National Safety Month: Tips for Eliminating At-Home Hazards for Seniors
June marks National Safety Month—a crucial time to prioritize the safety of your senior loved ones by assessing and addressing hidden risks in their home. Ensuring a safe living environment is key to maintaining their health, well-being and independence.
Why Are Seniors More Likely to Sustain Injuries at Home?
Physical and mental abilities change with age, including:
- Vision
- Hearing
- Strength
- Balance
- Cognition
- Memory recall
Activities of daily living that were once simple may be more difficult for your senior. They may overestimate their abilities and hurt themselves.
According to the CDC, 14 million older adults fall every year. About 37% of those falls resulted in an injury that required medical treatment or restricted activity.
Recovery also alters with age. A minor cut or burn could take longer to heal and pose an increased threat of infection. A hip fracture from a fall could have long-term implications for your loved one’s mobility.
Home Safety Tips by Room
Living Room or Den
Clutter: Remove items that could pose a fall risk, such as pillows, blankets, clothing, shoes and other personal items. Clear coffee tables and entertainment consoles so your loved one doesn’t knock objects over.
Furniture: Move armchairs and couches against walls to prevent your loved one from bumping into furniture and getting bruised or falling. Opt for smaller pieces of furniture to open up the living space.
Rugs: Secure rugs with non-slip backing. Get rid of worn rugs with holes or frays so your loved one’s feet don’t get tangled or stuck.
Electrical cords: Keep electrical cords out of walkways to limit tripping hazards. Check them for fraying as well to avoid electrical fires.
Kitchen
Appliances: Move appliances away from the sink and other water sources. Label the on/off switch for easy use.
Cutlery: If your loved one struggles with fine motor skills, consider getting them a dicing or chopping tool to simplify cutting foods. Keep carving knives covered or stored in a drawer.
Lighting: Install bright lighting in the kitchen so your loved one can read labels and prepare and cook food safely.
Floor mats: Lay mats in front of the sink and refrigerator to reduce the likelihood of slipping if there’s a spill.
Meal prep: Label and date food in the fridge so your loved one knows when to throw it away. That helps lower their risk of food poisoning.
Hallways and Entryways
Lighting: Well-lit hallways and entryways allow your loved one to navigate their home safely. Swap soft lighting with brighter bulbs, especially if your parent has vision impairments.
Stairs: Steep stairs pose a particular fall risk if your senior lives in a multi-story house. Make sure there are sturdy railings and non-skid mats to create traction. Consider placing ramps over porch steps and in rooms with different elevations to ease movement.
Handrails: Grab bars will help your loved one move down hallways safely, especially if they don’t use a walker or cane. They also provide something to grab if your loved one needs to pull themselves up.
Bathroom
Bathtub and shower: Getting in and out of the shower or tub can be tricky if your loved one has mobility issues. A shower seat and grab bars can help your senior move around. Installing a walk-in tub or shower is another option.
Medication: Improper medication management could lead to illness or hospitalization. Write reminders and use a pill organizer to remind your loved one to take their medication. Keep the bathroom well-lit for reading dosage and directions.
Toilet: Raised toilet seats ease the transition from seated to standing. Some also have armrests that allow your loved one even more leverage.
Non-slip flooring: Place rubber mats in the shower or tub and bath mats on the floor to keep your senior steady.
Comprehensive In-Home Healthcare from Ohioans
Be proactive about your loved one’s safety. Our dedicated team provides in-home assessments to help you and your loved one identify and mitigate potential safety issues. Call 855.600.0806 to learn about our services and schedule a consultation.
“Vasu the physical therapist is wonderful! Conscientious, pleasant, and most importantly, good at what he does. And after 18 orthopedic surgeries, I would know if a PT is good at what he does – or not. He is.”
– Susan O.
“My husband had the same nurse for about 5 months and we could not have gotten better care. He went out of his way to help keep my husband comfortable.”
– Doris P
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Ann Arbor, MI
“Ohioans Home Health & Hospice of Bryan are some great people who care. It is refreshing to talk to some people who love their job and the things they do. Very professional and friendly. Thanks Kim, Sherry, Amanda and Susie”
– J Gochenour
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Bryan, OH
“I highly recommend your agency to family and friends. The services were excellent and both my nurse, Jen, RN, and physical therapist Jennifer, COTA, were very professional. I have to admit I was uncomfortable at first at the thought of having nursing and therapy but they made me feel at ease!”
“My home health nurse Eve is an angel! I was so nervous about having strangers in my home after a bad fall and needling another back surgery and now Eve is like family! I would definitely recommend Ohioans to friends and family!”
– Samantha J
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Perrysburg, OH
“Theresa took care of my uncle one day – was somewhat of an emergency. She squeezed him in, in between her other appointments and resolved our care issues quickly. She was so patient, kind, caring….I told her she was an angel.”
– Mary G
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Perrysburg, OH
“I had excellent care. My nurse Rochelle, RN was very attentive and friendly. Have used this agency years ago when my wife had heart surgery.”
“I would just like to give a huge shoutout to Ohioans Home Health & Hospice! They have cared for 3 of my grandparents in the present and past and I would gladly have them come care for them again in the future. From the personal touches to the warm and friendly faces my grandparents were treated with respect and kindness by all members of this team. They are consistent, timely and were always flexible when need be. I highly suggest using Ohioans Home Health & Hospice for your homecare needs.”
– Lindsey H
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Sandusky, OH
“Great service, caring and kind nurse. Marie, RN was knowledgeable about all aspects of my condition and helped both myself and my wife with aftercare. Would highly recommend her to any person in need of services. Thank you for all you help!”
“This agency is wonderful! The staff is kind, talented and very compassionate. This is my favorite experience in my latest healthcare journey. It was hard to be patient, as an RN, I wanted to be “fixed” right now!! I learned that the human body is even more intricate than I knew. Every department I worked with was great. Nursing (Jessica, RN, Jackie, LPN, Caitlin, RN,), therapy (Miranda, COTA), (Greg PTA) and all the Office and Eval Staff made my life better! I would choose them again without a question!”
“Outstanding home health care! My wife is a cancer and ilieostomy patient and has received Ohioans Home Health Care for three+ months. The care included both home physical and occupational therapy, as well as home nursing. I can’t say enough good things about all the services they have provided. They were very professional, compassionate as well as extremely knowledgeable in each if their capacities. We recently came to Florida for a few months, and are in the process of getting home health care here since Ohioan does not cover this area, and I can only hope it as good as what we received in Ohio. I highly recommend this company.”
– John M
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Perrysburg, OH
“Excellent service from our nurse. She was thoughtful, knowledgeable, punctual, and very responsive when we texted questions. Among many health care providers with whom we have interacted over the years, I would rate our nurse among the very best.”
“I love my nurse, Tonikae!! Professional, exceptionally kind, she always calls and comes on time. Manages my meds perfectly. I never worry about taking them like I did with other nurses. When she administers my shots they never hurt. “
– Ms Sherman
Ohioans Home Health & Hospice – Perrysburg, OH
