Home Safety

Our homes are a huge part of our lives.  Whether we have lived in many homes or still in our first house we ever bought, our home is where our heart lies.  How can we keep the home we love safe and accessible as we age or for our senior family members?

There are many easy and cost-effective steps we can take to keep our homes safe.

Be sure all stairs have handrails whether inside or outside.  Make sure your landing is wide outside and consider getting rid of stairs outside altogether and landscape a gentle rise to the door.  Add lights down your outside walkway to keep falls to a minimum. Be aware of the weather.  Keep walkways and paths clear after a snowstorm.  Shoveling early can prevent a buildup of ice later.  Make sure you have salt on hand if ice is an issue.

Do you have a downstairs room you can convert into a master bedroom if your current bedroom is upstairs?  Stairs can become difficult as people age and a downstairs bedroom can be a huge help.  If this is not possible, make sure the handrails are secure and consider putting non-slippery stair treads for secure footing. Although, it may be pricier, you can install a chair lift or even possibly an elevator.

Adjust the height of the bed for ease of getting in and out and make sure you have easily reachable lighting as well as a phone on the nightstand. There are many kits available to adjust the bed height.  This can help prevent a nightime fall.

Grab bars in the shower and near the toilet are important to prevent falls.  Bath mats and bath seats can also help.

In the kitchen, whistling tea pots and loud timers can help seniors remember when they have something on the stove.

Another hazard is throw rugs.  They tend to bunch up and can easily cause a fall.  Make sure all doorways and halls are free and clear for easy access to the whole house.  Decluttering can go a long way.  It leaves much less hazards to trip or fall over.

Cell phones are a must as  we age.  Keep it charged and near at all times, especially in the car and out in the yard.  This can help if there's a fall, to get help quickly.

We love our homes and this will help keep us in our homes as we age or as we add older family members to our household.

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