How to Ensure Your Loved One’s Home is Safe As They Get Older

If your parent or loved one is growing older, then it’s important to be diligent and aware of the different hazards around their home. With the vasty majority of seniors, or about 90%, hoping to age in place and stay in their home as they grow older, the demand for senior in home care services is rising fast.

The peace of living under one’s own rules is one of the top three reasons that seniors choose not to relocate into an assisted living facility. Considering that only 9% of seniors wish to move to a different location for their care, it is a necessity to go through their home and try to remove any accidents waiting to happen.

If one of your relatives is aging in place, then here’s a list of some senior care safety precautions you can follow to ensure a happy and safe home.

Remember: If you’re worried about an aging loved one, the most important thing you can do for them is visit regularly! If you find the house getting cluttered or dirty, then help clean up, hire a cleaning service, or talk about the possibility of senior care.

Bathroom Safety

• Utilize a nightlight so the room is always illuminated.
• Put traction pads on the bathtub.
• Install handrails on either side of the toilet, along with grips in the shower.
• Mark the hot and cold faucets in large letters.
• For seniors with disabilities, consider hiring senior care services to assist with daily bathing.
• Put down a nonslip bath mat.

Kitchen Safety

• Clearly label the on/off switches for different appliances.
• Store sharp knifes away if necessary.
• Keep floors uncluttered and use skid proof rugs.
• Keep the heavier objects at waist level so they will not have to strain to pick them up.
• Do not store anything out of reach.
• Illuminate work areas.
• Make sure the oven knobs cannot be easily switched on by accident, causing a gas leak.
• Rotate food regularly, especially the cans in the pantry.
• If possible, use a kettle and a toaster with automatic shutoff functions.

General Safety

• Do not use slippery wax floor polish.
• Keep a phone or an alert system near the stairs at every level, and one next to their bed.
• Never smoke alone or in the house.
• Make sure all rugs are securely tacked down.
• Eliminate other common trip and fall hazards, like extension cords in heavily trafficked areas.
• Install sturdy handrails on the stairs and grips around the house, if needed.
• Invest in chairs with rubberized bottoms.
• Put textured grips on the surface of every staircase.

If you follow these senior home safety tips, then you will be able to rest with peace of mind that your loved one will be safe and comfortable in their home. But while these tips can help prevent unnecessary accidents, sometimes it will be necessary to hire professional help.

In home senior care services can help your aging parents or relatives age in place safely.