Even though most homes are relatively safe, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye. An aging loved one facing difficulty with balance issues or cognitive decline could injure him or herself, which is why you should spend some time removing as many hazards from the home as possible.
1. Get Rid of Tripping Hazards
Slip-and-fall accidents are frighteningly common, but you can do quite a bit to prevent them. The first step in this process is removing unnecessary clutter from the floors, including piles of shoes, old magazines, electrical cords, and anything else your loved one might trip over. You should also consider removing all the rugs from your loved one’s home. While an eye-catching rug can enhance the aesthetics of a room, rugs are very easy to trip on.
Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Roseville live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life.
2. Enhance the Lighting
One of the best ways to make your loved one’s home safer is to enhance the lighting in all the rooms and near the entryways. If the light bulbs in the home seem dim, consider replacing them with modern CFL or LED bulbs. When purchasing new light bulbs, keep a close eye on the lumens and wattages. A lumen is a unit of measurement that tells you how much visible light is emitted from an object. Light bulbs with at least 1,500 lumens should be sufficient for most homes.
3. Rearrange the Kitchen
Your loved one needs to have easy access to all the food products and kitchenware he or she regularly uses. You should also make sure the knives in the kitchen are as sharp as possible. Contrary to what many people believe, sharp knives are much safer than dull knives. Someone in your family also needs to check all the smoke detectors and fire alarms at least every few weeks.
If your loved one has difficulty preparing and cooking meals, a caregiver can be a wonderful resource. Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional senior home care Roseville seniors can trust and rely on.
4. Install Grab Bars
According to the CDC, just over 230,000 people are injured in residential bathrooms every year, and the majority of those individuals are over the age of 65. Installing grab bars near all the toilets and bathtubs in your loved one’s home can greatly increase the safety of the restrooms. If there are any stairs in the home, install sturdy handrails in those areas as well. Luckily, most grab bars and handrails can easily be installed with a few basic tools.
5. Buy a Medical Response Device
A medical response device gives your loved one the ability to quickly contact emergency services if he or she is injured or in trouble. Even if you keep a close eye on your loved one, there may come a day when he or she falls while you aren’t there, and he or she needs to have some way to contact emergency services. Many of these devices even allow wearers to send messages to family members if they’re feeling unwell or need assistance.
Keeping your loved one safe is your number one priority, and an in-home caregiver can be a tremendous asset. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care services. Roseville families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. If your loved one needs help with the challenges of aging, call one of our compassionate Care Managers today at (916) 226-3737.