5 Tips to Help Seniors Live Safely at Home
Home is often where you feel the safest. But your home can also be filled with many surprising dangers as you age.
According to a study done by WebMD, 90% of seniors report that they want to be able to age in their own home and not need to move. The good news is that with careful advance planning, you or your senior loved one can safely age in place.
Here are the top five tips you need to know to bring safety your loved one’s home.
1. Set up for personal care
Daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and toileting can be accidents waiting to happen. The bathroom is the number one place for falls to happen. You can prevent many of these slips by:
Installing grab bars in the shower, bathroom, and other locations
Using a seat in the bathtub or shower
Setting up a raised toilet seat with easy-to-grab bars
Your senior loved one may also benefit from a trained caregiver who can assist with personal hygiene tasks such as bathing and grooming.
The list of medications your loved one is taking can also grow and make it difficult to remember what to take and when. You can assist by:
Using a device that regularly reminds your loved one of their next dose
Having medications blister packed by the pharmacist
Setting up an in-person helper to provide medication reminders and supervision
2. Plan out meals
Seniors living alone often will suffer from malnutrition. They may forget to eat, have difficulty preparing meals, trouble shopping, or just not have an appetite for eating alone. You can help your loved one by:
Bringing in prepared meals
Asking friends or family members to join your loved one for a meal
Signing up for a meal delivery program
Scheduling a caregiver to prepare meals for your loved one in their home
3. Take care of the house
Slippery sidewalks, cluttered hallways, piles of laundry, expired food in the fridge, and teetering stacks of papers can all be home safety hazards. Dealing with household tasks may be an area your loved one needs help to be able to navigate their home safely. You could:
Hire outside help for housecleaning, yard work, grocery shopping, or laundry
Remove trip hazards like throw rugs and cords
Move clutter on the floors into boxes or shelves
Add extra lighting to make hazards easier to see
4. Combat loneliness
Isolation is a serious risk for seniors living at home. Older adults who live alone are at an increased risk for depression and anxiety. Illness in seniors can often progress rapidly and a senior alone may not be able to seek medical attention.
You can help your loved one by:
Setting up regular check-ins with neighbors and friends
Installing a home security or medical alert system
Engaging a paid companion who can visit regularly
5. Arrange for getting around
Injuries from falls and car accidents become more common for older people. Many of these injuries can be prevented by taking action now. It is important for your loved one to stay active to keep their strength and balance strong.
Encourage your loved one to comply with physical therapy routines
Join your loved one on a walk
Provide appropriate assistive devices like walkers or canes
Changes in vision and cognitive function can affect the driving abilities of your senior loved one. Attending doctor appointments, getting out to see friends and picking up groceries can become more difficult. Encourage your loved one to stay safe on the road by:
Driving during daylight hours and in good weather only
Leaving bigger gaps between their car and the car in front of them
Pre-planning their route to make it easier
Looking into alternatives to driving themselves
The stress of caring for a senior loved one in their home can feel tremendous. Contacting the Amevian Home Care team can help to relieve the burden of caregiving so you can focus on enjoying your time with your loved one.
