How to Create a Safe Environment for Seniors Who Live Alone

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By Sharon Meier
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Senior Living

Many Seniors, Grandparents, Elderly Parents want to stay in their own home for as long as they can. They love the memories that live in their house. There are many tools and living aids available today that will help keep seniors safe and happy in their homes. A little planning and setup is needed to make it a happy worry free experience.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Lifeline

Safety first. Keep safe with an emergency medical alert device. There are many kinds of emergency alert devices available to seniors. These devices are worn as bracelets, necklaces or watches. If an emergency arises help is only a push button away. For a small monthly fee the fear of falling and not being able to get up is eliminated.
Step 2

Grandma

Easy access. Put a key lock box on the outside door knob of their home. The code to the lock box can be given out to emergency personal or others who need to go in and out of the house. The emergency contact person will be able to give the emergency workers the code to access the house.
Step 3

Organize a daily call check in. There are companies that have daily check ins for people who live at home. If your loved one misses a daily check in you will be notified that something might be wrong. You can also set up a phone calling plan with your siblings or friends. Each day of the week someone should be responsible for calling your loved one to check on him or her. This is an easy routine to do if it is shared among family members.
Step 4

Have meals delivered. Breakfast, lunch, supper, everyone gets tired of cooking and cooking for one is a little boring. Plan to have some meals delivered to your loved ones home. Many communities offer the Meals on Wheels program. This could be daily or weekly. If you enjoy cooking, prepare extra servings that can be frozen and then quickly heated in a microwave.
Step 5

Spring Cleaning

Organize help with the spring cleaning. Every house needs to have a good spring cleaning and a little maintenance. Set a plan to keep the house in great shape either by hiring cleaning help or having a spring cleaning party where everyone gets together to spruce up your loved one’s house. Find a good handyman for minor repairs.
Step 6

Decorate for the holidays. What could be a better gift then helping to put up all of those favorite decorations? Plan to help decorate early in the season and then again after the New Year Holiday to take them done.
Step 7

Gift of Self

Create a certificate for shopping, errands, house keeping etc. for your Grandparents. They will be happy to see that you are available to help them if they need it. When I was first married we gave certificates for household help to my in-laws. They enjoyed our services and I enjoyed learning about them. It was the best gift that they received.

Comments

Sondrac said

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on 4/1/2009 good advice, but I wish you would give the links to the places you mentioned who would phone you daily

showpup said

on 12/7/2008 Great advice. Especially important to remember to check in on them every day. An elderly great-aunt of mine broke her hip when she fell in her bathroom and she was there for 3 days before someone found her. An emergency alert system would have been great too! This was many years ago and maybe not available then.