SENIORS PAGE

Senior Proofing a Seniors Home

Most seniors would rather stay in their own homes than move to a nursing home. According to the AARP, 90 percent of people over 65 want to remain at home as long as possible, and 80 percent believe they will always live at their current home.

But that means making sure your home fits you. As people age, they often suffer from poor mobility or health problems that make it hard to stay.

Most homes were not designed with seniors in mind. But even when people need to make some changes to stay at home, there are three main reasons they might not want to:

They don’t want to “medicalize” their home
They don’t think they need it now or will need it in the future
They worry about the cost

Starting with the first reason, many people are worried that their house will start to look like a nursing home if they start adding ramps, railings, or stair lifts. These things may also be a reminder that you are getting older and losing some mobility, which can be frightening.

But you don’t have to make drastic changes right away. Something as small as moving a rug or adding some no-slip strips to your shower can make a big difference without being too noticeable.

Of course, even drastic changes are better than the alternative. Would you rather your home include a ramp or move to a nursing home that has its own?

Here you will find a few tips that I think are not too drastic and not too invasive. Most make life a little easier and brings seniors to todays technology and are very affordable.

A Bulb Camera is a great inexpensive. The light bulb cameras are able to record occurrences even as they take place in the darkness and therefore making them important. During the night time is when a lot of things happen. This is because a lot of perpetrators to these things think that nobody will notice them. The use of the light bulb cameras as protection tools in the house ensures that security is observed even during the night. This is because the cameras are capable of recording even in the darkness. If your parents don't feel like using it or are hesitant to learn how to use it. because some technology can be overwhelming to them. You can still buy one and be able to keep an eye on them anywhere in their property. This is also great if you work and have children at home. This camera below can run just under $40 at amazon. Check out all the features. The best part is you dont need a handyman for this! Look them up under "Bulb Camera" I would recommend spending a little more for more and better functions.

Technology is our friend!

See below for some of my ways to help with your home proofing.

HERE ARE A FEW IDEAS THAT CAN MAKE A HOME SAFER FOR SENIORS

Start with the basics. Floor traction is key! These are the first crucial steps you should take to fall-proof your loved one's home:

Many seniors shuffle their feet instead of picking them up when they walk, which puts them at a much higher risk of falling. With this in mind, secure all carpets to the floor, and consider covering hardwood with anchored carpet. This presents a softer surface and gives your loved one more traction around the house. Get rid of any high-pile carpets that can cause trips. As a rule of thumb, every rug or carpet should require some effort to move or adjust.

Remove throw rugs that can slip from under your parent’s feet. If Mom or Dad wants a rug for a room, consider buying a non-slip rug pad. Rug anchors can also help prevent slips and trips.

Open the space. Arrange furniture so that there is plenty of space to move around. That may mean getting rid of end tables, or furniture that’s only in the room for décor.

Ensure commonly used items are accessible. Think of food in pantries with high shelves, clothing in closets, power outlets and light switches behind small furniture, pots, pans and dishes in hanging cabinets, as well as car keys if they’re still driving – you don’t want Mom or Dad having to reach for these things, as this can result in falls. Spend some time with your parent, figure out the things she needs to access the most and make them accessible.

Ensure adequate lighting. Every single room in the house needs good lighting, especially where there are stairs. Purchase night-lights and put them in the bathroom, kitchen and hallways in case Mom or Dad gets up in the middle of the night.

Stairs can be dangerous for the elderly, especially with mobility limitations. It's a common location for a debilitating falls to happen. Here are a few suggestions to make the stairs safer:

Install railings. Ensure every set of stairs in your home has at least two railings for your parent to grip while climbing or descending the stairs.

Apply non-slip adhesive strips to the stairs. We can’t spend enough time talking about the stairs. That’s because staircase and stairway accidents are the second-leading cause of accidental injury, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Per the National Safety Council, every year, there are 12,000 stairway accidental deaths. And that number includes people of all ages.

Install grab bars in the bathtub, shower, and toilets. Of the one in three seniors who fall annually, the National Institute on Aging says 80 percent of those falls are in the bathroom.

Caring for an elderly loved one who needs help getting around the house safely can be a challenge. In addition to the tips above, here are a couple of recommendations to help you and your elderly family member:

Consider a help button. Your loved one must be able to reach someone in case a fall does happen. There are numerous brands to choose from, so do your due diligence using reviews and price.

Here is a product that can save you thousands in converting a bathtub into a walk in shower.

Convert an existing bathtub into a step in shower with the Clean-cut Step. Kit Comes Complete with 1-Step, one 2-part Support Structure, 2-bottles of Industrial Grade Adhesive with Application Nozzle, 1-Cutting Template and Installation Guide. Step features non-skid step pad for step-in shower accessibility.