Most seniors would rather live with their family than be committed to elderly home facilities. Deciding to live with a senior as their family caregiver can be highly rewarding and at the same time very risky. This is because seniors are highly vulnerable to accidents.
Caregivers are charged with the responsibility of enhancing the safety of seniors at home. To do so, items that jeopardize their safety must be removed from their way, while additional fittings must be added to increase safety. This is to minimize falls and poisoning, among other accidents. Here are a few tips that can help you, as a caregiver, improve the safety of your loved ones.
Preventing Falls
- Enhancing Safety of Stairs
Most seniors tend to injure themselves when climbing or going down the stairs. Therefore, it is advisable that seniors’ rooms be on the ground floor. If this is not possible, install handrails on stairs. In case a senior trips he/she can grip on them for support to avoid falling. Also, ensure that the stairway is well-lit at all times. Next, make sure that the staircase is rid of clutter as seniors might stumble on them and fall. - Bathroom and Toilet Safety
Bathrooms floors are constantly wet and, therefore, prone to causing accidents. To enhance the safety of seniors while using bathrooms, ensure that a non-slip material is used for the floors. Also, add handgrips to support seniors when using the toilets or bathrooms. You should also be considerate enough as to leave the bathroom light on, even at night, so that seniors can easily find their way. You can even hire a respite caregiver for assistance when you are not around.
Preventing Burns
Most burns happen in the kitchen. However, this doesn’t mean that they will not happen in any other area of your home. To prevent burns in seniors, ensure that water is regulated to a standard temperature so seniors can take a shower without scalding. Additionally, you can install your home with smoke detectors so that in the case of a fire hazard, you are immediately notified.
Preventing Poisoning
Poisoning can be from medicine, gas or even detergents. Gas poisoning might arise from a gas fireplace whose vents are not operating properly. Also, it could be as a result of using a barbecue grill to heat your home. To prevent this, ensure that your gas heaters are well vented before operating them. As for preventing medication poisoning, ensure that old medicine is disposed of and that all medicine are maintained in their original containers.
This information is given by Philadelphia Home Care Assistance. The most trusted in home care agency in Philadelphia.
