Safety in the Home
If an older person is living independently or has moved into your home, there are things that you can do to make the home safer and reduce the chance of accidents.
First, take a tour of your home and take notes for each room. Four major concerns you should attend to are lighting, floor covering, furniture and furnishings, and temperature.
Lighting
Good lighting can prevent accidents from occurring. Good lighting would include: lights at the front and back doors and all other house entrances. Light switches should be easily reached and easy to operate. (You may need to use extension devices or have an electrician lower the switch, if necessary). There should be light switches at the entrance to each room to prevent walking in the dark. You might consider motion activated lights instead of switches for hands-free operation. Install three way switches to provide better access and control of lighting especially in stairwells and corridors. Use automatic night lights in halls or bathrooms to keep these areas from being completely dark. For reading, be sure the bulbs are bright enough, and there are enough lamps for adequate lighting. And for emergencies, flashlights with fresh batteries should be kept in easily reachable spots around the house.
Floor Covering
The type of floor covering can contribute to falls a big problem for some older people. If your family member has a problem with walking, consider using low pile carpet and reducing padding to provide a more solid footing … and nail down the carpet if necessary. Get rid of scatter rugs which can slide under foot, and place non-slip treads on stairs both in and outdoors. Remove doorsills between rooms if they create an obstacle to wheelchairs or walkers or increase the possibility of tripping. Avoid highly waxed wood floors which are slippery. And, keep floors free of extension and electrical cords and other clutter that may be tripping hazards – especially in corridors and foyers.
Furniture and Furnishings
The right type of furniture in the right place can be a big help in providing for the safety and comfort of the older family member. You should make sure the furniture is arranged to allow room for walking, especially if a walking aid is used. And use furniture that won’t tip over in case the person needs to hold on to it. Eliminate chairs with wheels or remove them. Use chairs and beds that are high enough to get in and out of easily and that have arms and cushioned seats.
Temperature Control
Maintaining a comfortable temperature can help a person feel better and stay healthier. Ask the person what is comfortable for them. Don’t judge by your own feelings because older people have different tolerances for heat and cold than you do and may feel uncomfortable at temperatures that are comfortable to you. Provide air conditioning which can be vital to people with breathing problems. Avoid extreme heat which causes drowsiness and dryness of mouth and nose, and if necessary, use portable humidifiers to eliminate dryness in the air. Label the thermostat with larger lettering and numbers and use tape to show which direction the control needs to go to increase and decrease the temperature. You may need to put a light near the thermostat to make it easier to read.
There are two rooms that need special attention: the Bathroom and the Kitchen. Bathrooms can be very hazardous, but there are a number of things that can be done to make the bathroom safer. Use wall-to-wall low pile, rubber backed carpets that don’t interfere with walking aids such as walkers and canes. Use strong towel racks and shower curtain rods that won’t break down if used for support. Put in grab bars along the tub wall, on the side of tub and near the toilet. Use a rubber mat or other non-slip surfaces in the tub, and if needed, install a permanent seat. Install a hand-held showerhead to help the person control and direct water when bathing. Change the faucet on the sink to one that has separate hot and cold-water handles that are easy to turn. Lower the hot water temperature to avoid scalding 110 to 120 degrees is plenty hot. Elevate the toilet seat to make getting up easier and make sure the toilet paper is in easy reach.
The Kitchen also has many hazards and care should be taken to make it as safe as possible. You might want to keep the stove light on all day if the kitchen tends to be dark. The most often used supplies and equipment should be stored in easy to get to places. Keep this room brightly lighted but non-glaring. Use “D” shaped pull handles for drawers instead of hard-to-grasp knobs, and make sure cabinet doors and drawers open easily. Have microwave and toaster ovens available for convenience and give instructions about how to use them. You may need to post instructions nearby for quick reference. If practical, use wall racks to hang things in easy to use locations. Place rubber mats or racks in sinks to prevent breakage when less-steady hands drop things. Replace heavy pots and pans with lighter ones. And if you have smoke detectors which you should be sure they are not too near the cooking area where they might be set off by normal cooking activity. If they are triggered too often with normal activity, you may be tempted to disconnect them and defeat their purpose.
