108 Tips to Create A Safe Home for Seniors
My mom or dad want to stay in their home and we worry.
List to prepare all the safety items to stop waking up at night.
Prep and DIY for the future
1. Add textured, no-slip strips in the bathtub and shower.
2. Nonslip wax
on floors. Give away oily and glossy floor treatments.
3. Place a
waterproof seat or chair in the shower. This can be a sturdy plastic outdoor
chair or order one from Jaxpedy or Medocare make nice heavy ones but don’t get
metal ones they rust and corrode with all the moisture
4. Put nonskid
treads on steps, easy DIY low cost
5. Remove
throw rugs.
6. Replace
standard doorknobs with lever handles.
7. Buy a raised
or high-profile toilet.
8. If carpet
edges are loose duct tape them down or replace see my tape recommendations in #43
9. Rubber mats
for barns/ gyms/ puzzle foam mats can be secured to flooring if your loved one
falls, the padding will be appreciated
10.
When replacing carpeting choose the thickest foam underlayment
except for stairs you want indoor outdoor with thin foam
11.
Remove clutter donate old furniture. Use: https://wwwfreecycle.org You won’t make much
on furniture or a garage sale. List the items, limit the pickup time, offer no
lifting, limit who comes to the house. Make room for the walker. Also: AmVets,
Goodwill, and Saint Vincent de Paul will pick up curbside or at garage.
12.
Glass top tables sharp edges
need to go sell or give away
13.
Program cell phone with numbers: get the contacts in there with
the nick names even, practice talking to the phone to ask for the phone call.
14.
Phone numbers in a notebook where you keep the medicines. You
know a modern rolodex of the doctors, bridge friends, senior center, cab companies,
drug store, food delivery…
15.
Organize family members to have regular assigned day and time
range to phone check in on the family member. Myself and four siblings all work
but one in in different time zone. Mom awakens generally at nine AM so calling
in the morning is difficult but East Coast sister checks in on her two workdays
a week at her lunch/Mom’s wake up call. The rest of us staggered our calls. Mom
picks up the phone about 20% of the time and doesn’t return calls so we call
one another to see who last checked in.
16.
Change the ring on house phone and cell phone to ring at minimum
to seven rings before it goes to message. Give plenty of time to catch the
call.
17.
Tell the parent not to rush to get the phone and be willing to
always pick up when they return the call
18.
Sticky notes are useful, but you need to write the note with 3
copies below for possible loss
19.
Computer safety rules are important. When you set up a social
media account, a Kohl’s ordering account, Amazon, email, pretty much everything
that asks for personal information your senior should NEVER give their real
date of birth and use a junk email address. Years ago, I made my children have
Facebook accounts with incorrect Date of Birth. These companies do not need
your private information. Start using a familiar but wrong date for everything
but not for bank accounts or credit requests.
20.
Instructions on never giving social, date of birth, bank
accounts to anyone on the phone or internet.
21.
Buy a safe, keep the combo. Put the safe in an incongruous location
like the kitchen or bathroom. Put jewelry, extra credit cards, and birth
certificate in the safe not photos and mementos.
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| School of Barna da Siena, Archangel Michael healing warriors one of my favorite painters |
22.
Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors and extra batteries in every
room.
23.
When cooking, no loose clothing or long sleeves
24.
Replace appliances that have fraying or damaged electrical
cords.
25.
Don't put many electric cords into one socket or extension cord.
26.
Electric cords run against a wall, never across a threshold or
where someone walks
27.
Remove burning candles provide battery flicker one
28.
Toilet seat with a
raised toilet seat with handlebars there are a thousand types. Toilets should
be between 17 and 19 inches in height. Depends on height of the
person. You might need to take them to try out in an adaptive living store or
call and ask questions, read the specs. This is an inexpensive item that is
very helpful.
29.
Nightlights in
bedroom and kitchen
30.
Motion night light
from bed to bathroom
31.
Bring down all stored items from
higher heights. Gauge these items use. Are they working? How often are they
used? If they work and are used frequently, store these items at lower levels.
32.
Ten muffin tins and four cake pans
are not going to be used again. Keep two, donate the others. In general, far
less baking and elaborate meals will be prepared going forward.
33.
Is there some logistical reason that
reaching for items is necessary? Maybe there are Christmas platters, or
something used once a year. Store these with the decorations in the garage. I
would not provide a stepstool. Tell the parent and show them that the high up
cabinet is empty.
34.
Buy one of those cheap grabber arms
with pinchers, and hang on a hook in the kitchen
35.
Pooper scooper if they have a dog
36.
