Senior Home Safety Checklist

Home Safety Tips for Seniors

When it comes to the safety of seniors living in a private home (whether their own or that of a family member or friend), there are many concerns. While many senior citizens continue to enjoy active lifestyles full of physical activity and mental stimulation, there’s no denying that age brings about a certain amount of deterioration. Even the best preserved seniors may find that they occasionally forget things that are important or suffer from physical limitations that could lead to serious harm. So if you’re a senior that is concerned about your own safety, or you happen to be caring for someone at this later stage of life, here is a basic checklist for safety precautions that may be incorporated into the home.

1. Fire precautions. Proper fire safety is essential in any house, but since seniors may not be as mobile as younger people, additional precautions may need to be observed. First and foremost, there should be smoke alarms in every room and fire extinguishers should be posted on stairways, near exits, and in high-risk areas (like the kitchen and laundry room, for example). Further, seniors should post reminders (on the calendar or via smartphone) to check batteries and gauges every six months (the time change provides an ideal benchmark).
2. Non-slip surfaces and hand rails. Many seniors fear the result of a slip or fall because bone loss is an all-too-common side effect of aging. A serious fall could easily lead to broken bones, joint replacement surgery, and an extended period of recovery that leaves the victim incapacitated, perhaps for the rest of his/her life. So consider removing any rugs that lack a rubber backing and installing hand rails and grip tape on staircases. And in the winter, be sure to keep plenty of rock salt on hand for exterior stairwells and walkways.
3. Adequate lighting. Often, elderly people have trouble performing tasks that they once found simple, such as replacing light bulbs that have gone out. For this reason, it behooves you to install long-lasting CFLs (compact fluorescent lights). They are estimated to last up to ten times as long as incandescents and they use less energy, which is great for the utility bill. Also, take special care to ensure that problem areas like stairwells are always properly lit so that accidents are less likely to occur.
4. Prescription medication. There are two safety issues where prescriptions are concerned. Seniors may not keep good track of their schedule, so they could be taking too much or too little medication (both of which could lead to serious health risks). Or they simply may not stay on top of refilling prescriptions. Either way, family, friends, and caregivers should take pains to help them stay on track with their medications.
5. Medical alarm. You don’t have to graduate from one of the top online masters in healthcare programs to know that at some point seniors may suffer from an accident or injury that leaves them unable to call for help. So while most of us find the “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials of old snicker-worthy, the truth is that a call button of some kind could save a senior’s life, which makes it a good addition to any household concerned with senior safety.