- Have the home inspected for any safety risks or needed repairs to guarantee a safe and secure environment.
- Install smoke, carbon monoxide detectors, and other safety alarms throughout the residence to provide extra protection.
- Put up grab bars around showers and bathrooms to help those with mobility issues move more safely.
- Ensure all electronic devices meet current safety standards and are positioned away from potential fire hazards.
As people age, living alone at home can become increasingly difficult. It is essential to ensure the health and safety of elderly people living by themselves to prevent accidents or injuries. There are several steps that caregivers can take to help protect their loved ones. With these measures, elderly individuals can be safe and secure while living independently at home.
Secure the house
Here are some safety tips on what to do whenever you check in on your elderly family members living alone:
Have the house inspected.
Ensuring the health and safety of elderly people living alone at home is essential for their well-being, and one way to do this is to have a house inspection. This can identify any needed repairs or issues that might put them in danger or at risk of injury.
A reputable electrician should be hired as they understand the growing complexities of wiring and circuitry. They will also be knowledgeable about changing policy regulations regarding electricity in the home.
Furthermore, it would be wise to conduct separate inspections of things like roofing or heating systems to ensure they function optimally and protect users against health hazards like mold or carbon monoxide.
Install safety alarms
With elderly people living alone at home, it is essential to regularly check smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and other alarms available on the market. Properly installing these alarms will ensure that the elderly are provided the enhanced safety they need and deserve.
Start with a complete home walkthrough to identify all potential safety risks. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors should be installed near fireplaces, furnace rooms, and places where natural gas appliances are located throughout the residence.
For maximum effectiveness, homes with aged occupants should have interconnected smoke/carbon monoxide detectors on every level so that all sound simultaneously if one triggers an alarm. It is also critical to remember to do regular maintenance checks and replace batteries as needed; this small step can significantly increase safety for elderly people living at home alone.
Install grab bars
Installing grab bars around areas of frequent use, such as showers or bathrooms, is essential to the health and safety of the elderly living alone at home. Grab bars provide secure support that can prevent slips, trips, and falls – common hazards that pose a risk to the elderly. It also helps people with mobility issues, allowing older individuals to move around safely. These come in different lengths and materials, such as stainless steel, plastic, and other materials.
When installing grab bars, it’s essential to consider where friction between the user’s hands and the bar might be greater or lesser depending on the material used for the bar surface finish. In addition to considering these factors, it’s also essential to ensure that waterproof sealant is installed appropriately when attaching the bar so that water does not get behind and cause damage from within.
Ensure that all electronic devices are up to date.
Ensuring that elderly people living alone are safe and healthy is paramount. To that end, it is critical to ensure all electronic devices in the home meet current safety standards. This includes assessing any safety hazards, such as charged batteries that could cause burns or electric shocks, appropriately protecting outlets from water and other liquids, and ensuring cords from items such as lamps and appliances are not tangled or frayed.
In addition, they should also be positioned away from any possible sources of fire, and any flammable materials should be kept far away. Doing this regular review will go a long way in protecting against any potential harm due to malfunctioning devices or other dangers posed by electricity, helping to maintain the health and safety of elderly people living alone at home.
Remove all potential tripping hazards.
Removing potential tripping hazards from hallways and living spaces is an important task when it comes to providing health and safety for elderly people who are living alone at home. Tripping hazards can come in many forms, such as area rugs that can bunch up, electrical cables on the floor, or clutter.
Identifying and removing these hazards can prevent falls and other accidents caused by obstacles in the living space. Families of elderly people should take extra time to look for even small items on the floor that could cause a problem.
Provide medication reminders
Providing medication reminders and organizing medications properly for the elderly living alone is essential to healthcare. Properly managing medications can help maintain their health, reduce the risk of accidental overdoses, or bring additional clarity to their daily medication process. In addition, making sure they remember to take their prescriptions as prescribed helps them keep up with their medical treatment.
This can be challenging, however, due to usual senior issues such as forgetfulness and mobility challenges in some cases. Nonetheless, taking the time and coordinating with medical professionals to ensure the elderly are safe is a must-do action. It’s vital to create care plans to remind them when and how to take doses while ensuring their medicines are kept in a secure area away from visitors and guests.
These are just some of the steps that can be taken to ensure the health and safety of elderly people living alone at home. These measures allow them to enjoy more independence while feeling secure and protected.
