4 Tips for Keeping Seniors Safe at Home

Having an older loved one visit your house or live in your house is not something that should be taken lightly. Even though you may believe that they are secure where you live, the truth is that there are all sorts of hazards you may not have considered. Taking care of your older loved one is an essential part of loving them.

It would be a shame if your older loved one were to injure themselves over something that could have been easily avoided. To help keep you and your loved ones safe, here are some of the best tips for the layout of your home.

Avoid Tripping Hazards

Something as simple as walking around your house could lead to a serious trip and fall injury.  It’s important that you look out for any obstructions in the walkways which could lead to them seriously injuring themselves.  Clear all walkways, as well as look out for the edges of rugs or other furniture. 

Above all, make sure that the walkways are wide enough. Sometimes it may be difficult for older loved ones to gauge how much room they have to get through, and as such could hit themselves or knock over a piece of furniture.  The same goes for cords, curtains, and anything else they could catch their foot on.

Keep The Home Well Lit

Unfortunately, our eyesight is one of the first things to start degrading as we get older. It’s important that you keep your home as well-lit as possible so that your older loved one can see where they’re going and what is around them. This is particularly important for areas of the house like the kitchen where they could grab the wrong product or ingredient which could be fatal.

Install Hand Rails

Handrails are incredibly important, particularly if you have a staircase. Handrails should also be considered in areas of the house like the shower and the bathroom. It can be extremely helpful to give them that extra push they need to go from a sitting position to a standing one. 

So, even though it might be an extra expense to install, it can be an additional source of comfort and reinforcement that can make your loved one feel much more at ease.

Stay Aware of Fire Hazards

One of the leading causes of home accidents is fire hazards. It’s important that you are aware of anything in the house which could be flammable and could lead to a fire. This is particularly important in the kitchen as well where there are a lot of hot items, and in some cases even open flame. 

It’s important that your older loved one is well monitored in the kitchen if they’re cooking, and above all, you have fire detectors. If a fire does break out, you want to make sure that it’s detected as early on as possible to extinguish it.