Steps to Assessing Senior Home Safety

Senior Home Safety Tips

Assessing senior home safety is necessary to identify and eliminate safety risks. Seniors face a variety of safety risks in the home including falls, fires, security breaches, and unattended medical emergencies. If your loved one wants to age in peace independently, follow these tips to assess the safety of his or her home.

Prevention First

Senior home safety starts with prevention. Taking steps like installing safety grips and other bath aids in the bathroom and sturdy staircase rails can reduce the risk of falls in the home. Also, equip your loved one’s home with emergency preparedness supplies. Place a fire extinguisher and smoke detector in every room. Put important emergency contact information on the fridge, and sign up for a medical alert system if your loved one lives alone.

Everyday Living

Small changes to living areas can significantly increase senior home safety. Help your loved one be self-sufficient by organizing their home so that important everyday items are easily within reach. Store heavier items at waist level. Clearly mark things like hot water faucets and stove on and off switches. Make sure their home has sufficient lighting in the kitchen and bathroom to make cleaning and cooking easier.

Help With Healthy Living

Your loved one might also need help keeping track of medications, treatments and therapies, and important healthcare appointments. Clearly label and portion out medications. Create a simple calendar system to help them remember doctor’s visits. Schedule grocery deliveries, so your loved one always has fresh food at home. Small steps like these can make a significant difference in his or her ability to practice self-care.

Consider Home Adaptations

If your senior has a disability or a mobility problem, it might be time to consider in-home adaptations that are senior friendly. These can increase their overall safety in everyday situations and emergencies. Ramps leading to all entrances are relatively easy to install and can reduce the risk of falls. If your senior is wheelchair bound, consider widening doorways to make navigating the home easier. Adding stair lifts is essential for seniors in wheelchairs living in two-story homes. Another important consideration is the countertop height. Most homes are built with countertops too high for those in wheelchairs. Lowering countertops can help your senior take care of him or herself better.

Safety in Numbers

Senior home safety doesn’t stop at prevention. Make sure you or someone you trust regularly checks in on your loved one. Frequent visits are especially helpful if your loved one is reluctant to ask for help with simple, everyday tasks like cleaning and cooking.

Investing your time and resources in helping your senior live an independent life can be a rewarding challenge. But if your loved one is injured in an accident or a victim of nursing home abuse, it’s crucial to seek legal guidance. A skilled Arlington Heights personal injury attorney with experience handling Illinois nursing home abuse claims can help you identify any liable parties and take steps to seek the compensation your loved one deserves.