Everyone needs to be safe, no matter the person’s age. However, older people are not as strong and agile as they were in their youth so special attention has to be given to their case.
Generally, a home is supposed to be the safest place a person can be, nonetheless, accidents still occur. Especially among the older age group.
We’ve heard so many cases of seniors falling down the stairs or tripping off objects littered on the floor. Some accidents have also led to fire outbreaks and other serious incidences.
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Ensuring Safety for Elders
So how do we ensure the safety of our elderly ones when they are at home and most likely alone?
Read on as I drop off some safety tips for the elderly
1. Remove Fall Hazards
Falls are very common among elderly people, and they lead to different type of injuries.
The thing to do here is to make the home as “fall safe” as possible.
Here’s how you can achieve this –
- Remove throw rugs – These rugs are beautiful and make good home décor, but they don’t have the rubber-like grip to the floor so they can cause a person to slip and fall
- Remove litters from the floor – Make sure newspapers, dirty clothes, shoes and socks are not left lying around on the floor. An older person might slip or trip over them. If you’ve got little kids, make sure you clear out their toys as well. Especially the toys with tires on them
- Do not stretch extension cords along the floor – If you do, then an elder may not notice them. This puts him/her at risk of tripping over
- Buy non-slip footwear – Non slip footwear is a great way to minimize falls. It allows your loved one walk freely, and is helpful on slightly wet floors
2. Have Emergency Numbers
If an elderly person spends a lot of time alone at home, then it is important he/she has a cellphone in hand with emergency numbers.
Keep in mind that the phone should be as simple to use as possible, because old people aren’t so into sophisticated gadgets. The phone should have large, easy-to-read keypads and a very visible screen.
Keep in mind that an ageing mind will find it hard to remember all the emergency numbers, but you can make it easy for them by placing well bolded notes next to the phone.
You can write the following –
- 911
- Emergency contacts. Which include family members and close friends
- Your senior’s professional caregiver
- Your senior’s healthcare provider
- Poison control hotline
3. Take Precautions Against Possible Fire Outbreaks
This requires the following –
- Change the batteries in smoke and fire detectors regularly (as at when due)
- Check for any damaged or exposed power cord in your home. Go through every appliance to make sure the cords are ok. Also limit the amount of cords plugged into sockets
- Do not use candles. If a candle is lit and your senior sleeps off, the candle may start a fire
- Give your senior some basic fire outbreak training. Teach them to go low when exiting a house on fire, so as to avoid smoke inhalation. Also teach them how to stop, drop and roll in a case where their clothing is on fire
- Limit the use of space heaters. If your senior insists on using one, then make sure it is kept away from the curtains, drapes, beds and other furniture. Instruct them to turn them off before they go to bed or if they are going out
4. Bathroom Safety
The bathroom is a place considered to be of high risk to seniors. Falls are very common there, but there are steps to take to curb these accidents and ensure the safety of your loved one.
- Install grab bars in the shower and beside the toilet. This will give your loved one something to hold on to in slippery situations. It could also serve as a walking aid
- Keep the thermostat on the water heater no more than 120°F so burns can be avoided
- Place rubber mats on the bathroom floors, to reduce the risk of slipping
- You can replace the original bath tub with a walk in model, so getting in and out would be easier for your loved one
- You should install a special bathing chair in the tub
- Install a hand held shower, since it is easier to use on hard-to-reach areas of the body
- You can replace the regular toilet seat with a raised toilet seat specially made for seniors. With this it would be easier to sit and stand
5. Lighting Safety
Seniors don’t usually see as well as they used to, for this reason, their home needs to be properly lit up. The better they see, the safer they will be.
Here’s what you need to do –
- Replace burnt out lights
- Install motion detection lights inside and outside your house
- Buy extra lighting fixtures if you notice that the ones installed are not enough to light up the home
6. Kitchen Safety
The kitchen is another place that could carry some risks for seniors.
Here’s what you should do –
- Take down any heavy items kept in cupboards above head level. This prevents them falling on, and injuring your loved one
- Provide your loved one with a step stool, about 1 or 2 feet in height to reach items above head level if taking them down is not an option
- Check the fridge or cupboards for foods that have past their best stages. Elders might come across them and consume them. Expired foods could be poisonous!
7. Buy Them GPS Trackers
You can go online and shop for the best gps trackers for the elderly. This will help you monitor their movements and know when they move into areas they are not allowed to.
The gps tracker for seniorsthat you buy should be easy to use and not complicated by any means.
Conclusion
Seniors are bound to make one or two mistakes that may lead to injuries, it is up to you to limit these occurrences by taking precautionary measures.
Hope these tips have been helpful.