Many bodily functions of seniors begin to decline as they age. This results in having certain disabilities like blurred vision and imbalance. This is why most seniors are confined in their own homes or are sheltered in home care nursing services to prevent untoward incidents. However, being at home doesn’t guarantee they are safe from accidents.
There are always safety risks at home. In this regard, it is important to make sure your senior loved one is safe and healthy day in and day out. A good measure to protect them from danger is identifying the hazards and potential risks they encounter at home. Then, there are certain precautions you can set in place to prevent them.
Below are some of the most common home safety risks for seniors and their precautions.
1. Tripping or Falling
The most common cause of injury among older adults staying at home is tripping or falling. You can reduce the chances of fall accidents and encourage home safety for seniors by making their homes fall-safe. Here are some ways you can set a fall-safe home:
- Avoid using throw rugs
- Do not lay extension cords on the floor
- Ensure they do not wear slippery footwear
- Install stability bars in the bathroom
- Keep the house clean by removing clutter like newspapers, loose clothes, etc.
- Throw away old or damaged fixtures
- Remind them not to rush in making responsive moves like answering phone calls or opening the door when the bell rings
2. Poisoning
This is not a deliberate way of poisoning. Accidental poisoning is also a possibility, especially for children and seniors. Seniors who take a lot of medications can be prone to this risk. One thing you can do to prevent this is to help your loved one organize their pills and tablets by labeling them and keeping them in a well-lit place so they can easily read the labels. Help in monitoring pill intake will make sure that all medication is taken as prescribed by the doctor.
3. Product-Related Injuries
There remain instances of seniors getting harmed due to consumer products. This can be avoided by making sure that these products are nonhazardous and are not expired yet. If there are products that you are not sure of, it’s best to take them out of the house. These products can be anything from exercise equipment, body wash, clothing, and even furniture.
4. Fire
Fires are a risk for all homeowners. However, senior adults living alone are more at risk because they are weaker and slower to respond. To reduce the risk of fires:
- Install smoke detectors in every room and regularly check them if they are working.
- Ensure that your senior loved one will not light fires near oxygen tanks.
- Double-check appliances and heaters to make sure they are in good condition.
5. Abuse
Seniors can also fall prey to criminals and burglars. To help prevent your seniors from becoming victims of abuse:
- Remind them to ask for written information about any prizes, promotions, or charities and confirm its legitimacy.
- Keep them aware of scams and tricks of being pressured to purchase products or services, sign contracts, or donate out of their will.
- Provide your seniors a list of contact numbers and a cellphone to use in case of any emergencies.
Conclusion
Maintaining a safe home for seniors living at home is an excellent measure to protect them from common hazards. It can be challenging to monitor if all these are kept in check, so consider creating a checklist of things you need to do and review it whenever necessary.
The safety risks mentioned and their precautions can be a long list of tasks to complete, especially if you have your own family to look after. Families needing additional assistance to care for their seniors should consider looking for home health care in Denver or anywhere near you.
Gateway Home Health & Hospice is a solution for seniors in Denver, Colorado Springs, or Phoenix. Our intake admissions team has a quick response time upon receiving the patient referral. Call us today and create a comprehensive care plan for your loved one.