One reason that seniors often choose to age in place is because they’re comfortable in their own homes. The big key for family caregivers is to help seniors stay both safe and comfortable in their homes so that they can continue to age in place. That means focusing on a variety of different areas that can cause safety concerns for aging adults. Home care assistance can be a helpful tool when both creating a safer environment and maintaining that environment.
Install Smoke Detectors
Smoke detectors are essential for early detection of fires and can save lives. Most homes already have smoke detectors, but it’s important to test them regularly and make sure that they’re in good working order. There are other types of detectors that make sense, too, like carbon monoxide detectors, that seniors should have in their homes. Some home alarm systems include these along with other services, which can be a low-maintenance way of ensuring they’re all installed and working properly.
Ensure Proper Lighting
Good lighting is about more than just ambiance. It’s essential for helping seniors to avoid accidents and injuries because it helps them to see more clearly as they move through the home. Nightlights in bedrooms and bathrooms can be helpful, and other rooms should have plenty of lighting options. Sometimes seniors may feel as if their lighting is bright enough but are having more trouble seeing. Bumping up the lighting by choosing brighter bulbs or increasing the lighting fixtures can help more than they realize.
Take Precautions Against Falls
Falls are incredibly dangerous for seniors. Minimizing the risk of falls involves removing clutter, securing loose rugs and carpets, and avoiding choices like waxing or polishing floors with slippery products. It might also help to install grab bars in key locations throughout the house, especially in the bathroom and in stairways.
Hire Home Care Assistance
Senior home care providers are experts in home safety tips for aging adults. They have experience assisting families in a variety of different ways to keep seniors both safe and comfortable in their own homes. Home care assistance can offer hands-on help with daily tasks, too, like keeping the house tidy and ensuring that seniors are eating healthy meals. These steps all work together to keep seniors safer on multiple levels.
Create an Emergency Plan
It’s also important for aging adults to have an emergency plan for their home. These plans include paths seniors would take out of the home if there’s an emergency like a fire. They also need to include things like emergency numbers to contact if something goes wrong and even information about what to do in a variety of natural disasters. The key with an emergency plan is to practice it regularly and make sure everyone involved knows what’s in the plan.
Creating a safe, comfortable, and accessible home environment is crucial for maintaining independence and well-being, especially for seniors. With the help of home care assistance, seniors can have the tools they need to age in place for a long time to come.
The staff at Home Care Matters is available to talk with you and your family about all of your needs. Home Care Matters is a home care agency providing quality and affordable home care assistance in Gainesville, GA, and the surrounding areas. Call (770) 965-4004 for more information.
We provide elder care in Braselton, Buford, Dacula, Duluth, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville, Oakwood, Sugar Hill, Suwanee, Barrow County, Forsyth County, Gwinnett County, Hall County, Jackson County, North Fulton County.
Valerie has the unique experience with home care as she has experienced it from both ends of the spectrum, as a caregiver and as needing care herself as a cancer survivor. Valerie says, “Taking care of someone you love is a physically, mentally and demanding labor of love.Taking care of my mom was the hardest thing I have ever done. It has given me an insight and perspective not many people understand unless you are doing it or have done it.I loved taking care of my mom.I love helping others take care of their love ones too.And now that I’ve been sick, it’s given me a whole new level of empathy and understanding for those who are sick and need help.”
Valerie’s schedule varies daily, but she loves visiting with our clients, families, caregivers, our network partners and being in the office.Says Valerie, “Every day is different, but I wake up excited about what we do, inspired by our team, clients and caregivers.I strive to be a resource to the community.I love my team and I love what we do every day. I like to think my mom would be proud.”
You can reach Valerie by email (Valerie@homecarematters.com) or in our office (770.965.4004).
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