If you have an elderly person in your life that you love dearly, it’s likely you spend a lot of time worrying about their wellbeing and safety, especially if they live by themselves. The good news is, there are lots of things you can do to help your relative stay out of harm’s way. I helped both my granddads in their final years stay safe at home, and took on some of the caring responsibilities because they wanted to stay in their homes for as long as possible. Here are four ways you can make sure that your family member is safe and well in their own home.
Caring for grandparents is such a privilege, in my opinion, my grandparents enriched my lives hugely, and being able to support them in their final later years was a pleasure. We had paid carers for personal care but my job was to rock up for company, run small errands and bring the odd Costa coffee and cake! During these later years, I had the opportunity to mine small nuggets of information and stories that I hadn’t been told as a child. I was able to learn more about them and for that I am grateful.
Here are some of the small ways that we made sure they were as safe as we could when staying in their own homes. One of my granddads did finally move into a nursing home (screw you dementia) but only after his 90th birthday. My other granddad stayed in his home until he was admitted to hospital for the last six weeks of his long life.
- Improve their bed set up
Having a comfortable place to sleep is essential, so it’s crucial that you ensure your relative’s bed setup is up-to-scratch. For an older person, getting in and out of bed can be a struggle, especially if they have limited mobility. If you think your family member is finding it difficult to use their bed, they might be due an upgrade. For example, adjustable beds for those with mobility problems may be ideal. These pieces of furniture can be altered in position, height and tilt, making it easier for the user to comfortably get into and out of the bed and reducing their chances of getting stuck or twisting awkwardly.
- Install a stair lift
If you’ve noticed that your relative is struggling to use their stairs, you could suggest that they have an Age UK Mobility home lifts installed. This is a mechanical device that can lift and transport your family member up and down the stairwell, significantly reducing the risk of them falling and hurting themselves. Putting this measure in place will enable your older relative to keep their independence and freedom, making them feel safer and more contented. My one granddad had one and it made life so much easier for him as he got more frail.
3. Use a Personal Alarm System
If you feel that your elderly relative is at risk of falling and hurting themselves as they struggle with their mobility, it might make sense to start using an alarm of some sort. That way, they’ll be able to get help as soon as a fall takes place and they can get the medical attention they might need. You can find a personal alarm service that provides what you need and introduce it to your relative so they know how to use it.
4. Upgrade the bathroom
So that your elderly relative can use their bathroom safely, you might need to make a few changes. From placing an anti-slip mat in the bath to fitting a handle next to the bath, to clearly mark the hot and cold taps, there are a whole host of simple ways you can make this room a much safer place. If your family member finds it particularly difficult to use their bathroom, you could arrange to have an adapted suite fitted, including features such as a walk-in shower, a bath lift, and a toilet with a raised seat.
5. Safety proof the kitchen
The kitchen can be a dangerous place, especially for an elderly person, so it’s crucial that you take extra care to safety proof this room. You could start by rearranging the cupboards to make sure everything your elderly relative needs is within easy reach. Ideally, you should store heavier items at waist height to avoid them straining and hurting themselves. When it comes to appliances, you could mark the ‘on’ and ‘off’ positions clearly or swap them for gadgets that switch off automatically. You should also make sure that the floor is clutter-free and that there is enough room to move around with ease. My parents did the food shopping and made sure that healthy, nutritious easy meals were always available in the fridge.
Putting some of these suggestions into practice should enable your relative to enjoy their home safely, as well as giving you added peace of mind.
17 Responses
Those are some great ways to help elderly relatives stay safe a home! Its important that we keep our elderly relatives safe and comfortable wherever they are. This is great advice, thanks for sharing!
Many seniors today prefer to live at home. In addition to feeling independent, seniors appreciate familiar surroundings. A senior should not have to give up the house or apartment she loves, her personal possessions or her pets. Home care can help her stay connected to everything she cares about. She can be happy and comfortable during her elderly years.
Caregivers that provide for your loved ones at home have only one purpose and that is to make sure that your loved ones recover fully. This means they have their complete attention and quality care
Those are helpful but a caregiver is much more needed. If you still want to assure your elders to be more safer, get them into a trusted home care.
If you’re caring for someone with a disability, you’re not alone. There are a number of services, resources and support to help you in your caring role.
That’s a very helpful ideas. The right thing to do after all their sacrifices with us.
Enjoyed reading it. You’re true right there.
Just Make your home child friendly. and it will benifit senior too.
I admire how you fixate more on the everyday movement of someone in their home over standard mobility aids. These are the sort of improvements that the public doesnt see but that I personally find just as essential to living everyday life as a more senior citizen.
That’s very helpful. We all know that as we get older, we return on being childish.
Home care assistance becomes a necessity which enables a family caregiver to spare more time on priorities rather than routine tasks which can be done by a home care specialist trained for that specific job.
Just avoid having slippery areas and take away pionted corners of your house. Elders are like babies as they grew older.
We really need to prepare ourselves as early as we can. Save save save, so no matter what comes in our way in our retiring age… we can handle it.
So many of the elders wan’ts to live the rest of their lives at their own home. That’s why they need home care services the most.
It’s important to help your elderly relatives be comfortable wherever they are, whether that’s in your home or a retirement community. That is the great tip for anyone who has someone they care about getting older. Thanks for posting!
These are great and useful tips. Thank you!
I totally agree with the part where you mentioned that I spend a lot of time worrying about my elderly parents. I live an hour away from them and because of the pandemic, I can’t easily visit their house just in case there’s an emergency. Maybe it’s time to ask them if they’re okay with moving to a senior living center where they’ll be taken care of.