- The bathroom. This is perhaps one of the most well-known places for injuries. Slips in a wet bathtub or falling off a toilet can break a hip, an arm, or a leg. To prevent serious injuries from occurring in the bathroom, you should install safety bars in the bathtub along with raised toilet seats with safety bars. Also included with safety bars in the bathtub, you might consider purchasing a seated chair so you don’t have to try and stand the entire time you are in the tub. A showerhead with a hose will allow you to cleanse your body without standing or needing to hold onto a support bar the entire time. To find nice shower seats and raised toilet seats with support bars, visit: http://www.caregiverpartnership.com/category/2. A textured bathmat is another wise purchase to prevent falls in the tub.
- Falls in the home are one of the scariest things for seniors. Scatter rugs in the home can easily cause you to lose your footing and fall down, possibly causing you to break some bones. Always wear a safety device to contact emergency responders in case you have an accident and you are unable to get up. You should use non-skid rugs and floor cleaners to prevent falls on slippery surfaces.
- Vision problems. The older we get, the worse our vision will get. When you are walking through your home, it can be difficult to see in poor lighting and you can run right into a large piece of furniture if you are not careful. Use bright lights to keep your home well-lit so you can see around dark corners. Bright lights will also help you when you are in the bathroom and kitchen and you are focused on cooking and washing.
- The stairs are one of the biggest dangers in the home. Make sure your stairs have safety railings installed so you can hold them as you go up and down. Your strength will start to fade as you get older and it may be wise to install a seated chair lift that will move you up and down the stairs. Keep the stairs clean and free of clutter to prevent tripping and falls down the stairs.
- Your bed is another safety hazard in the home as you can roll right out of bed if you are not careful. Purchase a safety railing that will keep you from falling out of bed and can also help you climb in and out of bed during the night and in the morning. A safety harness will strap you down into bed so you do not need to worry about rolling around and falling out of bed as well.
- Rearrange the furniture in your home to move it out of high traffic areas. Since you may be hard of hearing, push your chairs and couches closer together so you can be in close proximity with your loved ones and you will be able to hear what they are saying. If you still have problems hearing, consider using a hearing aid or amplifier. Here is a great hearing aid device: http://www.caregiverpartnership.com/landing/nexear.
- Walking around your home can get tedious and it may be quite painful for your joints and legs. A nice transport chair will allow you to easily get around your home and you will not need to deal with pain anymore. Use ramps on the stairs so you can easily move from room to room. Remove cords from dragging all over the floor as you can trip and fall on them and they can be hard to push the wheels of your transport chair over.
- Reduce the water temperature in your home to prevent scalding. This is also a safety concern for children, not just elderly individuals.
- Remove clutter from your home as it can be a hazard. You can easily trip and fall over a sock or cord that is in the way.
- Stretching your muscles to reach cups and things that are high up can be painful. Instead of using a stool, you may try using a reaching device that will grab onto anything you need that is up high or down low.
Home Safety Hazards: 10 Places to Look for Potential Dangers
As we move toward our senior years, we need to take steps to protect ourselves from our homes where injuries can occur. Something that may not have been dangerous in the past like your bed can now be one of the worst potential hazards in your home. Here is a list of 10 potential dangers that are prevalent in your home and what you can do to prevent serious accidents and injuries from occurring.
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