any problems. If they are having trouble consider getting a handicap accessible toilet. They have the seat set higher making it easier to use. Also you could place a handrail by the toilet to allow the senior to hold on and pull himself or herself up if they needed to. If they do not want to have a handicapped toilet they can get a potty seat that fits right over their current toilet. This seat will make their toilet seat higher and it has handles on both sides to make getting on and off easier.
5. There are buttons you can have installed in the seniors bathroom that when pushed trigger the 911 center to send help in case of a fall or other injury. You might also consider putting a phone in the bathroom so if the senior were to fall or need help they would be able to call for help.
The senior can stay in their own home much longer then before with the aid of a few simple safety precautions .It is a good idea to have a daily call time set up where the senior can call you and check in. This way you know if they don’t call there could be a problem and they need to be checked on. If you know a senior that needs safety equipment check with their insurance company sometimes they will help with the cost of the equipment.
