Home Safety Tips for Seniors

Whether you are a senior experiencing signs of advanced age or have recently invited an aging loved one to live with you, learn how to design a home free of hazards. Your home should be a haven that minimizes the risk of injury or accidents. We can help you achieve that.

Home Safety Tips for Seniors

The last thing you want to do is invite your grandparent or aging parent to come live with you and then have them slip and break a bone the first time they use your shower. You have a responsibility to create a safe environment for your loved one.

1. Eliminate Tripping Hazards: Runner rugs, stairwell rugs, and electrical cords can cause tripping as your senior loved one walks around the home. Clear the pathways and eliminate clutter.
2. Build a Step for the Bed: Even if you think the bed is not that high off the floor, you can build a step to help them get in and out of bed without falling. They cannot always rely on someone there to help them get down from a tall bed.
3. Provide a Seat in the Shower: A shower can get slippery with all the soap and water. In addition, your loved one may feel exhausted during a shower and need to take a break. Let them sit down in a seat to rest while they wash up each day.
4. Install Handrails: Balance is a big issue for men and women of advanced age. Always have a handrail up and down stairs. But think of other times they need to stand unassisted. Handrails by the sink, toilet, and kitchen table are all good ideas.
5. Maximize Lighting: Help your senior loved one see better when everything is well-lit. For example, you can promote safe walking when the houseguest sees where they are going throughout the home.

In the same way that you would safety-proof a home for a young toddler, you need to prepare your home for senior living. Talk to your family member and ask what they suggest to make sure they feel secure coming to your home. Value their answers and implement the suggestions into your safety plan.

Create a home that is safe and happy for your aging loved one. Please reach out to our team at Bonita Springs Healthcare Services for questions about home care services.