Your home should be the place where you feel the safest. Unfortunately, if seniors aren’t careful about home safety, their homes can become dangerous places for themselves and their loved ones. Let these home safety tips for seniors help you address any issues and make your home the safe and secure place it should be.
Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones with These Home Safety Tips for Seniors
Did you know that most senior falls happen inside the senior’s home? It can be easy to miss potential hazards if you don’t know enough about senior home safety. Make your home your castle with these home safety tips for seniors.
Make Your Home Slip-Safe
Falls at home are one of the most common ways seniors are injured, so being smart about fall risk is a great place to start your home safety efforts. This home safety guide from the National Council on Aging breaks down the common dangers and how to avoid them:
- Visibility is critical for avoiding slips and accidents. Ensure all areas of your home are well-lit and that lighting is easily accessible.
- Keep floorways clear of clutter. Rugs should be attached to the floor by rug anchors to avoid slip risks.
- If an area feels unsafe, you can improve it with safety equipment like grab bars, handrails, and non-slip surfaces. The National Council on Aging provides room-by-room advice for installation and usage.
Invest in Smart Technology
Grab bars are great, but they aren’t the only safety technology a senior has in their arsenal. If you know how to use it, smart technology can make your home a safer place in all kinds of ways:
- If your phone has a virtual assistant, set it up to take voice commands. That way, your phone can summon help when you need it, even if you can’t physically reach it. A medic alert device can also give you some peace of mind.
- If you live alone or have concerns about security, a Ring doorbell can help by letting you see who is at your door or near the entrance of your home.
- Smart technology can also help you manage your daily routine safely. For example, if you’re worried about making mistakes with medication, a smart pill dispenser can keep track of your dosages for you. If day-to-day tasks are challenging, look into assistive devices that can help.
Trust the Experts
Figuring out how to make your home a safer place can feel intimidating, but you don’t have to do it alone. Be sure you’re using all the resources available to you as you make your home safety plan:
- Organizations like the National Center on Aging have all kinds of online resources focused on senior safety, including information on using Medicaid to help cover costs.
- If getting help in person would be better, reach out to your local Area Agency on Aging. They’ll be able to connect you to the specific people and resources who can help in your community.
- If making your home safer on your own feels too overwhelming, consider whether it might be time to move into a supportive senior living community.
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These home safety tips for seniors can make your home a secure and comfortable place to be. If you’re a senior looking for a new place to call home, come visit us at the Shores of Lake Phalen.
Are you looking for a community providing a positive, healthy atmosphere where your loved one can live their golden years? The Shores of Lake Phalen is an assisted living and memory care community in a quiet, peaceful environment in Maplewood, Minnesota. Surrounded by a gorgeous wooded setting between two lakes, our residence offers the accessibility of apartment-style housing with the atmosphere and elegance of a resort. We offer numerous health and safety amenities, fun events and activities, a friendly and accommodating staff, and much more. Schedule a tour of the community to explore our spacious apartments and more. We look forward to hearing from you!