Simple Ways to Make Your Home Secure For Seniors
Changes you need to make a home safe for seniors do not have to be difficult but they will be essential to the well being of the elderly person in question.
First you need to understand the basics of any restrictions age or illness may have placed on your senior. Making changes to prevent falls should be a very high priority and it is fairly simple. Removing rugs or investing in some double sided tape to stop them slipping or raising up at the edges is critical. They are a very common fall hazard at home and this is why you are unlikely to see them in professional aged centers.
You can also look at installing hand rails in obvious areas. Damp areas like bathrooms entail that a senior can support themselves in slippery conditions and when feet ought to be raised from the ground. It is also a great idea to assure proper support around stairs and also that there are ways they can lower or raise themselves from seating or beds.
Installing toilet seats that have handles on both sides can help support a senior and allow greater independence, as can a shower chair - this is a chair that can be wheeled into the shower recess or sit there permanently and is ideal for those who may find that they get dizzy under the warm water.
Adding a PERS, which is a personal safety alarm, is a great idea too especially for then they are home alone. This is a small alarm that can be worn like a lanyard or necklace that stays around the neck and is easy to reach. If activated, it will allow notification to you or emergency services that something has happened.
Use of timers can help for older people to manage their chores. Using them when cooking, or for reminders is convenient and will avoid any nasty accidents from food that is forgotten. A multiple alarm style watch or clock will also mean that they can set specific alarms to remind them it is time to take certain medications. This medication can be pre-arranged in doses ready for them to take just by looking at the day and time.
Remove any unnecessary objects that are in the home if possible, keep them in the garage or storage. This will free up room to travel around the home and the clearer any paths are the less likely a fall is to encounter. This is something public can simply maneuver around when younger so it's something that is unlikely to be considered straight away.
There are a lot of ways to improve the home environment for seniors and improve the safety standards they live in. You can request assistance from their nursing squad or other professionals to assist you decide what should be through.