Alzheimer’s causes various changes in a person’s body and brain that can lead to poor judgment, altered sense of time and place, confusion, lost sense of balance, and changes in vision, hearing, and depth perception. All of these changes can affect seniors’ safety and should be kept in check. Consider the following elderly safety tips to ensure your loved one is as secure as possible:
1. Prepare for Emergencies
If an accident happens, you don’t want to be scrambling to find information. Make sure you are ready to call for help if needed, and have an easily-accessible list of local police, fire department, hospital, and poison control center phone numbers
2. Ensure Your Home is Well-lit
The extra lighting the better! Night lights and other additional lights in hallways, stairways, and bathrooms can prevent accidents and confusion during the nighttime hours.
3. Clear the Floor
It’s important to keep the floor completely clear of loose items such as magazines, books, electrical cords, etc. to prevent your senior from falling.
4. Secure Dangerous Items
Make sure to lock away all potentially dangerous items such as household cleaning products, medications, paint, gas, fertilizer, cutlery, tools, etc. to prevent an accident.
5. Check the Locks
Confirm that all door and window locks are working and keep a hidden spare set of keys outside in case your senior accidentally locks you out. It can also be helpful to install deadbolt locks high or low on doors to make it harder for your loved one to leave the house when they aren’t supposed to.
6. Check Safety Devices
Verify that all household safety devices are working properly. These devices can include fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors.
7. Prevent Bathroom Injuries
Bathrooms can be one of the most dangerous places for those suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia. However, installing grab bars next to the shower and toilet and using non-skid mats can help prevent falls and unnecessary injuries.
Alzheimer’s patients are capable of living in their homes with proper care, but there may come a time when this is no longer possible, and extra help is required. If this occurs, memory care communities can be of great service, providing a safe and loving environment for those suffering from memory loss.
