5 Ways to Lessen an Aging Adult’s Danger of a Home Accident

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Ways You Can Reduce a Senior’s Risk of an Accident at Home in Carmichael, CA

Older adults become more prone to accidents and injuries at home due to poor bone strength, memory loss, vision impairment, and more. Therefore, family caregivers need to make home improvements that protect their senior loved ones’ safety. Here are some things you can do to lower your loved one’s risk of accidents at home.

1. Install Adequate Lighting

Lack of lighting could negatively affect your parent’s vision and cause him or her to bump into furniture and other objects inside the home or lose his or her balance while going up and down the stairs. To lower the risk of these safety issues, install adequate lighting. You can add night-lights to the hallways and bathrooms, making sure there is lighting during the night. If there are rooms in the house without lamps, consider adding one or two. To cut utility costs, use energy-efficient light bulbs.

2. Clear All Pathways

Minor accidents can have a significant impact on seniors. For instance, what may seem like a simple fall could cause blood clots and other injuries that impact cardiovascular health. Make sure the pathways in your loved one’s home are always clear. Remove all throw rugs and replace them with nonskid mats. Make sure all nails are secured and that no objects are preventing your parent from navigating the home safely. 

Certain age-related conditions can make it more challenging for seniors to age in place safely and comfortably, but Fair Oaks live-in care experts are available around the clock to help seniors manage their health. Whether your loved one is living with dementia or is recovering from a stroke, you can trust the professional live-in caregivers from Home Care Assistance to enhance his or her quality of life.

3. Check Alarms and Other Systems Regularly

The batteries in fire and carbon monoxide alarms should be changed regularly, and the devices need to be updated according to instructions from the manufacturers. If your loved one has a security system inside the home, verify that it works appropriately by having the security company conduct regular tests. Checking these systems and alarms can prevent your loved one from experiencing an accident and increase safety while at home.

4. Add Grab Bars and Bath Benches

Poor balance causes many bathroom accidents for seniors. Some aging adults are unable to stand for long periods, and their muscles give out, leading to slips, falls, and broken bones. Adding a bath bench allows your loved one to sit down when his or her muscles feel weak. Once your loved one has the strength to stand again, he or she can continue with the shower. Another option is to add grab bars to the shower and around the toilet for extra support. 

Many older adults are choosing to age in place, and some need a helping hand to continue living at home safely and comfortably. Luckily, there is professional home care Fair Oaks seniors can trust and rely on.

5. Practice Good Medication Management

One of the things families overlook when discussing accident prevention is medication management. Without medication, seniors can cause their treatments to be inactive and harm their physical and mental abilities. However, taking safety precautions with prescriptions can prevent various accidents. Ask the pharmacist to add large-print labels to your loved one’s medications. You can also provide pillboxes, download medication management apps, or hire a home caregiver to help with daily tasks and provide medication reminders.

Keeping your loved one safe is your number one priority, and a caregiver can be a tremendous asset. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of home care services. Fair Oaks families can rely on Home Care Assistance to provide individualized care plans to meet your elderly loved one’s unique care needs. Our holistic Balanced Care Method was designed to help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and our Cognitive Therapeutics Method offers mentally stimulating activities that can stave off cognitive decline and delay the onset of dementia. If you need professional in-home care for your loved one, Home Care Assistance is just a phone call away. Reach out to one of our Care Managers today at (916) 485-4663.

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