Rubber water faucet covers are great
for a kitchen sink. This simple add can be purchased at a local hardware store
and glued on. This allows to grip and are color-coded: red for hot and blue for
cold. My house has one crazy bathroom with hot to left and another hot to
right, I’m accustomed to the crazy but for someone older it would cause
frustration and lots of running cold water waiting for hot.
37.
Standard or pretty made to look
custom to a farm sink “twist and turn” kitchen water faucet handles can be
swapped out to “single-lever” handle. These far easier to use when your hands
have arthritis.
38.
What is in the refrigerator? Every
time you visit wipe it with a microfiber rage and dawn dish soap and throw away
stored foods passed their date.
39.
Check the pantry for canned goods
where the top expanded, have an old date, or you know are three years old
without a date. I suggest you do the pantry clean and refrigerator when they
are at an appointment. My Mom believes that freezing something with an old date
makes it last forever, nope. What was the movie where the mom froze old surplus
free government cheese? Getting food poisoning is awful, not worth any cost
savings.
40.
Stairlifts can be
custom fitted inside or outside. We bought and had professionally installed
an electric Acorn one after a long winding process
41.
Our stairlift/chair
lift story: My brother recovered one from a family selling their house who
removed it to stage the house for appearances. The engine was fine but Mom’s
stairway has a three bend design and the engine could work but we needed to buy
a shorter track from Bruno company and they would install a three piece track
where she would have to get off and transfer at the bend. After hundreds of
phone calls and two estimators she decided upon buying a new one with a
warranty. The service and warranty are important. Now three years with the Acorn
she got a coat stuck in the track and blew a fuse (service visit $150) and one
time when it was only two weeks old after a power outage it would not start.
They tried to talk with her on the phone how to reset but no luck and
generously sent someone out the hit the buttons in the right order. I video ’ed
him with my cell phone and bought him lunch. She has a copy of the video on her
phone and now years have passed, not needed to reset.
42.
Railings should be
sturdy test them. Pull on them hard and see if they wobble. What wood or
material are they tied in to? Can you add screws, or do you need to hire a
welder to fix where rusted? Railings get heavy use and are important. Add more
if you only have on one side, or outdoors for snow or rain.
43.
I know this is ugly,
but paint stair tops a contrasting color,
businesses use neon yellow but have the parent choose a fun neon color.
Stretching a piece of different-colored duct tape over the top of each stair
can also make each step easier to spot. Gorilla tape and Flex tape brands are
excellent and come in colors. Have a “Signature color” and joke about how
stylish it is. Some of these changes are hard on a senior who loves their house
the way it has been forever.
44.
Clear the stairs (and outside
sidewalks) of ice and snow in the wintertime. If you can’t routinely do this
yourself, hire a local service to do it. If no such service exists, find a
neighbor or gardener who you can pay.
45.
Install a peephole in the front door. I’m a firm believer in
doing it myself. It saves not just money but in this case, it saves time of
finding a handyman, talking about it, making an appointment and right now they
are so busy he will change the appointment then staying there to watch the
work. You tube has fifty videos on how to install. Go to Home Depot and buy
three, keep the receipt you are returning two. You need a drill, with bit size
that the package recommends, and a tape measure. First have Mom or Dad stand at
the door and mark their eye level. Drill halfway from inside first then carefully
measure to locate the spot and drill to match the hole from the outside. Maybe
you need a little clear caulking if you messed up, sweep up the shavings, and
return the two you didn’t like or weren’t thick enough. Then brag about your
accomplishment.
46.
Make a sign for the inside of the door: Do not open the door to
strangers. I think I’m going to design one and put it on Etsy for you so it can
be cute or custom. Will be getting on that project soon…
47.
Say this often to the parent but I don’t think it needs a sign: “Always
keep windows and doors locked, I love you I want you safe.”
48.
Maybe if the USPS will walk up, maybe not: install a mail slot
in the front door, try and get auto pay for basic bills and don’t have physical
access. Bank statements should not be going to a house where senior has various
helpers coming and going and the senior is at risk.
49.
This concept needs reminding and a sign: Do not agree to any
telephone offers. Do not believe a caller’s claims that a family member had an
accident, is in jail or needs urgent money. Never give your bank account number
to anyone on the phone or internet. Just hang up don’t listen to them.
50.
