Elderly Home Safety Checklist for Caregivers: Protecting Your Elderly Parents Room-by-Room
Elderly home safety can be a nagging back-of-your-mind worry. Being concerned your elderly parent or loved one may have a serious fall is a tremendous weight on your shoulders. Thankfully, there are simple and proactive steps you can take to ensure your parents’ safety.
Understanding the Gravity of Falls
Did you know the fastest growing segment of our population is those aged 85 and older while the second-fastest growing is those over 100? If you are a caregiver to an elderly parent or loved one, these statistics may surprise even you. According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of both trauma-related hospital admissions and fatal injuries in older adults.
The Rising Concern: A Deeper Look at the Impact of Falls on Seniors
As the elderly population in the United States continues to grow at this rapid pace, it’s essential to understand both the short and long term consequences a fall can have on not only the seniors but their caregivers. The impact is not only physical but emotional and financial.
Hospital Admissions: A Physical and Emotional Toll
When an elderly individual experiences a fall that leads to hospitalization, it’s not merely a matter of medical treatment. Injuries resulting from falls can range from minor cuts and scrapes to more serious broken bones and head injuries. While surgery may be required for recovery, complications from hospitalization can include skin breakdown, infection risks, social isolation, and other detrimental issues. Post surgery recovery, often necessitating physical therapy, and a prolonged recovery process, can be emotionally taxing for the senior and their family.
Fatal Consequences: A Heartbreaking Reality
The most distressing aspect is the tragic reality that falls can lead to fatalities among older adults. For many seniors and their caregivers, this is a nightmare scenario. The loss of a loved one due to a fall is not only emotionally devastating but also a poignant reminder of the critical need for proactive fall prevention measures.
Understanding the impact falls can have on not only the senior but their entire family underscores the importance of taking preventive actions. It is important to create safe, nurturing environments for our elderly parents and loved ones to help minimize their fall risk as much as possible. This truly proves the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.
Proactive measures lead to positive outcomes in elderly home safety
While the statistics may truly surprise and even alarm us, it’s important to remember that knowledge is the first step towards positive change. Understanding the prevalence and seriousness of falls among the elderly provides us the opportunity to take preventive measures.
Each proactive step we take can potentially prevent a fall, which in turn can help seniors enjoy more years of independent and active living. The goal is not only to reduce the statistics; it’s to enhance the lives of our elderly family members, ensuring they have the freedom to live each day to the fullest without the constant worry of a fall looming over them.
With the right knowledge and commitment to fall prevention, we can help them maintain their well-deserved independence, dignity, and happiness.
Assessing the Home: A Nurse’s Perspective on elderly home safety
Drawing on over 30 years of experience as a Registered Nurse with over 20 of those years working in home health, I have been in the homes of thousands of elderly patients. Each time, I mentally assess their home for fall hazards. Even when the seniors I meet have not recently fallen, there is a comprehensive mental checklist I use when assessing their house for fall risks. I have written down my assessment and organized it by room, enabling you to use it while walking through the home of your aging parent or loved one. After reading through the assessment, you will have the option to receive this information in a free printable PDF checklist.
Room-by-Room Assessment for Elderly Home Safety
Entries, Exits, and Doors
Crucial areas to consider when assessing elderly home safety are the entrances and exits of your loved one’s home. Thresholds can pose challenges for those with impaired mobility, low vision, or the need for assistive devices like walkers or canes. Installing ramps or grab bars, and placing a seat near the door for resting can greatly enhance safety. Interior doors can also be problematic, often being too narrow for easy navigation with walkers or wheelchairs. If reframing the doorway to allow for wider doors is not a good option, installing offset hinges for an extra couple of inches of clearance may make enough of a difference to increase safety. In cases where a door isn’t necessary, such as a private bathroom or pantry, consider completely removing it.
Stairs and Steps
Stairs can be a significant fall risk. Nonslip stair treads are a simple yet effective solution to increase safety. For transitions between different flooring levels, such as from the house to the garage, visibility paint or nonslip tape can be used to reduce the risk of tripping.
Every Room of the House
Every room in your loved one’s home presents a unique set of fall hazards. Throw rugs, while aesthetically pleasing, can be treacherous when it comes to tripping. If you are not able to remove them, secure the edges with double-sided rug tape. Clutter on the floors, such as newspapers, magazines, and other items, can impede safe movement. Reduce these hazards by organizing it into boxes or bins. Adequate light is crucial, especially in older homes with limited overhead lighting. Lamps, especially those with easy-to-use switches, can help improve visibility. Don’t forget to check for burnt-out bulbs and consider long-lasting LED bulbs for a cost-effective lighting solution.
