Things You'll Need:
- Arm and hand rails
- Toilet chair or lift
- Shower chair
- An Emergency Response button
- A Kitchen timer (more than a 3-minute type)
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Step 1
When it comes to seniors, simple household accidents can be scary and serious. To help prevent these, look for the obvious. Get rid of throw rugs. They can easily get caught in walkers and cause nasty spills.
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Step 2
Install handrails wherever necessary. Areas where they’re commonly used include around toilets, around the tub or showers.
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Step 3
Put a no-slip rug in front of the tub or shower. That’s another place for potential accidents.
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Step 4
Install a toilet chair with 2 arm rails. This makes it easier to get up and down. There’s even a portable electric chair lift to help.
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Step 5
Consider getting a shower chair for safe showering. You can get this at a medical supply store or go online.
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Step 6
Make sure seniors get and wear an “emergency button,” known as a Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS). If there’s a fall, they can push it to call for immediate help. Without this, the chance of laying there for hours or even days is very real.
Make sure they wear this at ALL times. Too often when it’s left off, an accident happens and it’s out of reach, sometimes creating a life or death situation that could have been avoided.
This button can be used both for medical or household safety issues. -
Step 7
Cast iron skillets are great for cooking, but they’re heavy. As we age, they get harder to manage and burns or spilling can result. Consider switching to lighter-type pans instead.
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Step 8
As we get older, we forget things more often. Set a timer when cooking (stove or oven) as a reminder so you don’t forget or risk starting a fire.
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Step 9
Consider switching to a front-loading washer and dryer. This will eliminate bending or stooping that can cause back problems. Shifting wet clothes from the washer to the dryer can be heavy and difficult in top loaders.
You could build / have built a frame to help raise your top loaders, which would have the same result as the above without the expense. -
Step 10
When it comes to housecleaning, break it down into small sections. Don’t expect you’ll have the same energy as you used to. Try to make it easier on yourself or your senior every way possible. The more you do, the easier it is to make your home safe for your senior.
