1. Make Your Home Safe
Make your home as safe as possible for your elderly parent and consider the following ways to reduce the risk of a fall:
a. Good lighting
Make sure that your house is well lit and night-lights are in place.
b. Railing in the bathroom and toilet
Install grab rails in the bathroom and toilet to provide something to hold on to
c. Clean up clutter
Remove any obstructions in the house that might cause a fall
d. Secure rugs and carpets
Make sure that rugs and carpet are not worn through and secure rugs and mats to the floor with adhesive strips or consider removing them if they pose still pose a risk for a slip.
e. Pad sharp corners
If your furniture or table have sharp corners, consider using pads or change your furniture to reduce the risk of fractures
f. Dry floor
Don’t leave anything wet on the floor. Even the smallest puddle of water can cause major slips, so make sure the floors on your house are dry.
g. Security systems
Knowing that you have a button at home that you can push when emergency arises will give you peace of mind. It will also make your parent feel safe at times when you need to leave home.
h. Secure electrical cords
We sometimes have the habit of ignoring loose electrical cords at home. Elders can easily trip on them, so make sure that they are secured and always out of the way.
Having children and elderly parents at home doubles the challenge. Children leave their toys on the floor and sometimes accidentally spill their drinks. Make sure that toys are always tidied up so accidents can be prevented. Children should also be reminded not to run around in the presence of the elders. They could easily fall since they already have trouble with their balance.
