Keeping Seniors Mobile at Home – 5 Safety Tips to Keep in Mind

Posted by Home Instead Care on April 30th, 2021

Losing mobility is a part of aging. But some seniors might insist on moving around even when it is difficult and this can increase the likelihood of accidents.

Millions of seniors over the age of 65 were treated in emergency rooms due to injuries brought about by common items found at home. This is why you should take the time to make the house safer for seniors. Here are a few things that can help:

1. Make sure home structures are sound.

Fix anything that could be falling down such as doors and cabinets that are slowly starting to come off the hinges. Fences, windows, and handrails should also be safe and sturdy. Annual maintenance of the property can go a long way in keeping the seniors living in them safe.

2. Fix broken or unstable grounds.

A loose tile or broken paving can cause falling and tripping incidents at home. These should be fixed right away. Check the house for loose tiles and if you see cracks or potholes on driveway paving, fix them.

3. Arrange the furniture and home accessories properly.

Make some changes to the furniture arrangement to ensure that seniors can move around freely, especially for seniors that need to use mobility aids. The mobility aids can snag against something and that can also increase the risks for accidents.

For the seating areas, there should be plenty of space for seniors to move around. Change to safer furniture materials such as wicker for coffee tables. Get rid of anything made from glass as these could become a hazard as well.

4. Use anti-slip rugs.

If there are area rugs in the home of the senior, make sure there is a layer of anti-slip rugs underneath it. Even area rugs can be a cause of accidents when they are slippery.

5. Make sure the home is well-lit.

Late in the afternoon, seniors might have a hard time seeing things because of failing eyesight. So, when it is starting to dim, the home should be properly lit already. You can install programmable lights that can turn on at the set time. These smart lighting systems can also be accessed through an application in smartphones.

6. Make kitchen supplies more accessible.

Put the things that are needed in the kitchen where they are most accessible. Make sure all drawers and cabinets are also properly labeled so that seniors will not have a hard time finding what they need.

Home care assistance in Vancouver will ensure that your senior loved one living alone is taken care of. You can get home care assistance in Vancouver if you are having a hard time overseeing the care of your loved one.

If your family needs extra home care assistance, you can get the help of Home Instead.

Adam Jackson is the author of this article. To Know more details about Senior living in Vancouver please visit our website: homeinstead.ca/3039