Establishing home safety for Elders

To ensure safety and security at home for Elders, many relatives go to great lengths to make the home safer by establishing different assistive devices or eliminating hazards inside and outside the house. If you are living with an elder or senior adult, it is important to understand the importance of establishing home safety, there are many ways you can take to create a safe living environment. Healthzigzag will discuss here the ways you can easily establish home safety for elders.

Ensure a fall-proofing home

It is very important to fall-proof your home when elders are living with you. You can provide rails and grab bars in the room they frequently use. It is also important to install non-slip mats in all parts of the house which can make the elder fall or slip. One of the best places to put these kinds of assistive devices is on stairs, bathrooms, kitchen, and bedroom.

Keeping Things Within Reach

Standing on a ladder or chair has a high risk of causing an accident especially to the elders. It is important to establish a rule inside the house that all the important things needed by a senior should be within reach. Putting a plate at the top of the cupboard is not a good idea! You have to lower all the important stuff to avoid any accident. You can renovate the areas with high fixtures if you have the budget or just organize your home and remove the clutter specifically in the kitchen.

 Well-lit hallways and rooms

Senior adult’s eyes were gradually deteriorating. They must have a well-lit home where they can walk without worrying about falling. You can install additional lighting indoor and outdoor. Have flashlights that are easy to locate and reach out if there happens to be a blackout in the house. In the morning, you must let the natural lights get inside the house especially in the morning. It may not be the answer to accidents but it is a good preventive measure.

Keep fire extinguishers and install smoke detectors

If the elder is left alone, there must be smoke detectors inside the house to alert the elder or the neighbors that there is a fire going on. You should put fire extinguishers on every floor of the house and make it accessible to everyone.

Security for Elders

In today’s technology, many new products can locate and help with the security of the Elders. You can purchase a necklace or bracelet which can be worn by the elder that has a GPS connected to your phone. There are also devices in which you can monitor what they are doing. These kinds of devices are important especially for those seniors experiencing dementia. Many of us forgot that this kind of device is essential as we can easily track our senior adult.

Mobility

Mobility is one of the most noticeable changes in elderly home safety development. It can assist the elders especially those with problems in walking, balance, and strength. Having mobility lessens the simple tasks for elders, it provides support in walking, moving up and down the stairs and is a simple solution with lots of benefits.

Mobility products for Elders

I listed below some of the home safety products essential towards establishing a safer home for elders. Many of these products can prevent the dangers that might occur and provide assistance to the elders.

 Walking Aids

There are different types of walking aid that can be used by senior adults. Walking aids has a range of stylish design to keep you independent and safe. All walking aids come with a wrist strap, cane strap, and waterproof carry bag to accompany you everywhere you go. Here are the lists of available walking aids you can choose from depending on your needs.

• Underarm Crutches
• Walking Frame
• Walking Stick
• Cane

Motorized Wheelchair

Being able to take even a couple of steps, can be a massive benefit to getting around in your home. Your lifestyle might necessitate long-distance mobility to do the things you want to – visiting family friends, shopping, going to work or school. Motorized scooter and electric wheelchairs are good options for elders who travel in a small distance.

Wheelchairs

A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, used by people that are unable to walk smoothly due to sickness, injuries or disability (temporary or permanent). It is a form of mobility aid. It comes equipped with a very sturdy wheel brake to keep it in place even on a slope. Safety is our utmost concern. The wheelchair is foldable so that it is easy for you to transport around.

The Bottom Line:

Why is it important to establish a safe home for the Elders? Senior Adults gradually declining their mental and physical activity needs much more attention. Establishing a safety home is just the beginning of taking care of the adults inside the house. Safety and home care for the elderly should be balanced and will be based on each individual’s unique situation.