Safety is something seniors can’t ignore, especially if they want to age in place. The risk of falling or experiencing another type of accident poses serious consequences. Home care services can be a huge help in keeping seniors as safe as possible in their homes.
Conduct a Home Safety Assessment
The first step is to evaluate the possible hazards in the home. Anything that could cause tripping is a big concern. Loose rugs, clutter, cords, and badly-positioned furniture are all possible concerns. Elder care providers can help family caregivers do a walkthrough of the house and learn to spot the safety issues.
Install Safety Bars
Safety bars in stairways, bathrooms, and hallways are excellent solutions to prevent falls. These bars need to be sturdy and anchored well in the wall. That way when seniors need to use them, they know they can count on them to remain attached. If seniors have significant mobility concerns, it might be a good idea to mount safety bars in other areas of the house if there is space.
Boost Lighting
If seniors have decreased vision, they might not realize it. Increasing lighting can help them to see obstacles and situations that they couldn’t see when the lighting wasn’t as good. Night lights or motion-sensing lights can be a solid option for hallways, bathrooms, and even staircases. Some light fixtures also come with remote controls, which can make it easier for seniors to control lights from wherever they are. Smart bulbs use apps, which also makes them a convenient choice.
Assess Clutter and Other Hazards
The more organized living spaces are, the easier they are for seniors to live in safely. Furniture and other items that aren’t necessary can move to other rooms or might be better somewhere else entirely. Frequently used items need to be easy to access so that seniors don’t risk their safety when they try to get to them.
Examine Flooring
Flooring is another possible safety issue. Floors that are too slippery, especially tile or wood, are a risk even in bare feet. Whether the floor has carpeting or not, family caregivers need to take a closer look and see if there’s anything that needs to be removed or replaced. Doing it now is easier than doing it after an injury.
Hire Home Care Services
Home care assistance is a huge way to improve safety for seniors immediately. Elder care providers can help with daily activities and keep seniors on the routines that help them to stay mobile and happy. Home care providers also help family caregivers stay in the loop about what’s happening with seniors on a regular basis.
Put Together an Emergency Plan
An emergency plan is something else every senior needs to have. Lists with emergency contacts should be near every phone. It’s also a good idea to run drills with seniors for different situations to make sure they remember what the plan is in an emergency.
Creating a safe home for seniors is the first step in preventing falls and other injuries. Home care providers can work with families to build plans and to implement them.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Glen Ellyn, IL, please contact the caring staff at Suburban Home Care today at (630) 964-9000.
There are several great reasons why Suburban Home Care® should be your choice for quality homecare. All of our Certified Nursing Assistants and Home Health Aides are screened, trained, bonded and insured.
Every family needs to be aware that almost every Homeowner’s insurance policy specifically excludes anyone working within your home. If the person you hire becomes injured while working for you, you will become personally responsible for all of their medical bills. This has left several families very vulnerable when their caregiver injured themselves at their home.
The potential to lose everything you have worked so hard to achieve seems an unnecessary risk. Every one of Suburban Home Care®’s employees are completely covered by insurance so you and your loved ones can relax knowing that if something unforeseen happens to your caregiver, they are completely covered by insurance.
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