THE HOLIDAYS ARE A GOOD TIME FOR CONDUCTING HOME SAFETY CHECKS FOR YOUR SENIOR LOVED ONES

This holiday season while you are enjoying family dinners at Thanksgiving, Christmas or Hanukkah, it’s important to take a careful look around the place your senior loved one calls “home” to see if it’s as safe as it should be. As a person ages, their home can become a veritable minefield of hazards. “Older adults may find their balance isn’t as good as it was in the past. They may shuffle as they walk, or their vision may be impaired.. These and other situations seniors experience make falling a greater hazard,” says Bob Tucker, a qualified dementia care provider (QDCP) and co-owner of the Senior Helpers office serving the north and northwest suburbs. “Each year approximately one in three people 65-years-or older will fall. And, people 80 years or older have an even greater risk of falling.” “Your loved one may think their home is safe, but often isn’t when you conduct a careful inspection. A home wellness checklist can help prevent falls, broken bones and other serious injuries. For example, many seniors have rugs that slide on the floor. We see this so often-especially in bathrooms and kitchens-the most dangerous rooms in someone’s home. These should be removed, taped down, or at least fitted with a non-slide mat underneath,” says Abbie Tucker senior advocate and client services director, certified senior advisor (CSA), a qualified dementia care provider (QDCP) and co-owner of the local Senior Helpers office. Here is a safety checklist you may want to use.

Kitchen Safety - Maximize the lighting by seeing how much wattage can be accommodated by existing lighting fixtures. Add a night light in the kitchen. Take commonly used items in the cabinets and place them on lower shelves for easier access. If a loved one has serious dementia, you will also want to keep all household chemicals in a safe place. Child proof cabinet locks are used by some families. They are inexpensive and easy to install. Replace heavy pots and pans with lighter ones and make sure pot holder mitts are available and used. Make sure “off” indicators on the stove and appliances are clearly marked with brightly colored tape.

Stair Safety If your loved one doesn’t have any handrails for their stairways consider having them added. Many accidents happen on the stairs-especially when caring loads of laundry down to the basement utility room.

Bathroom Safety - Grab bars are important for getting in and out of bath tubs. Even if your loved one has a shower stall, grab bars can be a big help. Bib-skid decals and rubber mats should be available for the tub and shower. Bathrooms are dangerous places for slipping and falling. This room can be an accident waiting to happen.

Accessible Switches and Lots of Light - Some people find it difficult to use switches that are too high up or hard to turn on and off. Make sure the switches are easy for your loved one to use and ensure all areas have plenty of artificial or ambient light-especially if your loved one is visually compromised. It’s also a good idea to keep a flashlight near the bed because the power can go off, and you don’t want your loved one getting out of bed in the dark. A telephone should also be accessible from the bed.

Declutter - Falls sometimes happen when things accumulate around the home. Check for things on the floor. This is also the time to look for lamp or other electric cords that may cause your loved one to trip.

Throughout the Home - Be sure smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are present and have fresh batteries. Determine if the furnace/air conditioning units have been recently cleaned and checked. Night lights should be placed in hallways, stairwells, bedrooms and bathrooms. Check to see that carpets do not have holes or snags and the carpet edges are securely fastened. Lower the water temperature to prevent scalding, and make sure all water faucets are clearly marked hot and cold. Where are the emergency numbers? Accidents can happen at any time so check to see emergency numbers are close to every telephone. If you are the prime caregiver, make sure your number is listed first. That list should also include a trusted neighbor and the name of your loved ones doctor. Make sure the print is large enough for your loved one to read. And, if necessary, consider getting an emergency response system. One system even automatically alarms if someone falls-even if they don’t push the button.

For a comprehensive Free Home Safety Checklist or for more information on senior care, Alzheimer’s Care and other forms of dementia, contact Senior Helpers. This Senior Helpers location is the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) affiliate office for the Chicago area. Call: 847-564-7500, go to www.seniorhelpers.com or email Bob Tucker at rtucker@seniorhelpers.com.