With weakening senses, a decline in mobility & ability to balance, seniors will spend a large amount of time around their home as they grow older. Therefore, it’s important for you to screen all the areas in the house & eliminate potential risks that could endanger their wellbeing.

Here are some vital tips you can apply right away to keep your loved ones safe at home:

• Place a foam or rubber cover over the bathtub faucet to reduce risk of serious injury should your senior slip & fall.
• Set the water heater no higher than 38 degrees Celsius to prevent accidental scalding.
• Keep all medications in a safe location. Consider using a plastic toolbox that can be secured with a padlock, and place it on a high shelf or atop the fridge.
• Remove locks from interior doors, for example bedroom & bathroom, to prevent your loved one from accidentally locking himself/herself in.
• Use textured strips or non-slip wax on hardwood & tile floors to prevent slipping. When placing non-slip strips in the tub & shower, also consider placing them on the floor near the tub, shower, sink, and toilet.
• Avoid using decorative artificial fruits or veggies and food-shaped magnets. Seniors with Alzheimer’s may confuse these with edible items.
• Store plastic bags out of reach to avoid suffocation.
• Consider installing a baby monitor so you will know when your loved one is moving around & potentially at risk for a fall. This will help to ensure that you hear them call for you if they need help.
• Mark glass panes by placing decorative decals at eye level on glass doors & windows.
• Adjust their home phone & voice mail settings. Lower the volume on the ringer to prevent confusion, and set voice mail to pick up after a minimal number of rings. An Alzheimer’s patient answering the phone is an easy target for exploitation. Consider a “No Soliciting” sign on the front door.
• Use nightlights throughout the house, including the kitchen, bathrooms, hallways, and near the stairs.

For more useful tips on keeping seniors safe around their home, contact Home Instead Senior Care Outer East. We can provide you with home modifications & maintenance support. If you need help, contact our 24/7 support service and the service will be provided immediately.

Thanks for reading through this Blog, I hope you have found it useful. If you require any further assistance please feel free to contact the office.

Kind regards,

Suzanne McLoughlin
Owner of Home Instead Senior Care Outer East

P.S. We provide free Care Consultations and resource guides to support and guide families. Download your free copies from our Aged Care Resources page or Request a Free Information Pack to receive a hard copy.