My sister bought my mom
a Life alert. Mom’s not great at wearing the alert necklace. We have an
obstacle with always overcoming how things look, rolls eyes. We’ve had several
false alarms but I have three nephews who are firefighters so Mom always tells
them about her grandsons and no foul. Although we “trained” to call the local
fire no emergency number when the thing gets accidentally hit by a curious
cleaning lady or Mom bumps it that step still needs fine tuning. Everything is
a work in progress. Here’s a couple
brands see who is local and best price for you
#1 LifeFone
#2 MobileHelp
#3 One Call Alert
#3 Medical Care
Alert
#3 Bay Alarm
Medical
#3 Medical Guardian
#7 Medical Alert
51.
Another “training exercise” which we have not been able to accomplish
is: Don't rush to answer the phone. People fall hurrying to answer the phone. Set
the phone to ring seven or eight times before it goes to message. This eases up
on the worry of FOMO. Yes the fear of missing out is great when you are home.
Think how much this increased during pandemic when we all were shut in.
Socialization is super important.
52.
Mom or Dad seem to love to talk about people they know who died.
They want to attend funerals of vague acquaintances. I am not good at this
issue, I admit I won’t take her to a funeral of some person she knew twenty
years ago but hasn’t spoken to in twenty. What do you do? I don’t have a fix for
this so I just keep my mouth shut. There’s a great lesson in only being a listener.
People don’t want our advice.
53.
Carry a cordless or cell phone or let an answering machine pick
up. Get a shoulder purse that fits the phone that is light and small.
54.
If the house has tile or stone, pray often that they don’t fall
on it. Breaking a hip is a huge ordeal. If walking on smooth floors, wear
non-slip footwear. You can buy rubber clogs with grips that slide on, even Crocs
and Sketchers make some. Wallmart has work type shoes that have no laces which
aren’t pretty but functional. Even slippers
should be rubber/no-slip bottoms or flat, thin-soled shoes that fit well not
fuzzy slick bottom ones.
55.
If doctor suggested a cane or a walker, it is to be used at all
times instead of holding onto walls and furniture. Walking as if on a tight
rope arms up to grab the kitchen counter is a recipe for a fall. Vanity is a
killer. The walker is not a coat holder in the garage.
56.
Medications stay in their original containers in one place only.
57.
The pharmacist can easily print large-print labels on your
medications to make them easier to read.
58.
Take medications in a well-lit room, so you can see the labels.
Keep a notebook if you are taking more than two. My mom takes 12 and it is a
major organizational feat to get it right.
59.
Bring all pill bottles with you to Physician appointments. They
see all the interacting meds and make sure the patient takes them correctly. Don’t
keep meds that your senior thought was expensive, but maybe will go back on in
the future. Margin for error is bad.
60.
The pharmacist who fills the medications is a wonderful resource.
They are there to help. Every time the salesclerk asks if the senior needs a
consult the answer is always YES. Having a relationship with the pharmacist and
the people that work there can be lifesaving. Although ordering online might be
easier one misses this face-to-face information. Also shopping Costco verses CVS
for one pill but not another is not saving money. The risk of driving around to
several pharmacies to save five dollars is not worth the gas. Find a pharmacy
that knows the patient by name.
61.
Medication organizer by days of the week, a calendar, a chart,
whatever works
62.
Find all medications from drawers, medicine
cabinets, kitchen cabinets, purses store them in a single location. Prepare a
bag of expired or unneeded medications for safe disposal at a pharmacy or
police station if they are narcotics or pain medications. Pull off the tags with
names, phone, or any personal information from the bottles and boxes or discard
the packaging and place the loose pills in a single container or bag. Even old
bottles of over the counter medications need to go.
63.
Mixing bleach, ammonia, or other cleaning liquids together is a
danger. Mixed cleaning liquids create
deadly gases. It’s not uncommon for a senior to want to get down on their knees
to scrub something that bothers them. It’s easy to be confused especially if
cleaning supplies are poured into other containers to save space.
64.
Maybe don’t have too many cleaning items in the house delete the
ammonia, delete oven cleaners and have just comet, vinegar and baking soda have
a cleaning service scrub down everything with harsher chemicals to avoid fumes
65.
There is no prize patrol, the IRS and tax man never call you,
scammers pretend to be family or people in need. Hang up immediately. You don’t
need to be nice
66.
California Bar association free legal information https://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/Free-Legal-Information/Legal-Guide-Pamphlets
67.
So, mom is in a wheelchair or needs a special
bed after surgery? There are many resources to rent these temporarily. Craigs
list often has used wheelchairs for a few dollars. Think about how to get in
and out of doorways. These things change
and flex over time. Try to borrow or rent until you know the step is permanent.
68.
Maybe the front entrance needs a ramp? I’m
a fan of building something wooden and painting it to match the house. It can
be removed later when you sell
69.
