Five Home Safety Basics You Need to Know about as a Caregivers

When you become your elderly family member’s caregiver, her safety becomes your biggest priority. Home safety is where you need to start and these suggestions will get you looking at safety in new ways.

Floors and Walkways Need Frequent Clearing

Floors and pathways in your senior’s home may not have been much of an issue in the past, but they definitely are now. Clutter, even in small amounts, can impede safe passage and can also present a tripping hazard. Try making two passes a day at least to ensure that you’ve got clear paths.

Railings and Grab Bars Are Essential

If your senior has balance issues, then grab bars may be something that you’ve already installed. Otherwise, they’re definitely something to consider. Bathrooms and hallways are the primary locations for grab bars usually, but you can install them anywhere that is secure and stable.

Lighting Is More Important than You Think

As your elderly family member ages, her eyes need more light in order to be able to function properly. What seems like a well-lit room to you may actually be too dim for her to see well in. Talk to your elderly family member about whether the lighting seems to be effective for her or not and try out different combinations of brighter lighting.

Home Maintenance Needs to Be Done

Home maintenance is easy to put off when your senior is busy and on the go. If her health is challenged or she’s developed mobility issues, then home maintenance can be a matter of safety. Start making a list of what needs to be done and rank those tasks in order of importance. Anything that is tremendously unsafe needs immediate fixing.

Organization Can Be Huge for Safety

Something that often gets overlooked is that an organized home is typically a safer home. When you put items within easy reach that your senior needs often, she’s not putting herself on a stool or chair to get to them, for instance. Look around and see what can be moved or reorganized that will also become safer. You may even be able to find home organizers that work with the elderly through senior centers in your area.

There is definitely help available with all of these issues. Contact your local agency for the elderly and see if they can point you in some of the right directions. Home care providers can also help you to find the tools that you need to do the job correctly.

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