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Tips on How to Keep Seniors Safe at Home

Seniors choosing to live alone, or family choosing to have senior family members live with them, can be a challenge in many ways. However there are small steps that can be taken to ensure proper safety and make life a little easier for everyone involved. Here are some helpful tips for caregivers, or seniors living alone, to utilize or to pass along to others.

Hallways and open areas
 If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, make sure it is secure and flat, without bunched-up wrinkles or raised areas
 large or small area rugs, are falling hazards, especially if they slide. Remove small rugs, and ensure large area rugs are kept in place and have no fringe edging
 fix poor lighting and add nightlights for trips to the bathroom
 ensure all hallways and open areas are free of clutter
 in living areas, keep all furniture at medium height and in sturdy condition. For example, low ottomans can be tripped over and unsteady side tables can easily fall over
 on stairs, consider stair treads or hand rails on both sides of the wall. Check that previously placed hand rails are still properly secured to the wall
 if hand rails are wood, avoid cleaning them with polish as this can make holding them difficult
 ensure all smoke detectors or carbon monoxide alarms are working in all areas of the home
 if changing flooring, avoid thick carpet. It is difficult to push walkers through thick carpeting

In the bathroom
 if possible, have light switches accessible when entering the bathroom and plug in a night light
 place non-skid adhesive textured strips in the tub or shower
 tub mat with suction bottom can also help prevent falls
 a plastic shower chair can help ease access in and out of the tub
 a raised toilet seat with armrests may provide balance both for sitting down and getting up
 add handrails or grab bars on bathroom walls. Handrails placed near the toilet, bathtub or shower can help someone stay balanced when sitting or standing
 keeping pets out of the bathroom while bathing, can prevent falls
 ensure counter tops or vanities, floors and sides of bathtub/shower, are free of unnecessary clutter
 if family member stays in bath tub alone, ensure bathroom door is unlocked and open slightly
 if possible, keep the bathroom at a warm temperature, rushing out of tub because of cold can cause injury. Small room heaters can help with this
 if taking a shower, simply using bottled soap instead of bar soap can reduce injury by eliminating unnecessary bending while in the shower
 keep extra toilet paper beside toilet. Also, extra face cloths and towels at waist level in cupboard or vanity
 personal items, like toothbrush, hairbrush, incontinent products, deodorants and makeup, should be left at waist level. Preferably in a drawer or waist level cupboard to avoid over cluttering of counter top. (also for personal/confidential reasons)
 have a detachable shower head
 hot water can be maintained at a certain temperature via the hot water tank. An option to prevent burns
 keep medications out of the bathroom. The humidity can alter the medications
 when exiting tub, have slippers available. Preferably slippers that are not open back. In general, open back slippers can be a hazard

In the kitchen
 ensure proper lighting, and light switches easily accessible
 avoid using floor wax, making floors slippy after use
 sweep floors daily and immediately clean up any liquid spills
 keep kitchen items in cabinets that are easily accessible and at again, waist-high level
 if space is limited, keep heavy kitchen items like pots, stored at waist level or lower. Not at a level above the head
 check fridge for expired food dates weekly
 keep the fridge and freezer organized
 have rubber or no slip material on bottoms of chairs and tables
 keep garbage, compost and recycling bins in kitchen if possible. Or avoid bins being in areas where seniors have to travel down steps
 keep all appliances in working order. Older appliances can be hard for seniors to use
 keep kitchen towels, curtains and other fabrics away from stove area
 keep all small appliances with cords away from the sink
 unplug any small appliances not usually used. This also keeps electrical outlets from becoming over crowded
 keep emergency numbers in a visible location, close to the phone
 For seniors who live alone, cooking can be a hazard. There are services available were meals are pre-made and delivered (I.E. Meals on Wheels). Also, pre-making meals and freezing them can be an option

In the bedroom
 keeping the bed made and sheets tidy can avoid night time falls
 keep extra blanket at the bottom of the bed. This eliminates getting out of bed and looking for extra blankets if cold
 have a phone in the bedroom. Keep the phone cord untangled and in a safe location.
 keep television and radio cords untangled and in a safe location
 with certain situations, baby monitors can be used for added safety
 many people use heating blankets, keeping them at a low temperature, or with timer shut off's can prevent burns
 keep medications out of the bedroom. Family member can be more confused when tired and may re-take medications
 having a side rail on one side of the bed or both may be an option for some. Half side rails can provide support for getting in an out of bed also
 grab bars on wall or poles can be used to assist with getting in and out of bed
 keep walkers and canes in bedroom during the night incase family member gets out of bed
 keeping a commode in the bedroom will prevent trips to the bathroom during the night
 keep dressers and closets organized, and keep laundry off the floors
 commodes, grab bars, bath chairs and other safety equipment can be purchased through medical supply stores, some local pharmacies and certain department store pharmacies

In the front yard/backyard
 in winter months, keep all pathways and stairs clear of snow and ice.
 in the warmer months wet leaves and other garden debris can be a slipping hazard
 keep mail boxes close to front door
 make sure door bell is working
 keep hoses and cords away from pathways
 keep pathways free of cracks and holes
 keep bushes and trees well-trimmed and back from the pathways

There are many services available for seniors living alone or with family members. Home care services can be provided where a PSW comes into the home helping seniors with activities of daily living, and in some cases, care giver relief.