Your loved one is aging, and you are concerned for their safety at home, how can you help?

Introduction

An important part of my job as a home health nurse is assessing the home environment for safety issues. Some of the top safety issues for the elderly are falls, fires, and poisoning. I’m also going to include a section on phone safety because of the many scams that target the elderly. Let’s walk through each of these 10 areas you can check for safety issues in the home.

Bathroom Safety

The bathroom is one of the most dangerous rooms for an elderly person. Many falls happen in this room along with scalding.

·       Install grab bars in the shower and next to the toilet.

·       Make sure the floor of the shower/tub is slip-proof with rubber floor mats or anti-slip strips.

·       Set the water temp no hotter than 120 degrees to prevent burns.

·       Place a shower chair in the shower or bathtub.

·       Install a handheld showerhead to make bathing easier.

·       Install a raised toilet seat for help with standing up. The seat should be between 17-19 inches in height.

·       Make sure there is a nightlight to help with middle-of-the-night trips.

·       Remove rugs that act as tripping hazards.

·       Consider replacing the bathtub with a walk-in model instead.

Bedroom Safety

The bedroom may seem like a rather safe place, but I have encountered a few safety issues over the years.

·       Declutter the environment. Too much clutter or cords are a major fall hazard.

·       A sagging or too soft mattress can make it difficult for a senior to get out of bed. Consider a firmer mattress.

·       A bed that is too high or too low is dangerous. Consider replacing the frame with one that is easy to get in and out of.

·       Make sure the lighting is good and easily accessible from the bed.

·       Remove area rugs.

·       Consider installing a telescope grab bar from floor to ceiling next to the bed to help with getting in and out of bed.

·       Make sure items are within easy reach and there is nothing high on a shelf or in the closet the senior would be reaching for.

·       If the flooring surface changes in texture from the hall to the bedroom, make sure it is a smooth transition and is marked so the senior remembers to watch their step.

·       Replace a round doorknob with a lever doorknob which is easier to grab. (Go ahead and do this throughout the whole house.)

Kitchen Safety

The kitchen is the hub of the home. Time needs to go into making sure it is a safe room.

·       Go through the cupboards and decide if everything is still needed. Then store most needed items in easy to reach places to prevent bending or having to use a stepstool.

·       Is a step stool still needed? Make sure to get one with only one or two steps that is very sturdy.

·       Lever handles on faucets are easier for seniors to turn on and off, consider replacing those.

·       Open the fridge and give it a good clean out and wipe down. Discard expired food.

·       Do the same with pantry items.

·       Does your senior need help with meal planning? Grocery shopping? Food prep? Remember that older people don’t eat quite as much. Think about high nutrition content in smaller proportions.

·       They also don’t get thirsty which often leads to dehydration.  Consider a cup that measures how much they have drunk so far and encourages them to drink their daily amount.

·       Have emergency phone numbers posted on the fridge.

·       Other items to post on the fridge are an up-to-date medication list, DOB, allergies, diagnosis, and the seniors POLST for easy access for medical personal in case of emergency.

Living Room Safety

The living room is generally safe. My tips have to do with the general ease of movement and support.

·       Make sure there is a clear walkway. Remove clutter, cords, and area rugs that could be tripped on

·       Get rid of extra furniture that is no longer needed.

·       The lighting should be bright and easily accessible.

·       The furniture should be in good condition and supportive. A saggy couch or chair is very difficult to get out of and can cause falls.

·       Make sure items used daily in this room are easily reached without bending over or stretching high.

·       Encourage your loved one to wear non-skid shoes when they are in the home.

·       Any areas where the flooring surface changes from wood to tile to carpet, make sure the transition is smooth and well-marked as a reminder to slow down.

·       Plugin sensor lights would be a great idea in this room as well.

·       If a pet is in the home, consider having a designated area that the pet stays in to help prevent a tripping hazard.

Front Entrance Safety

Getting in and out of cars and climbing steps to the front door can be very difficult and there are many areas in which an accident can happen.

·       If your senior is still driving, make sure they can get in and out of their car easily.

·       Are there steps leading up to the front door? Install a handrail next to the stairs. Should there be a ramp instead of stairs?

·       Make sure the front door has a peephole in it so your senior can check to see who is at their door.

·       Post a reminder note next to the door, “Do you know who is at your door? If not, do not open the door.”

