subject: Child Safety Door Lock | Safety Door Locks [print this page] Due to aging and deterioration of health, the body of an elderly person tends to become frail and weak. Even normal movements of the body get somewhat clumsy. As a result, daily activities like climbing stairs, opening door knobs or using toilets seem to be a daunting task for them. Statistics have found that every year thousands of elderly people who are in the age group of 65 years and above, meet with an accident at home itself. For all these reasons, home safety for the elderly is a must if he or she is spending some time alone at home.
Stairs Safety for the Elderly
One of the most accident prone area of your house is the stairs. Elderly people find it quite difficult to climb them up. Therefore, if possible shift them downstairs, so that their use of stairs is minimum. The stairs should be fitted with railings with both sides so that they can hold on to maintain their body balance. If the stair floors are covered with carpet, then the edges should be taped properly to avoid the chances of tripping due to folded carpet. Do not keep any object on the stairs to ensure that they can move on them freely. Most importantly, there should be sufficient amount of light on the stairs, so that they can see the steps properly.
Bathroom Safety for the Elderly
Another area where special home safety for seniors is needed is the bathroom. Bathroom flooring should be slip resistant. Keep shower grab bars and toilet grab bars that they can hold on to, in order to prevent slips. The bathtub for the elderly has to be cushioned properly, so that even if they fall down, they do not sustain any major injury. Faucets with levers are more convenient for them to use. Keep a single control faucet for both hot and cold water. For those who cannot move around freely, hand-held shower is preferable for them.
Fire Safety for the Elderly
As the mobility of the elderly is restricted, any fire breakout in the home can burn them. Even they cannot tolerate smoke inhalation. For this, proper fire safety measures is a must. The main source of fire breakouts are ovens and stoves when they prepare their meals. In that cases, use of microwave is a much safer option for them. You should install safety devices like smoke detectors and fire alarm systems at home that can warn them about burning food or if the stove is on. Check them once in a month, if they are in good working condition. A fully charged fire extinguishers should also be with their reach. Give them proper training on how to use them. Know more on elderly fire safety.
Basic Home Safety Tips for the Elderly
Here are some basic tips on home safety for older adults, that will help to make life easier for them:
To prevent their slipping, the floors should be made slip resistant. They should also wear dry, flat, non-slip shoes in the house.
Some elderly have the habit of wandering at night. In that case, secure both the front door and back door with extra locks.
Doorknobs are difficult to rotate for people suffering from arthritis. So replace them with levers which are easier to handle.
Night lights should be used in their bedroom, bathroom and hallway to improve visibility. The switches of the lights should be illuminated.
