August 20, 2020
If your elderly loved one would like to stay living in their home, this could be a possibility. Certainly, their physical and mental health will need to be assessed first. However, if their doctor says that it is alright for them to stay aging in place, there are some tips for home safety that could help them, as well.
There might be some hazards in your elderly loved one’s home. You or their elder care providers should check the bottom and top of the stairs. The kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and bedroom should be checked, too. It is important to make sure there isn’t clutter throughout the house. If there is clutter or other hazards in the home, there is more of a chance for your elderly loved one to trip and fall.
It is also important to ensure that your elderly loved one’s home is safe in regard to a possible fire. You need to make sure that the carbon monoxide and smoke detectors in your loved one’s home are working properly. There should be a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector on each floor of your elderly loved one’s home. There should be some fire extinguishers in their home, as well.
The water temperature in your elderly loved one’s home should be at a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. There are far too many senior citizens who get burnt because the water in their home is too hot. To reduce the risk of your elderly loved one having scalding hot water on their body, you should check their water temperature often. It is also important to ensure there are slip-resistant rugs and grab bars in your loved one’s bathroom to prevent them from slipping.
You can schedule a professional to check the HVAC system in your elderly loved one’s home. It is important that their air conditioning and heat are working properly. If these things aren’t working properly, it could cause issues of your loved one getting too hot or too cold, depending on what season it is at the time.
These are just some of the many tips for home safety when it comes to your elderly loved one and aging in place. Many senior citizens are able to continue living in their homes. If your elderly loved one is going to do this, you and their elder care providers can help to ensure their safety and well-being.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/
