It’s important for everyone to make sure that their elderly loved ones stay safe. Whether you are the sole caregiver for a family member, or if you have a team of professionals assisting you with your mom or dad, keeping your family safe is a high priority.
Before you get started thinking about safety items, be sure to look at your loved one’s medical needs. This will be your preliminary starting point, and it will set the tone for everything else that needs to be addressed. If they need to have their blood pressure taken twice daily to monitor a health problem, you need to build this into their care as a given. Having access to someone who has been professionally trained to do this needs to be just one of the things that the rest of the safety planning revolves around.
Next, it’s important that your loved one have the right amount of care and supervision. Someone in good overall health without dementia needs very little in this area. As physical and mental health declines, though, the amount of care and supervision given should become more and more intensive. For example, someone with Alzheimer’s disease that is prone to leaving the house should have around the clock supervision in order to keep them safe. They may not have advanced physical needs yet, but for their safety, supervision is a must. If you are away during the days, an in-home care professional can do this for you and your family.
Next, address the basics. Make sure that there are smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors installed in the home and that they are working properly. If they are smokers, make sure that they never smoke in their beds. Encourage them to take their time when walking, or when getting up out of bed or a chair. Buy them a pair of no-slip shoes. If they have trouble tying their laces, make sure that they have velcro or slip ons so that there will be less of a trip hazard. Ensure that all walkways are clear of items that might pose a problem, too. If they need handrails in the bathroom, have them professionally installed so that there’s no additional risk when using the shower or toilet. Get them a bathing chair to make cleaning themselves easier. The list can go on and on.
Finally, think about little things. Leave a nightlight on when it’s dark so that if they are walking through that area at night, the odds of tripping or becoming disoriented are reduced. Also, keep close tabs on medications. Make sure that everything that’s supposed to be taken is being taken at the right time and in the right way. Label meds if needed, being sure to have some sort of tracking system to guarantee that everything is done correctly. If there are old meds, or ones that are no longer taken, be sure that they are recycled in a safe manner to prevent any sort of confusion.
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