As much as you love the senior citizens in your life, the reality is that you can’t always attend to them. Your daily commitments are bound to get in the way, and that’s not your fault. The best thing to do would be to move them to an assisted living set-up where they can receive the best medical and personal care available. A retirement community in Davis County is ideal and offers not just efficient care services, but also socializing opportunities and nutritious meals. It can be a difficult decision to make, but you’ll have a much easier time with it knowing that your loved one is well taken care of.
However, if your loved one insists on being self-sufficient, there are still some things you can do to ensure their safety in their own home. Here is a handy list of safety tips for senior citizens:
Make modifications around their house
There are plenty of small yet substantial home modifications you can make which prevents slips and falls. For example, you can install non-slip floor surfaces or grab bars in the bathroom. If they live in a two-storey house, perhaps you could convert a room located downstairs into a bathroom or bedroom for better accessibility.
Get rid of potential fall hazards
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of older adults aged 65 years or older fall each year, with plenty of these cases being fatal. Do an exhaustive check in your loved ones’ house and look around for areas that might be a cause for concern, such as loose floorboards, loose carpets, and anything else that could potentially trip an older adult unawares. You can also provide them with shoes that have excellent traction to avoid falling on slippery surfaces.
Schedule regular eye exams
Schedule yearly eye exams to make sure that your loved ones’ glasses or contacts prescription is updated and that there aren’t new conditions that impede their vision. You can also improve the lighting in their home so they can see their surroundings better.
Have them wear a personal alert system
Wearable personal alarm systems allow older adults to call for emergency help when in need. They can detect falls, monitor vital signs, detect location, and provide medication reminders. They can come in the form of a bracelet or necklace with a button or a home sensor. Make sure that the device you buy is durable, waterproof, has great range, and excellent battery life. These senior monitoring devices can be useful for maintaining independence and safety by offering swift responses in emergencies. This allows seniors to live confidently in their own homes, knowing that help is always available.
Have their meals delivered and optimize kitchen safety
Meal delivery services mean that your loved one will spend less time in the kitchen and also won’t need to make regular trips to the grocery store. If they insist on cooking for themselves, stock up on safe kitchen products and optimize the area for safety. Replace glass and other breakable objects with durable materials like plastic, store items within reach, install carbon monoxide alarms, and buy devices with timers and automatic shut-off features.
Even if you can’t personally be there to care for the senior citizen in your life, you can always make sure that they’re safe and sound even on their own with these helpful tips.