Nightlights with motion sensors are a great addition to bedrooms and other areas, providing illumination without interfering with sleep. In bedrooms, consider replacing heavy curtains with those that allow natural light to filter through. Ensure that the carpet is secure and free from wrinkles to prevent tripping. Likewise, loose or damaged flooring such as cracked tiles or warped wooden planks should be replaced.
Bathrooms
Bathrooms are often the most dangerous room in the house when it comes to elderly home safety. While a complete bathroom renovation may be costly, there are practical, quick improvements that can be made. Removing glass shower doors can create more space for a transfer tub bench or shower seat. Handheld showerheads are safer and easier to use, and toilets with “comfort height” options can make getting up from the toilet easier and safer. Additionally, grab bars, when properly installed, provide crucial support and can significantly reduce the risk of falls.
Bedrooms
In bedrooms, pay attention to potential fall risks, such as shoes with slippery treads or bed skirts that could cause tripping. Consider rearranging furniture to ensure a clear path to the bathroom, especially if multiple trips are needed during the night. A bedside commode can also make night time toileting safer and more convenient.
Kitchen and Pantry
In the kitchen, inspect the pantry, fridge, and freezer for expired food items that should be discarded. Rearrange often-used items to make them more accessible, and consider using bins and baskets for organization. Ensure that all items are easy to open or transfer the ones that are not to different containers.
Laundry Room
Ways to set up the laundry room for safer use by the elderly include providing a flat surface for folding clothes. Adding a laundry hamper with wheels can also help as can keeping detergent and other laundry supplies within safe reach.
Caring for elderly loved ones involves numerous considerations, with safety being a top priority. This room-by-room assessment is designed to give you practical guidance to minimize fall and safety risks in the home. Because every home and individual is unique, these suggestions will likely have to be adapted to the specific needs of your loved one. At Peace of Home EldeResidences, Residential Assisted Living Care, we’re here to support you in the caregiving stage of your life. If you have any questions about this assessment or need advice about residential assisted living or caring for your elderly loved one, feel free to reach out to us at margaret@peaceofhomeliving.com or visit our website at www.PeaceOfHomeLiving.com. Your loved one’s safety and well-being are our shared priority; together we can create a secure and comfortable environment for them to thrive.
Beyond the Basics: Additional Steps for Enhanced Elderly Home Safety & Fall Prevention
1. Medication Management: Proper storage and management of medications is critical as mismanagement can lead to falls. Ensure that medications are stored in a safe and accessible manner with clear labeling and proper dosing instructions. Periodically count the pills to determine if they are being taken correctly. Filing a mediplanner (pill box) for the week can help prevent medication errors and hospitalizations due to same.
2. Emergency Response Plan: Having an emergency response plan in place is another very important consideration. Medical alert systems such as wearable devices or home monitoring systems that can quickly connect seniors to emergency services are easy to obtain and not costly. These allow the senior to call for help in case of a fall or other health-related issues.
3. Fall Detection Technology: Through the use of modern fall detection technology, devices can automatically alert caregivers or medical professionals when a fall occurs. This can provide an extra layer of security for seniors living alone.
4. Regular Health Assessments: Check-ups are a vital part of health maintenance and off allow a problem to be detected earlier rather than later. If detected, medical conditions and medications that increase the risk for falls can potentially be treated and corrected prior to a fall occurring.
5. Physical Activity: Regular physical activity helps maintain strength, balance, and mobility. Walking and movement should be done throughout the day. If necessary, a medical professional can obtain or provide a referral for an evaluation by a physical or occupational therapist.
Remember to reassess theses elderly home safety points regularly to ensure the best possible care.
6. Assistive Devices and Mobility Aids: Assistive devices such as canes and walkers and mobility aids such as wheelchairs can increase stability and prevent falls. The important thing is that they are the correct type, size and being used correctly.
7. Nutrition and Hydration: The importance of the senior eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated are probably more important than most caregivers realize. Malnutrition and dehydration can contribute to weakness and an increased risk of falls. Foods rich in calcium and vitamin D are important for bone health.
8. Regular Vision and Hearing Tests: Encourage regular eye and hearing examinations, as impaired vision or hearing can lead to falls. Encourage your loved one to use the eyeglasses and hearing aids prescribed.
9. Social Engagement: Staying connected with family and friends helps prevent social isolation. Loneliness and depression can affect an individual’s well-being and mobility.
10. Caregiver Support: Acknowledge your importance in the caregiver role. Caring for an elderly loved one can be emotionally and physically demanding. Caregivers should seek help and respite when needed.
Take Action: A Personalized Checklist for Elderly Home Safety
By using this comprehensive elderly home safety assessment and walking through your loved one’s home, you will likely identify several more ways to prevent falls. If you find this information helpful and would like a free printable PDF checklist, click below to join our email list. Please share this article with anyone who may benefit. No spam ever. We respect your privacy and will keep you informed about new helpful information.
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