Most of us are well-aware of the fact that modern people live longer than ever before. That’s why there is a great chance that most of our readers are living in a family with senior citizens. This category of people is usually concerned about the safety of their parents/grandparents and they are doing their best to prevent accidents.
There are many cases when elderly family members can live in the comfort of their home and be relatively independent which means that they don’t need to be moved to an assisted living facility. Of course, they might need some professional help from time to time, but they can stay in their home. it doesn’t really matter whether they live in a separate part of the home or together with your own family, there are some issues related to the safety that you must consider. By following certain tips, you should be able to solve these problems.
For starters, the bathroom can easily become a risky area for the elderly. There is a great risk of falls in an ordinary bathroom used by senior citizens. You should definitely install some safety rails and grab bars in the shower/tub and close to the toilet bowl. When these bars are not installed the elderly usually rely on paper holders and since these items are not made for this purpose they can easily break causing injuries and drywall damage. While we are talking about the bathroom, it’s also a good option to add non-slip protective covers in the shower/tub and rubber mat on the floor to prevent falls.
Furthermore, remove throw rugs because they increase the risk of falls. In fact, remove any other floor covering that can lead to such accidents. Additionally, try to find the safest furniture layout. It’s also a smart move to tap the electrical wires and cords to the wall. Use the help of a professional electrician to increase the number of electrical outlets. This is the best option to reduce the use of extension cords.
Inspect the lighting all over the home especially at the entrance, hallways, and stairways. Perform the same procedure for the staircases and railings. Don’t hesitate to add a second railing that provides handholds.
Put yourself in their shoes, and try to eliminate all the obstacles in the areas that they are visiting frequently. We hope that these tips will help you elderly family members.
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