Home Safety for the Elderly - A Safety Checklist

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Consider other means of communication with the outside world should immediate assistance be needed. What if you need:
  • Police?
  • Ambulance?
  • Fire Department?
  • Family?
  You might need someone to help you off the floor, or you might need someone to protect you from a breaking and entering. Whatever the situation, be prepared.

• 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.