Work With Senior Caregivers in Springfield MO for Home Safety
Your loved one’s safety is likely a huge concern for you. Seniors today are staying at home longer thanks to home health agencies in Springfield Missouri and non-medical senior caregivers like the ones from Visiting Angels. Yet, living at home can be dangerous. Even with assistance, it’s important to make sure the home is as safe as possible for your loved one.
Create a Safety Plan
A safety plan can make a huge difference. If your loved one has a disability, call the local fire department for stickers to put in the windows of their home. Make sure you review potential issues and the safety plan with your loved one so they can exit the home in an emergency. If you need help, our senior caregivers in Springfield Missouri are able to help you figure out what needs to be done to make your loved one’s home safer.
Prepare the Home with Safety in Mind
Some of the areas in your home will likely not be a safety risk for you but could easily be a safety risk for older adults. There are a number of different things to look into to make sure your loved one’s home is set up with their mobility and agility limitations in mind.
Make sure all areas inside the home, including hallways and stairs, are well-lit, especially at night. All throw rugs should be removed or should have a nonskid backing attached. In bathrooms, use slip-resistant decals or mats in the tub or shower to prevent falls and have grab bars installed properly near the bathtub and toilet. Additionally, make sure to lower the hot water temperature to 115 degrees or lower.
Fires are a huge concern for the elderly. Make sure to remove all newspapers and magazines from the kitchen counter areas and keep the stove area free of anything that may catch on fire. There should be a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. If you have a home health care aide in Springfield Missouri helping your loved one or a senior caregiver from Visiting Angels, make sure they know how to use it as well as where it’s located. Smoke detectors should be installed on all floors of the home and tested monthly to ensure they work properly.
Go through the home to make sure electrical cords are in good shape, are not in walkways, and that they’re plugged in properly. Also, dispose of out-of-date medications and make sure there is a telephone in the bedroom in case of an emergency.
Standards for Accessibility
Even if you have home health care in Springfield Missouri or a senior caregiver from Visiting Angels helping your loved one, make sure your home is as safe and accessible as possible for them. Check with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Standards for Accessible Design to get help updating your loved one’s home.
If your loved one is still living at home but is having more trouble getting around their home, make sure you take the right steps to help make their home safer. Contact Visiting Angels today to learn more about what our senior caregivers in Springfield Missouri can do to keep your loved one safe.