Home Safety for Seniors

Thousands of seniors each year experience injuries and trauma that could be avoided with proper home safety measures. These preventable accidents cause financial, emotional and physical stress and even death. Many people are not aware of the precautions that need to be taken as our loved ones age and/or become disabled. A bad situation is often made worse when a fall or other injury occurs.
Broken bones become more common as we age due to osteoporosis and decreased balance. Because of this, tripping hazards like rugs and some low furniture need to be removed from an elderly person’s home. Those who become wheelchair bound may have decreased access to places in their home that require stairs or narrow doorways.
Safety tips for seniors while reducing the risk of injuries include:
Install grab bars in bathrooms, especially in the shower and near the toilet.
Handrails on both sides of stairs can make it easier for an elderly or disabled person to balance.
A ramp for wheelchair or walker access along with widened doorways will increase accessibility.
Set up a bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor of a home. If this isn’t possible, a chair lift can be a reasonable alternative.
Remove rugs that slide easily.
If the flooring itself is slippery, you can either lay new carpet or rubber mats over it that are secured to the floor or use a non-skid wax coating.
Make sure all used areas of the home are well lit, including having night lights along walkways.
Keep on top of repairs like broken handles or ripped carpeting which can be especially hazardous to a senior with limited mobility.
One of the best ways to keep a senior safe and increase their independence is to have a well-trained, in home care worker to provide assistance. A non-medical caregiver can be a more cost-effective alternative to a nurse and can provide many services such as cooking, help with grooming, medication reminders and companionship. If you have an elderly loved one in the Santa Clarita/Encino area, contact Comfort Keepers to find out what their compassionately trained caregivers can do to help keep seniors active, healthy and independent at home.
Myles McNamara, owner of Comfort Keepers In-Home Care, can be reached at (661) 287-4200