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Home Improvement

2008-07-01 15:11:00

Keeping parents safe later on

Question: As my parents get older what changes can I or do I need to make to insure my folks live in the safest environment possible?

Answer: For an elderly person, the home can be a dangerous place, with accidents waiting to happen. But smart ways of forestalling accidents need not wait. They can be quick, easy and inexpensive. Keep in mind that it may not be necessary to make all of the suggested changes. Remember their home is a personal and precious environment. As you go through this checklist, some of the changes you make may impact your surroundings positively, and some may affect you in ways that may be inconvenient or undesirable. It is possible, however, to strike a balance. Caregivers can make adaptations that modify and simplify without severely disrupting the home. A safe home can be a less stressful home for the person with Alzheimer’s, the caregiver, and family members. You don’t have to make these changes alone. You may want to enlist the help of a friend, professional, or community service such as the Alzheimer’s Association. In general, most people experience decreased mobility as they age. Even if a parent doesn’t use a walker or a wheelchair, he or she may move slower. Older adults also commonly have reduced strength and stamina. Vision, hearing and the sense of smell also often decrease as you get older. Keep these in mind as you consider home safety changes to your home. Keep in mind that it may not be necessary to make all of the suggested changes... It is important, however, to re-evaluate home safety periodically as behavior and abilities change. But, in general, here are some easy ways to make the home safer for older adults. Remove throw rugs. Unless they’re attached firmly to the floor, remove them from their home. Loose scatter rugs are easy to snag a toe on and are the cause of many falls. Lighting is important, a good, bright light is essential to helping the elderly see their way inside and outside their home, reducing the risk that they’ll fall. A bright lit kitchen and work area reduces the risk of burns and cuts. Use at least 60-watt bulbs in most rooms and at least 100-watt bulbs for reading. Also place night lights throughout key pathways in the home, for instance the route to the bathroom. If your parents will use stairs, make sure the staircase is free of clutter and brightly lit. Consider ways to make the steps easier to see. One idea - use brightly colored electrical tape to mark the edge of each step. Also, a sunlit window at the top or bottom of a staircase can cause glare, making it more difficult to see the steps. Draw the window shade and brighten the overhead lighting. Eliminate electrical cords, move lamps and other appliances closer to the walls so that electrical cords don’t extend into traffic areas. Cords may be difficult to see by older adults with low vision and could be a tripping hazard. If you must extend a cord across an area where your parents’ will walk, use tape to secure the cord to the floor and attract attention to it. Don’t cover the cord with a rug. Here’s a simple one but often over looked. Rearrange the furniture; move low furniture, such as coffee tables, out of high-traffic areas. This can help reduce falls, as items closer to the floor are harder to see especially for the elderly. Another consideration when you’re rearranging, move chairs closer together. This can make conversation easier if your parents have difficulty hearing. Lower the water temperature, most hot water heaters are set at 150°F - hot enough to scald within seconds. If you have access to your water heater, turn the temperature down to 120°F or the low setting. If you can’t adjust the water heater, consider faucets and valves that prevent scalding - for instance, when someone flushes the toilet while you’re in the shower. Bathrooms are probably the most common area in the house for falls. Use bath-mats Non-slip mats and strips applied to the floor of the bathtub or shower will reduce the risk of falls. A wet floor can be just as slippery as the tub, so use a bath mat or textured strip outside the shower, too. Considering Grab bars in the shower and around the toilet could make the bathroom even safer. Adjust the chair cushions, getting out of a soft-cushioned or low chair can prove challenging. Put a board under soft cushions. Raise the height of a chair by placing a pillow or folded blanket on top of the seat. Another big area of concern is the outside approaches to the house. Keep steps sturdy and textured to prevent falls in wet or icy weather. Mark the edges of steps with bright or reflective tape. This is very important; consider a ramp with handrails into the home rather than steps. Place a small bench or table by the entry door to hold parcels while unlocking the door. Make sure outside lighting is adequate. Light sensors that turn on lights automatically as you approach the house are available and may be useful. They also may be used in other parts of the home. Make sure to prune bushes and foliage well away from walkways and doorways. Also eliminate uneven surfaces or walkways, hoses, or other objects that may cause a person to trip. You may even want to consider a NO SOLICITING sign for the front gate or door. Remember these are just a few suggestions, your parent’s needs may vary, and a good quality contractor or hardware stores are other great resources for making their home safe