- summeralameel
Tips For Maintaining a Safe Home For Elders
Many elderly citizens enjoy living at home and having some sort of independence but unfortunately, several common accidents can put your loved one’s life in danger including falls, burns, and accidental poisonings. As your loved one’s primary caregiver, it is your responsibility to ensure the home is maintained and made safely accessible for their needs, as well as their level of independence. In today’s post from Inland Respite, we will cover some basic home safety tips to reduce the risk of your loved one getting injured. Keep reading to learn more and contact our team for respite care services to assist you in your loved one’s care!
Keep Emergency Numbers Handy
When caring for aging elders or senior citizens in your family, certain precautions must be taken to ensure their safety. One of the most important tips in maintaining a safe home is to have a list of emergency numbers written large and clear. In the case that an emergency was to happen, you want the list to be easily accessible for quick reference. A bulletin board or the fridge is a great location option! Some telephone numbers to consider adding to this list are:
Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222
A list of caregivers, family members, or friends to call in case of emergency
Healthcare provider’s office
These numbers are especially helpful if your family takes advantage of in-home respite care services, so all the caregivers are on the same page.
Prevent Falls
Elderly individuals are at a higher risk of falling due to challenges with mobility and balance. Along with physical therapy programs to increase mobility and strength, there are simple things caregivers and family members can do around the home to decrease the risk of falls including:
Have a cordless phone or cellphone so your loved one isn’t rushing to answer the phone.
Keep the floors picked up from newspapers, blankets, shoes, and other fall-hazard items.
Space out furniture to create more walkways.
Wear non-slip shoes and s