Elderly Home Care - How to Make a Home Safe for Elders

Author: Deepak Sengupta

Parents painstakingly take care of their children, no matter how difficult or stubborn they are. They feed them, clothe them, provide a roof over their heads as well as ensure that they find their place in this world. And when parents begin to age, their independence begin to dwindle, thus it becomes the responsibility of the children to look after them. Hence elderly home care is a key priority.

Tips to make the home safe for the elderly

  • Brighten the home- As a person touches 60 years, their eyes need more lighting compared to when they were some 10 or 12 years old. Thus children should ensure that the home always is well lighted, above all there should not be any blind spots which may put the elderly at the danger for falls. For brighter versions switch the dim lights and ensure that risky areas such as the bathroom and stairs have lights which offer maximum visibility

  • Label medications properly- Ensure that the senior citizens at home have every medication marked and labelled properly. Children should help them via checking the expiry dates. All medications should be stored in one simple to find place. Most importantly children should be familiar regarding the dosage which they take

  • Non-slip flooring- The elderly people require in having nonslip flooring. This should be at the entrance and exit and other vital places too. For utmost convenience it is good to have a bathroom at the floor level as they spend the maximum time here. Besides it is good if their bedroom is on the building’s first floor

  • Gather ample information- It is good to gather maximum information so that children are in a position of helping their elderly parents in adapting to a novel chapter in their life. Right from proper nutrition to proper health care, it is wise in obtaining the necessary information

  • Keep the home safe from accidents- Ensure that places where home accidents take place are safe. Place strips especially on slippery steps and also make sure that places where carpet is placed is tight. For best results colour the edges both of the first as well as last step for compensating for failing eyesight. Also put handrails for optimum safety. This is one of the best elderly home care tips

  • Raised toilet seats- Also known as a lifter or riser, raised toilet seats will be the finest solution especially if the toilet height creates a problem while trying to get up. These can add 4-5 inches to the height of the toilet seat thereby making it simpler for the elderly person in sitting down and getting up

Both the interior and exterior of the home needs equal attention

Along with the interior, the exterior of the home too should be safe for the elderly. Ensure that there lie no large rocks, tree branches or fallen trees in the walkways that lead to the home. Besides, the walkway must be well light. Elderly home care should be the key priority for all. Allow them in living an independent life both safely and along with dignity. With little modifications at home one can boost up elderly care. Give your best!

Apart from the aforementioned, especially in today’s age where people are so much occupied in work they cannot devote much time and attention to their senior family members so they are bound to take help from professional home care providers. They offer excellent elderly home care services right from bathing, cooking, offering medicines to giving them company thereby making life simpler.