7 Tips to Keep Your Elderly Loved One Safe at Home
Not all family caregivers live with their aging parents. Many live nearby or within driving distance but may not see their elderly loved ones every day. They might have routine visits and multiple phone calls but there are a lot of hours in the day when no one is home with their loved one. If your senior is still living independently in her home, you can help her take some preventative steps to keep it safe and add in extra security and wellness checks. By making some minor changes around the home, as well as relying on support from home care providers, your loved one can remain in her home while staying safe and happy.
Seven Tips To Create a Safe Environment for Your Loved One
- If your loved one is living alone in a large home, one thing to review is how much of that home she uses. You might consider shutting off certain rooms or even helping her get rid of some items in the home she no longer uses. A simpler home allows her to focus on maintaining what she needs and prevents her from overextending herself physically.
- Set up safety features around the home. You can help her set how high the water heater can go so she doesn’t scald herself in the bath or while washing dishes. You can also set up an automatic shut-off switch on the stove in case it accidentally gets left on. Don’t forget to make sure she has adequate smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the home that are fully charged.
- Install supportive features. If your loved one is finding she has less strength in her legs and needs help getting in and out of the bathtub or off the toilet, set up secure grab bars for her. Railings are important for every staircase, as well as adequate lighting.
- If she has a medical device, make sure she wears a medical alert bracelet or necklace at all times so if she is not able to communicate her health condition, a trained healthcare provider can easily see what she needs.
- Have her wear an alert device that can let others know if she’s fallen or needs emergency help.
- Remove tripping hazards. Extended electric cords, old rugs, and uneven flooring can all lead to a trip and fall that could seriously injure your loved one.
- Talk about what she should do and who she should call during each type of emergency and make sure she has the phone numbers she needs within easy access. Talk about weather emergencies, the power going out, a crime being committed, or a medical emergency. Giving her the tools before it happens can help her stay more calm when an emergency happens.
Home Care Can Help Keep Your Elderly Loved One Safe
If you don’t live near your elderly loved one, having a home care team that visits regularly is a great way to help your loved one stay safe in her home. A home care provider can help her with household chores that are too physically difficult for her, assist with food safety, and provide a second set of eyes to let you know if there are any concerns about your loved one’s living situation.
If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in San Ramon, CA, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Walnut Creek. (925) 203-3039.
