Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

Remaining in their own homes is one of the most popular choices for seniors today, but doing so brings with it the increased need for family members to make sure the home is safe for their loved one. What might not be a problem for younger family members can easily become a danger to those seniors who have chosen the option of staying in their home. The following information will help you to pinpoint the areas in and around your loved one’s home that need improvement.

General Suggestions

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Place a list of emergency phone numbers by each telephone in large, easy to read type. Include your own number and 911, both of which can easily be forgotten by seniors under stressful conditions. Include the number of a close neighbor, whoever can reach your loved one first in an emergency.
• Check all electrical cords, and replace those showing signs of wear and tear.
• Be sure all electrical outlets are in good repair and not overloaded.
• Avoid the use of extension cords, if possible, and especially those placed across doorways or in walkways.
• If floors are waxed, be sure to use non-skid wax.
• Be sure that all throw rugs have a rubber backing or non-skid strips.
• Check the lighting around and throughout the house to be sure it’s strong enough and there are no dim or unlighted areas.
• Be sure all doors can be unlocked from the outside in case of an emergency, especially those in the bathroom and bedroom.
• Put smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in appropriate places, and replace the batteries twice a year.
• Install night lights in bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen, and hallways, and check them periodically to be sure they’re working.
• Go through your loved one’s medication periodically to check expiration dates, and be sure to use an automatic pill dispenser, or one divided into days and times.
• Mark the edges of all steps in and outside the home with brightly colored tape to compensate for failing eyesight and depth perception.
• Be sure any pet beds are located out of the way of foot traffic.
• Make sure door sills are as low as possible, and not uneven, chipped, or broken.
• Be sure all doors have a peephole, including the back door, if there is one.
• Have an emergency exit plan in place in case of fire, and go over it with your loved one often.

Living Room

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Be sure chairs and sofas are of the proper height to make sitting down and standing up easier.
• Keep low furniture, such as coffee tables and hassocks, out of walkways.
• Avoid swivel chairs and chairs on casters.
• Place sturdy furniture along frequently traveled paths, so your loved one can lean on it if necessary.
• Make sure doors and windows open and close easily.
• Be sure electrical cords and landline phone wires are out of the way, but not under rugs or carpets.
• Be sure there’s a light switch located at the entrance to the room, and that switches for other lamps are easy to reach.
• Be sure all furnishings are at least one foot from baseboard or portable heaters.

Kitchen

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Be sure all appliance cords are safely out of the way.
• Make sure appliance controls are accessible and well-marked.
• Install turntables in cabinets for food and supplies, especially those under the sink or counters.
• Encourage your loved one to prepare meals in the microwave oven or toaster oven as often as possible, and leave gas stoves and ovens for special occasions with family members.
• Provide your loved one with unbreakable dishes, cups, etc.
• Be sure there are no curtains or towels near the stove or cook top .

Utility Areas

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Use a nonskid, nonglare finish on the floors.
• Be sure there are no breaks, tears, buckling, or warping in linoleum or other flooring.
• Put a nonskid rug or rubber mat in front of sinks and the washer/dryer.
• Keep regularly used items within easy reach, and make sure any shelving is easily reached.
• Be sure all cleaning supplies and other chemicals are clearly labeled.
• Purchase a long-handled reaching device, and make sure it’s in a handy place.

Bathrooms

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Install grab bars in and next to bathtubs and showers, and near toilets, and be sure they are screwed directly to wall studs for safety.
• Encourage your loved one to wipe up spills from the shower or tub immediately, or carpet the entire bathroom to avoid slips or falls.
• Provide a shower seat and shower hose if your loved one is unable to stand safely while showering.
• Encourage your loved one to avoid using any electrical equipment in the bathroom as much as possible. Water contact with this equipment may cause electrical shock.
• Also, encourage your loved one to avoid using bath oil in the tub or shower.
• Install a hand-held shower head, so your family member can control the flow of water.
• Be sure there are nonskid mats or rubberized decals on the bottom of bathtubs and showers.
• Be sure the water heater is set below 120 degrees.

Bedrooms

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Put a good, sturdy lamp next to the bed, or locate the bed next to a light switch.
• Put a stable nightstand next to the bed. This provides a place for glasses and other necessary items within easy reach.
• Be sure there is a phone in the bedroom. It will be extremely helpful in case of an emergency, and just knowing it is there may relieve a senior’s anxiety or fear.
• Use a night light in the room to help your loved one avoid feelings of disorientation when awakening during the night.
• Keep clear pathways around the bed, to the door and to the bathroom.
• Remove casters on beds, tables and chairs.
• Consider installing grab bars in the hallway between the bedroom and bathroom.
• Encourage your loved one to use a hot water bottle for warmth at bedtime. Seniors are less sensitive to heat and the use of a heating pad may cause burns or overheating.
• If your loved one smokes, arrange for a specific, safe place in the house where smoking is allowed, other than the bedroom. Also, discourage smoking while sitting on upholstered furniture.
• Be sure the bed is high enough that your loved one can get on and off comfortably.
• See that storage spaces and needed items are within easy reach.
• Make sure drawers and closet doors open and close easily.

Stairways, Hallways, Garages and Outdoor Pathways

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Paint outdoor steps with a rough-textured paint, and place non-skid strips on the edge of steps to prevent falls.
• See that stairways, hallways, and outdoor pathways are brightly and evenly lit.
• Remove protruding objects, such as coat hooks, low light fixtures, and shelves, from stairways or pathways.
• Check steps and walkways for holes, cracks and splinters, and make any necessary repairs.
• Use smooth but slip-resistant handrails along stairways. Handrails should extend beyond the top and bottom steps, and the ends should turn under. Handrails should be anchored at least one or two inches from the wall, so that your loved one is able to completely close their hand around them.
• Provide good lighting in the garage, and keep it free of clutter. If your loved one is no longer driving, encourage him or her gently to avoid using the garage at all, if possible.
• Avoid placing rocks or other objects along garden pathways.
• Keep hoses away from walkways, and keep all garden equipment safely stored between uses.

Tips for Reducing the Risk of Falls

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

One third to one half of those over the age of 65 experience falls, and as we grow older, the consequences of a fall become more serious. Broken bones may result, and they may even lead to a permanent disability.

In addition, after falling, seniors usually fear falling again, so much so that they change their usual behavior, limiting their activities and becoming more sedentary, which can actually lead to a greater likelihood of falling.

But falls can be prevented. The following tips are meant to help you and your loved one eliminate the most common causes of falling at home.

General Recommendations

Keeping Your Loved One Safe at Home Reducing the Risk of Accidents and Falls for Seniors

• Have your loved one stand still for a minute upon rising from sitting or lying down, to allow blood pressure to adjust and avoid dizziness.
• Seniors should wear supportive, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes, and avoid walking in socks or stockings or smooth-soled slippers or shoes.
• Even if your loved one resists the idea of using a cane or walker, keep one in the home for their use just in case they need it.
• Encourage your loved one to be as active as possible for their physician and mental condition. Inactivity causes muscles to weaken and contributes to falls.
• Encourage your loved one to use an answering machine or portable phone instead of rushing to answer a ringing telephone.