As our parents age, it can be difficult to watch the changes that they go through that threaten their independence. While many of us are too busy to move in with our parents and care for them in their golden years, most of us also do not want to ship our loved ones off to a nursing home. It has been shown that most seniors are happier if allowed to live out their years in their own homes. However, there are many things that become more difficult as we age, and our home can become a maze of different potential hazards that are dangerous to seniors.

There are a number of things that you can do, that range in terms of cost and skill required to install, that will make the home much safer for the senior. This allows them the quality of life they wish by allowing them to remain in their home, but it also ensures that they will be safe. Some of these are very simple fixes and depending on the mobility and physical capabilities of the senior in question, not all of these home safety modifications will be applicable or even necessary. What follows is just a small example of the different things that you can do to help protect the seniors in your life to stay in their homes, while also giving you peace of mind that they are as safe as possible.

There are a few areas of the house that most seniors are likely to have trouble with and these are the areas that are usually the focus of home safety modifications. These problem areas are the bathroom, kitchen, stairs, and exteriors (like entrances, exits, sidewalks, etc.).

Simple Home Safety Modifications for the Senior’s Home

Remove all loose carpeting and rugs. This will cut down on the risk of slips and falls.
Install non-skid flooring in the kitchen and bathroom. These are two of the riskiest areas when it comes to slipping and falling. Especially the bathroom, as water is involved.
Replace clocks and phones with larger print versions that are easier for the senior to read.
Install non-skid adhesive linings in the tub to reduce the chance of a slip and fall in the shower.
Install handrails on stairs, entrances and exits.
Installs shower and toilet bars that make it easier for the senior to get in and out of the shower and on and off the toilet.
Subscribe to an emergency response system that will alert the proper authorities in the event of an emergency.
Rearrange furniture to ensure that there is enough space for the senior to easily get around in a wheelchair or with a walker without impediment.
Shower chairs are a great choice for seniors with limited mobility. It makes it easier for them to bathe themselves and is much easier to manage than trying to get in and out of a bathtub.
Raised toilet seats also make it easier for a senior with mobility issues to manage the bathroom safely and on their own.
Rope off unsafe areas of the house such as the basement and help the senior if they need something from these areas. If mobility is really bad, consider setting up most of the seniors needs on one floor.
Install scald control features that will keep the senior from burning themselves. Reactions times are slowed as we get older and this protects the senior from getting scalded trying to bathe themselves.

At Carefect Homecare services, the safety of your loved one is paramount. Call us today to schedule a free, in-home assessment for your loved one. Our trained staff will come out and look at the home and needs of the senior, then make a number of recommendations as to their care and how the home can be safer. Safety measures save lives and reduce the risk of injury and that is of prime importance to our caring and compassionate staff.