To create a safe home environment for your senior, you should focus on a strategy involving general safety enhancements and room-specific modifications. This approach requires careful attention to detail, foresight, and readiness to adapt to the environment according to the evolving needs of the seniors.
Falls represent a substantial safety risk for seniors, with about 36 million falls reported yearly among older adults.
According to the Paper of MD Laurence Z. Rubenstein, Falls in Older People: epidemiology, risk factors and Strategies for Prevention, about the diverse causes of falls among older individuals, the primary contributor to falls is accident or environment-related factors, often involving home setup and conditions.
This underscores the importance of creating safe living spaces to reduce the risk of falls in the elderly population significantly.
This risk can be exacerbated by various factors in the home environment, such as slippery floors, clutter, loose rugs, and poorly lit areas.
The dangers extend to areas with high shelves and cabinets, where seniors might lose balance while trying to reach for items and where unsecured heavy items could fall and cause serious injuries.
Fire and burn hazards from candles, stovetops, or heaters are also concerns.
This guide provides five general steps to make your home safe, followed by room-specific recommendations.
How to assess the Senior’s Home and make it safer:
Begin by identifying potential hazards and areas that need improvement. Each home will differ, so a one-size-fits-all approach may not work. Be mindful of areas that may be tricky to navigate or pose a risk of falling.
- Fix immediate safety concerns: Remove Fall HazardsDe-clutter your space and remove any objects that could cause the senior to trip or fall. This could include loose rugs, pet toys, or clothing. Fix carpets and rugs to the floor to prevent them from moving, and rearrange furniture to create clear walking paths. The aim is to clear walkways from any possible obstruction.
- Secure objects from falling risk: Identify any items positioned at a height that could fall and cause injury. This could include books on high shelves, kitchenware in overhead cabinets, or picture frames. Ensure they are securely placed, or move them to lower locations if necessary.
- Eliminate slipping risks: Be aware of any surfaces in the home that could be slippery when wet, such as bathroom tiles or certain types of wooden flooring. Consider using non-slip mats in these areas or treating surfaces with non-slip wax. You can also install safety steps.
- Ensure Proper Lighting: All hallways, stairs, and paths are well-lit, and all the buttons are working. Replace any burned-out bulbs immediately and add new lamps in dark areas.
- Install Additional Safety Features & Devices: Depending on the senior’s mobility, the necessity may arise for additional support features that assist with movement, standing, and sitting. Incorporate safety elements such as grab bars near toilets and showers and safety rails in beds and near steps. Standing aids like steps next to bathtubs or beds are valuable tools to help older people stand up and reduce the risk of falls at home.
Room-Specific Safety Tips for Seniors
We have seen the essential considerations and fixes to perform in seniors’ homes. This section will give you additional reviews of each room’s characteristics and hazards.
Bathroom Safety
- Install Grab Bars: To get support in and out of the bathtub, shower, and toilet by installing grab bars.
- Install Bath Board: To allow seniors to sit at a good height while bathing, it could be a chair for a shower.
- Add Bath Step: To help seniors reach the bath. Very Affordable compared to the transfer bench
- Ensure Smooth Transitions: Besides the placed grab bars, many other toilet safety aids are excellent for ensuring bathroom safety for seniors. This includes raised toilet seats and frames that make use of the toilet easy.
Bedroom Safety
- Install Bed Rails: To prevent falls during sleep, it also helps get in and out of bed.
- Raise the Bed: To prevent fall when standing from the bed become difficult. Seniors will need less effort to get in and out of bed.
- Install Motion Sensor Lighting: To help seniors navigate at night, install it to turn on when seniors get out of bed automatically. This can prevent falls caused by inadequate lighting.
Kitchen Safety
- Reorganize Storage: Frequently used items should be stored on lower shelves so seniors won’t need to reach or climb.
- Install Automatic Shut-off Devices: These can prevent accidents related to leaving the stove or oven on.
Living Room Safety
- Stable Furniture: All furniture, especially chairs and tables, should be sturdy and durable to support weight and provide balance when needed.
- Use Non-Slip Covers: Apply non-slip covers to chair and sofa seats. These can help seniors maintain their balance when sitting down or standing up.
Stairs and Hallway Safety
- Install Handrails: Handrails on both sides of the staircase can give excellent support and balance when ascending or descending stairs.
- Non-Slip Strips: Apply non-slip strips to each stair tread to prevent slipping. If the staircase is carpeted, ensure the carpet is secure and not frayed or loose.
Final Words :
While some modifications require specific safety devices or professional installation, many tasks can be done at no cost by reorganizing and decluttering the living space.
However, it’s important to remember that investing in safety can save costs in the long run by preventing injuries and expensive hospital visits.
So, assess these needs accurately and prioritize based on the senior’s specific requirements and your available budget. And regardless of the modifications made, the safety assessment needs to be repeated over time as the senior’s health and abilities evolve, and the environment at home is not static.