It’s common knowledge that many seniors wish to remain independent in their homes as long as possible. While home care and a family support system usually focus on the health and safety issues of the seniors themselves, it’s also important to assess the safety of the home as a whole. Consider the following key maintenance issues and potential safety concerns for your senior parent’s home.
Maintaining the Home
The following are important factors to take into account when maintaining a senior’s home:
Frequent Inspections: It’s important to pay attention to things like structural integrity, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, and electrical systems. Have these systems checked and serviced regularly to ensure proper function.
Appliance Maintenance: To avoid malfunctions or mishaps, regularly inspect and repair your home’s appliances. Examining the stove, refrigerator, heaters, and other necessary appliances falls under this category. Replace or fix any malfunctioning equipment right away.
Professional Support: Loved ones should hire experts to handle specialized duties that they might not be able to perform themselves. This involves bringing in plumbers, electricians, and other professionals to handle certain maintenance requirements.
Safety in the Home
Fall Prevention: Falls can have serious effects, and seniors are more vulnerable to them. It’s essential to ensure the house has non-slip flooring, safe handrails, and adequate lighting. The support team can remove any tripping risks, such as clutter or loose carpets. Also, it’s important to confirm that staircases are safe to use by doing routine maintenance and inspections.
Accessibility: For seniors with mobility problems, it’s important to assess accessibility within the home. This could entail making sure that necessary living areas like the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom are conveniently accessible, as well as building ramps and expanding doorways.
Gardening and Landscaping: The home care team and loved ones can work with seniors to maintain their outdoor spaces. It’s crucial to eliminate overgrown plants, level uneven walkways, and take care of any exterior hazards. This improves the senior’s general well-being in addition to increasing safety.
Emergency Preparedness: The support team can install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, and other essential safety equipment in the house. Additionally, the home care team can help seniors create an emergency plan.
Helping Seniors Understand Why Safety and Maintenance Are Essential
Open communication is crucial while working with seniors. Home care providers can talk to them about their individual requirements, preferences, and any worries they may have regarding their living situation. This might assist in customizing the home maintenance schedule to meet their particular needs.
Additionally, it’s a good idea to look into the services and resources available in their area that could help them with house maintenance that loved ones can’t assist with. Numerous localities offer initiatives or groups devoted to assisting senior citizens with these types of things.
Above all, it’s essential to focus on a well-rounded approach to help seniors age in place. While senior safety is a top priority, home safety is also key.
Sources:
https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/medical-alert-systems/home-safety-older-adults/
https://energy5.com/hvac-systems-ensuring-comfort-and-safety-for-elderly-residents
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 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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