·       Is the mailbox an easy walk to get to? Would a mail slot in the front door be better?

·       Install motion detector lights from the driveway to the front door so the walkway is well lit.

·       Always keep doors and windows locked.

Stair Safety

Along with getting generally weaker with age, many diseases that come in the elder years make stairs very difficult and are a major safety hazard.

·       Consider getting a stairlift. I once had a patient who lived in a three-level home. She had a stairlift on each level and a walker at each landing so she could transfer. She made it work great!

·       Test the railings and make sure they are firmly in place.

·       With poor vision it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate stairs from each other, consider colored duct tape on the edge of each stair to make it easier to see. Also, consider a different color for the top and bottom stairs.

·       Make sure there is no clutter on the stairs.

·       If living in a cold environment, make sure you, a hired local service, or neighbor regularly clear ice and snow off outside stairs.

Fire Safety

Checking for fire hazards and removing them is another key area for making the home safe.

·       Make sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors have new batteries in them and change them regularly.

·       Check all electrical cords of appliances and lamps and replace any frayed or damaged ones. Make sure to limit the number of cords plugged into power strips.

·       Remove all candles from the home, a forgotten candle can start a fire.

·       Review fire safety drills with your loved one. Remind them to stay low when exiting the home if there is a fire to reduce smoke inhalation. Plan with them for the best escape routes from each room in case a fire broke out.

·       Discourage the use of space heaters but if it is insisted upon, make sure it is at least three feet away from bedding, curtains, or furniture. Remind them to turn it off when leaving the home and before going to bed.

 

Phone Safety

We’ve all heard of the phone scams that target the elderly. My own grandfather was almost caught up in one. Talking about them with your loved one can help prevent them.

·       Do not believe any stranger claiming a family member is in danger over the phone. If there is an actual emergency a police officer will come to visit you.

·       Never agree to telephone offers.

·       Never give out your Social Security number over the phone or any of your financial information.

·       The IRS and credit card companies communicate by mail and don’t make phone calls demanding money. Do not speak to anyone claiming you owe them money.

·       Let your loved one know there are many scams out there and they should always use caution when speaking with a stranger.

Medication Safety

I saw many horrifying medication issues when seeing my home health patients. This is an area that requires careful attention.

·       First, make sure to have an updated medication list from the doctors overseeing your loved one’s care.

·       I suggest typing up this list in an easy-to-read format as this can be helpful for doctor visits, hospitalizations, and in case of emergency.

·       The easiest way to organize medications is a week-long pill box divided into morning, afternoon, and evening. (You can get some with more slots available as well.)

·       Make sure the pill box you get can be opened easily by your senior, (some of them are tricky!)

·       Educate your senior on how to fill the weekly pill box and have them show you how to do it. If you see it’s too difficult, then you will need to come weekly and fill it for them or have someone trustworthy assigned to this task.

·       Go through all the cupboards and medicine cabinets in the home. Check the dates on all medications and dispose of expired medications.

·       Organize medications according to their use for easy access.

Back Yard Safety

While keeping up with gardening can have many health benefits for the elderly, it also has its fair share of risks.

·       Avoid all ladders when working outside, make sure everything is within reach and anything requiring climbing up a ladder should be done by a younger person.

·       I once had a patient who had banged himself up pretty good after tripping over his hose. Wrap bright-colored duct tape around the hose so it’s easily seen when laying in the grass and always have it wrapped up when not in use.

·       Before gardening, encourage a gentle warm-up stretch to prevent injury.

·       Make sure to be hydrated before gardening to decrease getting dizzy.

·       Wear protective clothing like long sleeves, a hat, and gardening gloves.

·       Have a garden seat for frequent rests.

·       Consider raised beds or vertical gardens to decrease bending over.

·       Long-handled tools can also help decrease bending. Just like the hose, wrap the long handles in bright-colored tape so it doesn’t get lost in the grass.

·       Invest in a wagon instead of a wheelbarrow. A wagon is much more stable, and this will keep your loved one from carrying too much in their arms.

Conclusion

Now that you have walked through these ten areas of home safety, your loved one will be in a much safer environment. Always remember that frequent check-ins are essential. Consider an alarm necklace or bracelet that your senior can wear if they do have a fall so that emergency services can get to them quickly.