5 Steps to Take When Age-Proofing Your Loved One’s Home
By Chris Cruse 9 am on
Age proofing your senior loved one’s house is one of the best ways to show you care. Seniors who have already been living with a health issue may need their house set up for a safer recovery. Other seniors need someone to ensure their house prevents them from getting injured. Senior-proofing a house is fairly simple once you’ve done a thorough walk-through that helps you identify areas to correct.
1. Remove Unnecessary Fall Hazards
Falls are one of the most common ways for seniors to get hurt at home. You’ll need to remove any obstacles in your loved one’s walking paths that are unnecessary for daily comfort. For instance, your loved one may have rugs that could be removed completely or adhered to the floor with special tape. Make sure to also look outside for obstacles. A tree root, cracked sidewalk, or broken step could all lead to a dangerous fall.A professional in-home caregiver can be a wonderful resource for preventing falls and other dangers in an outside of the home. Although it may be challenging to find reliable, highly rated home care, Des Moines, IA, families can turn to Home Care Assistance. Our respite and live-in caregivers are expertly trained to assist seniors with a wide array of important tasks, including cooking, bathing, light housekeeping, and exercise.
2. Install Motion-Activated Lights
A clear walking path is even safer when it’s lit up well enough for your loved one to see where he or she is going. You can use motion-activated lights to prevent your loved one from having to shuffle around in the dark to find a light switch. These lights should be installed both indoors and outdoors, and the bathroom lights should be included in the plans.
3. Add Accessibility Tools
Seniors can use many different types of equipment to stay safer at home. For instance, hand rails near the toilet and shower can prevent slip-and-fall incidents. Your loved one might also want to use an extendable grabber to reach items on shelves rather than climbing on a ladder. Walkers and other mobility aids are additional tools that can keep your loved one safe at home.
4. Look for Potential Chemical Dangers
Medication mix-ups are another issue you need to address. If your loved one takes multiple medications, consider appointing someone to help him or her manage them all. This is easiest to do by setting up a medication station that includes various tools, such as a journal where caregivers can log when your loved one takes his or her prescriptions.Properly managing medications is just one of the many ways to help seniors remain independent while aging in place. There are a variety of age-related health conditions that can make it more challenging for seniors to live independently. However, many of the challenges they face can be easier to manage if their families opt for professional elderly home care. You can rely on expertly trained caregivers to keep your loved one safe and comfortable while aging in place.
5. Set Up an Emergency Response Plan
A home safety plan should also include regular communication with people who can oversee your loved one’s wellbeing. Ideally, someone should check in with your loved one each day to make sure he or she is doing well in the home. If someone can’t reach your loved one, there should be someone else who can drop in to check on his or her safety. Your loved one should also have someone to call if he or she has an emergency along with access to a phone or alert button. This way, your loved one can receive fast access to help if he or she does fall or get hurt when at home alone.If you’re caring for an elderly loved one who needs regular assistance to remain safe at home, make sure he or she has supervision during the times you can’t be there. Des Moines respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, respite care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed. To schedule a free in-home consultation, reach out to Home Care Assistance today at (515) 264-2438.
