It’s no secret that most seniors want to stay in their homes as they get older. But family members can be faced with the very real challenge of making sure that home is a safe place for their seniors as they age. Falls at home are the most common cause of serious injuries among seniors, so reducing their risk is a high priority. Some of the things that can be done to protect seniors aging at home and help them avoid falls include:
Bring in Personal Care At Home
Personal care at home helps seniors with things likes dressing and showering but also with transferring safely to and from bed, getting in and out of chairs, moving around the house, going up and down stairs, and safely using the bathroom. Since most falls at home happen when seniors are trying to do things like use the bathroom or shower having personal care at home for your senior loved one can greatly lower their risk of falling.
Remove Unnecessary Furniture
When rooms are cluttered with furniture it can be difficult for seniors to move around the room safely. And if seniors do start to fall they can hurt themselves by falling on or under pieces of furniture. If a senior grabs a chair or small table as they fall they may pull that furniture down on them and hurt themselves even worse. So it’s a good idea to go through your senior’s home and get rid of any furniture that they don’t use, isn’t comfortable, or that could be a hazard to them. Personal care at home can be there to support your senior moving around the house when you can’t, ensuring that a fall doesn’t occur.
Upgrade The Flooring
Uneven flooring is a huge hazard for seniors. Area rugs should be taken out and replaced with wall to wall carpet so that if seniors fall they have something softer than bare floor to land on. But if your senior loved one really wants to have hard floors in some rooms like the kitchen or bathroom have a professional contractor make sure that the floors are even and that the flooring is even. Replace any chipped tiles or boards. Replace the grout. Install non-slip coating on top of the tiles or wood to make sure that your senior loved one will be able to walk safely on the floor without tripping or slipping.
Install Handrails And Grab Bars
You probably have already put handrails or grab bars in the bathroom and in your senior loved one’s bedroom. But putting them in other places throughout the house can help prevent serious injuries. Install handrails in hallways so that your senior loved one can have something to hold as they walk down the hall. And put grab bars near the couch or your senior loved one’s favorite chair so that they will be able to easily get up from the chair or sit down on the couch. Small upgrades like these can significantly lower the risk of your senior parent falling at home.
Source
https://www.cdc.gov/injury/features/older-adult-falls/index.html
If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Littleton, CO, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Denver today. 303-756-9322
