This was a guest post that shared way back in 2013. I thought I would share it with y’all again with summer being in full swing you may have some senior citizens staying with you. I hope you find the tips helpful. I know that we use all three of the tips listed because they are so important. Especially the one about falling, my mother will fall at the drop of a hat.
Are you planning on having a senior living with you? Do you already have a senior living in your home? Here are some easy and inexpensive tips on how you can make your home safer and more secure for the elderly generation.
1. Eliminate hazards around the home
Falling is one of the most dangerous occurrences for seniors. As people get older, their risk of falling increases, and the injuries caused by falling become more severe. Eliminating hazards around the home that lead to tripping or falling can greatly increase the comfort and safety of your home for everyone.
– Throw rugs and clutter on the floor can cause tripping and falling. Remove as much of this as possible to keep your home safe.
– Raised doorway thresholds can go unseen or be forgotten. Prevent tripping by removing these.
– Loose carpet can trip people up also. Make sure your carpet is properly tacked down.
– Light up your bathrooms and walkways. Also, make sure you line them up with nightlights.
– If you have stairs, be sure that these are sturdy and secure. Handrails are also necessary.
– If something is spilled in your home, make sure it is taken care of immediately.
– Hardwood floors can be hazardous when freshly cleaned. Be sure to use nonskid floor cleaners.
– Keep electrical cords and furniture out of the way.
– Canes, walkers, and crutches should all have rubber tips to help movement.
2. Increase bathroom safety
Bathrooms pose many dangers due to their slick surfaces. Because bathrooms are an area with high traffic for everyone, it’s a good idea to make this zone safer.
– Nonskid bathroom mats should be placed on the inside and outside of the shower/tub, near the toilet and sinks, and towards the exit of the bathroom.
– Have grab handles in the bathroom that are always within reach.
– Bath benches and shower chairs are a great idea.
– Make sure shower curtains do not have holes. Holey curtains can lead to a wet floor.
– Bathroom fans help reduce moisture after a hot shower.
– Using brushes with long handles can make bathing easier and safer.
3. General safety
Aside from the obvious physical dangers, there are many other dangers you and your senior need to be prepared for. A good way to prepare your home for these types of dangers are with a security system. With a solid Jersey Village home security system, I was able to protect my senior and family from these dangerous events. Consider getting the home security Fort Worth senior residents need.
– Smoke alarms are necessary. Make sure there is one outside each bedroom.
– Carbon monoxide detectors are also necessary.
– Check the batteries of these two devices regularly.
– Light-weight fire extinguishers can come in handy.
– Monitors and intercoms can help the family stay connected with ease throughout the home.
– The the home well-lit to make sure there are no hard-to-see objects on the floor.
– Remote switches for lights and appliances are convenient.
– Emergency escape plans are necessary. Make sure the escape is easy and accessible for everyone.
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Very good tips! My MIL and her sister are in their 80’s and visit our home a few times a year. One thing we have done that many people forget is to secure some smaller bookshelves to the wall. We have a set of three slim–DVD/Paperback sized shelves about 4 ft tall along a hallway wall. The are lightweight enough that if one of the ladies tried to hold on to them to catch her balance, the whole shelf might fall. So Hubz got some simple L-shaped hardware and secured the shelves to the wall.
Awesome tips Rita! I care for my elderly Grandmother who just turned 92 years old. She suffers from dementia, has had numerous strokes, and is prone to falling. I’ve had to learn so many things thru trial and error. Your tips are right on, and will help me & alot of people when caring for elderly friends and family members. We recently moved her in with us, and it’s been challenging. I love your tip for having an Emergency Safety Plan in place, and will do that next. Having 2 young kids, I know what I’d do in an emergency, but keeping them educated can only help the entire situation. Thanks Rita!
Great Tips!! My mom has had to move in with my sister due to some health problems. We have taken care of making some of these items to accommodate her. There are a few things on this list that I don’t think we even thought of. Like a bath chair or bench! I am going to print this list to share with my sister. Thanks you for taking the time to create this list. It is super helpful!
Great tips. These tips are good for any age really. My Mom is in her 80’s and visits us a few times a year. We always help her her walk up or down our stairs and she is a bit frail.
From my experience with grandparents and older aunts/uncles, there are far too many ways to hurt when you get to that vulnerable age. In addition, we’ve had experience with family members dealing with illness that leaves them more vulnerable to getting hurt as well. I think falls are a huge risk and probably the one that I’ve been witness to, so I agree with all of these preventative safety measures. Handrails/handles are a big one, both in and out of the bathroom. Obstructive items that might get in the way causing someone to trip, get injured or feel stuck are also important to keep in mind. I think having a quick way to receive emergency help is also imperative for those elderly that cannot help themselves independently.
These are all fantastic ~ simple ~ and I love it, inexpensive fixes to unforeseen problems. My grandmother is in a wheelchair and I know that we have to make special provisions when she is staying with us. I was so happy to have found remote controlled lights for her room. One other thing I have to do is make sure that she has drinks in containers that are not too heavy for her to lift and get out of the fridge. Thanks for sharing ~ these are not just tips, these are musts!
Thank you for sharing these great tips. Unfortunately I don’t have any more grandparents and thankfully my mom is doing great on her own. If my mom does as good as her mom did I will not have to worry about my mom taking care of herself for a long time.
I think you covered everything! I do not have any seniors living with my husband and I but when I was a child we had my great grandmother living with us and it was crucial that we did these things. After all the reason she moved in was she had one too many falls in her own home.