Home Safety for the Elderly - A Safety Checklist
82Basics
As the human body ages, functions begin to weaken, including eyesight, equilibrium and hearing. Here are a few helpful tips to keep yourself or your loved one safe while living at home.
- Be sure that the bedroom has these 3 things accessible from the bed: Light, Phone, Clock.
- Rugs can be hazardous - remove throw rugs or tape the edges down to prevent toes from slipping under them during walking.
- Clutter is dangerous, especially when navigating through a dimly lit house at night. Make sure pathways are clear.
- Phone lines or power cords running across floors should be re-routed along the wall, taped down when necessary to prevent tripping.
- Be sure to have functional smoke alarms and a small fire extinguisher handy. Keep instruction manuals and maintenance records.
- Use stick-on hooks to organize cords
Real Simple has an easy suggestion to organize loose cords. - Cord Away® Self Adjusting Cord Organizer
A great cord-organizing product from Organize.com
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Clarity Amplified Corded Big-Button Telephone with Clarity Power Technology (XL40)
Price: $75.23
List Price: $109.99 |
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Kidde FA110 Multi Purpose Fire Extinguisher 1A10BC
Price: $19.99
List Price: $42.99 |
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Intertape 9970 Indoor Carpet Tape 2-Inches x 36-Yards
Price: $7.99
List Price: $8.19 |
After hip/back surgery, or fractured leg/foot
- Be sure that all items kept in bottom cupboards, shelves, closets, or under sinks that are used on a daily basis are moved to higher areas. This is usually a temporary arrangement during the healing process.
- Be sure to have a basic pot, a few plates and cups, and utensils in easy reaching distance, maybe kept in a dish-drainer on the counter.
- Frozen foods or easy-to-reach items on the top shelf of a refrigerator will be handy for light meal preparations.
- Buy milk and juices in half-gallons! A whole gallon of liquid weighs about 8 pounds, often times too heavy for post-surgical times.
Hip Kit
- Hip and Knee Kit Solutions
A full description of the adaptive equipment that can make self-care after hip or knee surgery a breeze!
After heart surgery
- Avoid steamy showers and extreme temperature changes.
- Most surgeons will recommend that you avoid lifting your arms above 90 degrees for a certain period of time - check with your doctor.
- Lifting heavy objects is generally also not recommended - ask your doctor for specifics and buy grocery items in lighter, smaller containers as needed.
- Use carts to carry bags or laundry. 4-wheeled walkers will also help with these tasks.
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Drive Winnie Wagon - Folding Shopping Cart - Black
Price: $30.75
List Price: $59.99 |
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Travel Smart by Conair Flat Folding Multi-Use Cart
Price: $32.94
List Price: $54.99 |
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4-wheel Folding Rolling Walker with Shopping Basket, Padded Seat and Dual Handbrakes.
Price: $74.99
List Price: $199.99 |
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Drive Medical 8" Wheel Folding Deluxe Walkabout Lite Rollator with Loop Brakes, Padded Seat and Under Seat Pouch, Blue
Price: $70.95
List Price: $225.00 |
At home with low vision
- Use bright colors to label/mark important things like light switches, oven/stove controls, phone, etc.
- Use textures when possible - tape a cotton ball over a flat button so it is palpable.
- Get a timed medication dispenser with an audible alarm - some will even open on their own.
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MedReady Automated Medication Dispenser Pill Box 1500FL
Current Bid: $159.00
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Stay Connected to Safety
- Life Alert
Personal and Medical Emergency Protection - Senior Cell Phone Calling Plans
Keeping a cell phone in your pocket means instant access to 911 or a nearby neighbor or family member in the event of an emergency. - Senior Cell Phones
Jitterbug Dial is ideal if you want an easy to use cellular phone to dial direct and keep in touch.
Home Alone
- Consider other means of communication with the outside world should immediate assistance be needed. What if you need:
- Police?
- Ambulance?
- Fire Department?
- Family?
Community Resources
- Homemaker aides can assist with daily chores and basic self-care needs. Find out if your insurance will provide coverage for these services.
- Adult day-care centers offer a variety of activities, provide lunch, usually have pick up and drop off service, and even have therapy services. Call your local centers to find out about their programs.
- Don't forget about Meals-on-Wheels.
- Adult Day Care Centers: A Guide to Options and Selecting the Best Center for Your Needs
A guide to adult day care options and selecting the best adult day care center for your needs. - Eldercare
The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging. The Eldercare Locator is the first step to finding resources for older adults in any U.S. community. - MOWAA
Meals on Wheels Association of America - locate a center near you.
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Hoodala says:
2 years ago
Welcome to hubpages. Very nice first hub.