One of the leading causes of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for elderly Americans is a fall. Every 11 seconds an older adult receives emergency room treatment as a result of a fall. What’s more, more than half of these falls occur inside the home, which only goes to show how unsafe a house can be. If you’ve got parents currently living in their home, of course you want to makea home safe as can be, so with that in mind, below are some tips to help you.
Perform a Risk Assessment
This critical assessment is something you should be doing annually. When your parents get older, the potential hazards are going to increase. Look out for things that are out of reach, items that could fall or they could bump in to. Furthermore, make a home safe by checking for trip hazards and difficult to manage steps and stairs.
Re-Arrange the Furniture
Each room should have a clear path for getting around. It might mean you have to move the furniture or move items against the wall and out of the way to make sure a home is safe and accessible. It would be wise to connect with an interior decorator in CT to help with the space planning in the home.
Provide More Lighting
When your parents get older, their sight is going to deteriorate, so they need to be able to see what’s around them. Additional lighting should be provided where there’s a step or trip hazard, under kitchen cabinets and on the stairs. You don’t need to worry about wiring extra lights in because you can use stick-on tap lights as a quick and easy solution to make a home safe.
Ditch the Rugs
Rugs can make a home look very attractive. However, they are a danger to older adults. If your parents can’t bear to part with their rugs for sentimental reasons, make sure they’re put out of the way.
Look into the Possibility of Home Care
Non-medical in home elderly care is an option if your parents require companionship, supervision, or assistance with their personal care. You can visit www.inhomecare.com if you want to know more about this kind of service in your area.
Install Grab Bars in the Bathroom
Bathrooms are very dangerous places for seniors. Wet floors are an obvious hazard, but using the toilet can become very difficult as can getting in and out of the bath. Strategically placed grabs bars are going to be very useful to make a home safe for the elderly.
Re-Organize Cabinets
Are there any cabinets which are difficult for your parents to reach? If they’re tempted to use a chair or stepladder to reach something, they are putting themselves in danger. It’s going to be far more convenient and safer if items out of reach are moved somewhere lower.
Install Smart Lights
As people get older, their eyes become slower and slower at reacting to darkness. It takes much longer for our eyes to adjust to darkness, the older we get. Rather than having to walk across a room or downstairs to switch on the light, you can install a clapper or smart lights that can be turned on with voice commands and a smart home product.
Hire a Cleaning Service
When your parents get older, they’re going to find it increasingly difficult to keep their home clean. It might not seem like a safety issue until you think about the increased possibility of harmful bacteria, allergens, and bugs!
You want your parents to be able to stay in the comfort of their own home for as long as possible, so it makes sense for you to ensure their home is safe.
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