How to Keep Seniors Safe at Home

As the old expression goes, “there’s no place like home.” For seniors, many of whom have lived in the same place for decades, this is especially true. However, as they age, some seniors have difficulty maintaining their independence and remaining safe in their own homes.

There are a number of steps that family members can take to help their aging loved one live safely in their own residence as long as possible. Let’s look at a handful of great ways to help a senior stay safe at home.

Help with Mobility

Because falling is one of the most dangerous occurrences for seniors living in their own homes, helping a loved one with mobility issues is of utmost importance. Having a sturdy cane or walker available can mean the difference between safely moving about and breaking a hip or sustaining a head injury from a fall.

Avoiding Kitchen Accidents    

Another major area that some seniors struggle with is being able to safely function in their home kitchens. Burns from the stove are a huge concern, in addition to the tendency some older people have to drop food or spill liquids. Help your loved one by preparing meals ahead of time that can be simply heated up in the microwave and do not need a lot of effort in order to eat.   

Also, place a light-weight grabber/reacher tool in the kitchen, which will allow your loved one to easily pick up any dropped items from a standing position. This will help prevent them having to bend over and risking a dangerous fall.

Illumination   

Something as simple as making sure that all bedrooms, hallways and bathrooms are well lit will be a huge help in the effort to keep your loved one safer in their home. Falls often happen because older people can’t see where they are going while walking. Install motion sensitive switches that will turn on lights when a person enters an area.