Safe and Steady: Tips for Keeping Your Home Safe for an Alzheimer’s Patient

written by June Duncan

Caregiving for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease is a stressful responsibility because it’s an unpredictable situation. It can be impossible to anticipate accidents.

Cognitive and memory problems mean someone with Alzheimer’s can get into trouble at any time, especially if his or her surroundings aren’t carefully monitored and potential dangers aren’t removed. Attention to detail and constant vigilance are essential. You can go a long way toward reducing your stress level and making life easier for yourself by safeguarding your home for a loved one. Think about your relative’s tendencies, weaknesses, and overall health. What parts of the house need the most attention? Is your relative able to move freely and safely without needing to block off certain areas? Is your loved one likely to fall easily?

These are all questions that can help you tailor things to meet your loved one’s needs because it’s easier to manage the environment than to alter a care subject’s tendencies.

Preventing falls

Falls are a common occurrence among elderly individuals in general, and they’re a constant concern for people with Alzheimer’s. You can eliminate much of the risk by removing all clutter from your floors, particularly in hallways and rooms that see lots of traffic. Make sure all throw rugs are removed or securely tacked to the floor and all electrical cords are attached to the walls. If you have small furniture items like stools or low-lying tables, place them along the walls or in a room your loved one can’t get into alone. Remember that the majority of falls take place in the bathroom and on slippery surfaces, so place non-skid mats in the shower or bathtub and in front of the sink if your bathroom floor is tile or some other surface where slips may occur. Accessibility upgrades like grab rails should be installed next to the toilet and in the bathtub as well. Try not to wax the kitchen floor, which can increase the likelihood of a fall. Install safety gates at the top and bottom of stairways and make sure they’re bolted into the wall if your care subject is unsteady.

Dangerous objects

Never leave medications or sharp objects like knives or razors lying out where your loved one can get to them. Keep everything securely locked in a cabinet or drawer. Install childproof latches on silverware drawers in the kitchen and remove plastic fruit or other objects that could be mistaken as edible, as well as matches, lighters, cleaning fluids, and plastic bags. A disoriented senior might make a mistake and use such objects in harmful and unintended ways. Avoid keeping house and car keys laying out, especially if your loved one isn’t supposed to leave the house unsupervised.

Prevent burns

If your care subject has trouble using faucets, prevent scalding by keeping the temperature on your water heater below 120 degrees. Kitchen burns can be prevented by placing safety knobs on your stove. If you have space heaters, make sure they remain unplugged and inaccessible to your relative, and never leave your loved one alone if you have an open fire burning in your fireplace. Your washer and dryer (and other major appliances) should be kept locked up and unplugged to prevent hand and finger injuries.

Locks and lights

A confused Alzheimer’s patient can easily become disoriented, get locked in the bathroom, and not know how to get out. Remove bathroom and bedroom door locks and keep external doors bolted to prevent your loved one from getting outside and wandering away. Remember to use night-lights in bedrooms, hallways, and bathrooms (consider installing a motion sensor in the bathroom).

Loose items left lying around are a constant source of trouble for Alzheimer’s patients. Give your home a close examination every day to make sure there are no objects lying around that could cause an unsteady care subject to trip and fall. Maintaining your Alzheimer’s safety criteria every day can alleviate a lot of your stress as a caregiver and keep your loved one safe.

for further info visit  riseupforcaregivers.org

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