TIBURON — Nowadays, many elderly adults are opting to stay at home rather than move to assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. If this is the case with your loved one, your most important consideration should be creating a safe living environment within the home.
Statistically, more people are injured in their bathrooms than in any other room, so that’s a good place to start. First, remove all rugs and mats—they can cause an elderly person to trip. Install grab bars in the shower and alongside the bathtub and toilet to make these fixtures safely accessible. Finally, if you have a low toilet seat, purchase an adjustable seat riser to accommodate accessibility needs.
Another aspect of in-home safety is nighttime monitoring, as injuries can occur when an elderly person leaves their bed in the middle of the night. One option for monitoring nighttime safety is a clip alarm, which can be attached to pajamas. When the person gets out of bed, a magnet is released and activates an alarm. Other options include a sensor pad placed underneath the bedding and a floor sensor alarm, both of which alert a caregiver when an elderly person has left the bed.
By addressing these and other aspects of home safety, you can create a living environment for your loved one that’s both safe and comfortable.