Make Home a Safe Place to Stay

For the frail elderly, an injury or fall at home could mean the end of independent living.   Fortunately, most injuries can be prevented with a little effort by a caregiver or family member.  So, for those of you who have been charged with the task of keeping someone safe, here are a few things to consider:

The first step in making your home safe is to eliminate any fire hazards, tripping hazards, or possible air contaminants in the home.   To address any fire hazards or air contaminants, try calling your local fire department to ask if someone might come to evaluate your home for possible risks.  If you have a case manager, you can ask him or her to come evaluate your home as well. Some potential hazards include:

Stacks of books, magazines, and papers

Old electrical outlets
Excessive clutter
Uneven floor surfaces
Old space heaters
Gas stoves and ovens

The next step in reducing the risk of at home injuries is making things easier to do.  Keeping everyday items within reach reduces the risk of back and neck strain, and dizziness that occurs after bending over and standing back up.  Falls often occur in the bathroom where the floors can be slippery and the floor space is limited.  A caregiver can reduce the risk of bathroom falls greatly by helping with transition in and out of the tub.  If a caregiver is not available, bars and rails should be in place for self assistance.  Non slip bathmats, shower chairs, and hand-held shower heads are all great tools to make the bathroom safer.  Many of these items are made less expensive or may even be free to seniors or disabled individuals.   In order to find out if you can get these items discounted or free, you can contact your healthcare provider, home care agency, or local medical supply company.  As you look around for ways to make things easier, ask yourself these questions:

Is every room in the home well lit?
Are the pathways clear and wide?
Are all cords and wires kept close to the wall?
Are rugs and carpets smooth and even?
Are rooms free of clutter?
Are hand rails installed properly?

Step three in reducing the risk of at home injuries is to evaluate the bedroom .  Getting in and out of bed is troublesome for the frail elderly for several reasons.  Having a walker or cane next to the bed is helpful in the morning, when dizziness is often worse.  Night vision often decreases with age so it is helpful to have a night light in the bedroom, hallway, and bathroom and a flashlight beside the bed.  Making sure the mattress is in good condition and not too soft will make getting in and out of bed easier and will reduce aches and pains in the morning.  At some point you may need to consider getting an adjustable hospital bed.

There are many things to consider when making your home a safe place to live, many of which are not covered in this blog, so, our best advise to research and ask for help.
 If you plan to make modifications to your home to improve the safety this link may be helpful:   http://www.csa.us/docs/HomeSafetyforSeniorsGuide.pdf
For more information about small changes that will make your home safer follow this link:  http://www.seniorresource.com/Senior_Home_Safety_Checklist.htm