Your Quick Guide to Senior-Proofing a Home

Like millions of Americans, you have a beloved senior citizen in your life. Maybe it’s a parent, a grandparent, or even a spouse. No matter the relationship, with steadily increasing life expectancies and skyrocketing senior populations, our senior citizens deserve to be taken care of, just as they have taken care of us.

Keep reading and learn these simple, must-know steps to ensure senior safety and the comfort of your loved ones.

Preventing Falls

According to the CDC, over 3 million adults over sixty-five are treated for fall injuries in the United States. A bad fall can result in hip fractures, head injuries, and preventing older adults from participating in their usual daily activities.

As horrible and frightening as a fall may be for you and your loved one, there is a multitude of ways they can be prevented.

• Ensuring your loved one is using a cane or walker, rather than holding onto walls or objects.
• Tidying up walkways to keep stray objects from becoming tripping hazards.
• Taping carpeting and rugs to the floor to prevent slippage.
• Drying wet floors immediately.
• Consulting a medical professional about exercise programs that will decrease the chances of a fall.

Creating a Safe Bathroom

Slip and falls that occur in bathrooms are more likely to result in injuries than other locations of the home. Creating and maintaining a safe bathroom is essential for the elderly who bathe without assistance.

A simple installation of a tub railing or bath chair can decrease the likelihood of a fall. Rubber grip bath mats are also an effective method for upholding home safety for seniors.

Maintaining a clear medication schedule is another good idea when assisting an older adult. By using a day-of-the-week pill dispenser, you can stop potentially harmful mixups and ensure that your loved one is properly taking their medications.

Investing in a Senior Safety Alarm System

When a loved one is experiencing an emergency, the last thing that you’d want to picture is that they are unable to call for help. Whether they have fallen and cannot reach a telephone or you are just looking for peace of mind, a medical alert system is always a viable option.

Medical alert systems are senior safety devices that, at the click of a button, can instantly connect seniors to emergency services. They are typically worn around the neck like a necklace and, depending on the model, can even be activated when they detect the motion of a fall.

Accommodating and Avoiding Stairs

If possible, stairs should be avoided when it comes to senior-proofing a home. There are a few different methods of maintaining senior safety in regard to stairs.

• Downstairs bedrooms for seniors.
• Motorized stairlifts.
• Intercom systems so your loved one can communicate to any room.
• Avoiding rugs at the top or bottom of stairs.

Looking to buy a stairlift in maryland? With stairlift installed in the house, you don’t have to worry about the seniors going up or down the stairs.

Being Proactive in Your Senior-Proofing

The process of rearranging your home for senior safety may seem daunting, but if you follow the guidelines of this article, you will find that it is much simpler than it seems.

The time is now to take the necessary steps to keep your loved ones safe. Invest in your home’s safety for seniors today. And, don’t forget to keep tabs on our blog for more tips and advice.