Make sure the address number of the house
is large and can be seen from the curb for emergency assistance, car drivers,
delivery, uber
70.
Find a used bench
from a consignment store, yard sale, something sturdy but cute. The bench acts
as a grocery bag spot, a place to sit while waiting for a ride, where one
holiday decoration might sit, but you will thank me for this tip.
71.
There are hundreds
of doorbell ringers, automatic door un-lockers and digital door tools. We have
a digital doorbell ringer, I think it’s kind of a dumb toy that she used for a
couple months. Maybe your parent gets lots of Amazon deliveries and people
steal them, it might be helpful. Do not count on grandmother chasing and
catching the burglar. This really depends on if you are in a city, urban,
whatever and if there is some gate to your front door. Send me a picture and
for free I will tell you what I suggest.
72.
Front door
lighting is vital. Combine a couple types. One is a motion sensor flood light
set up high so it cannot be “messed” with. Next two pretty sconce style lights
that turn on from a switch inside set low
enough to be able to replace the bulbs with ease and no ladder (traditional
wiring for a front door). Also, a line of solar lighting (these do not last
very long the light will glow until 3 AM and the system lasts about 20 months
with one rechargeable battery replacement). Because they are outdoors you will
be replacing them. One more motion light that is wired to the house where the vehicles
enter and exit. Lighting keeps away the dumb bad guys and helps prevent falls.
73.
A metal open weave
doormat that cannot flip up or slide
74.
Is there an eve or
porch cover or overhang at the door? This is helpful for while standing putting
in key, carrying groceries in the rain.
75.
Tile or key finder
set to the phone. A place where keys hang in the kitchen. Save the worry of
praying to Saint Anthony to help, the Tile for Apple is fabulous, many other
companies available.
76.
Plug in kitchen
appliances like coffee maker that turn off in 40 minutes or single cup coffee
maker.
77.
If there is a high
counter with stools, this is a place where seniors fall. The stools need backs
and no swivel with a foot rest or foot step. We all love being in the kitchen
so this takes some testing to find the height and safety and pretty design.
78.
Ottoman or stool
or way to elevate legs and watch television or plink on the computer. Oh my, I
have a novel on remotes, how to set up Netflix without network tv, how to
program and how to hang the models – too long to add here. I’m not trusting
alexa or siri to listen in to my requests, there is that issue…
79.
Light bulbs come in a range of shapes,
sizes and brightness levels. common types: • incandescent • fluorescent •
compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) • halogen • light-emitting diode (LED) CFL and
LED bulbs are energy efficient and lasting up to 20 years. Don’t use bulb
wattage higher than the rating indicated on the light fixture. A dark hallway
can lead to unwelcome bumps in the night, the result of banging into furniture
or tripping over random items left on the floor. Proper lighting, handrails and
an absence of clutter can make halls, staircases and other passageways safe for
all residents.
80.
If the bedroom doesn’t have a landline
telephone, a cell phone should be brought into the room each night and a
routine to make this work. An extra charger always one plugged in on the nightstand
and one in the kitchen. Place the bed so both sides are accessible. A digital
clock with large, lighted numbers makes time visible from bed so they don’t
worry and fall back to sleep
81.
Power outages happen. Keep a working
flashlight near the bed or else know how to use a smartphone flashlight. Add
another one near the washing machine. Have a battery drawer for spares for
flashlights, remotes, smoke detectors.
82.
All electric outlets near water need to
be equipped with a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter)
83.
A wide, doorless shower with a no-step
entry is accessible for all, including wheelchair users and anyone who needs assistance.
84.
Two
hampers where clothing is put on and taken off. One for dry cleaning and the other for laundry
labelled in appropriate language for helpers.
85.
When purchasing a new washer or dryer,
consider the options and which door placement (top or front). I’m short, I can’t
reach down into large deep washing machines. Appliance manufacturers sell storage
drawers and brackets to adapt the height
86.
If the washer and dryer can’t be
relocated out of the basement, a laundry chute, through which dirty clothing,
bath towels and bed linens are dropped from an upper floor to a spot near the
machines, may be an option. Detergent and bleach containers can be heavy. Have an
open shelf at elbow height that fits the size. There is new detergent, which is
like paper sheets, try and see if that lighter version is easier to handle. A
laundry basket with sturdy wheels reduces lifting of heavy baskets.
87.
Garage doors are heavy. I had an old one
smash me in the back and knock me to the ground when I was a teenager. Install
an automatic garage door opener which makes it safer to use. Sensors prevent
the garage door from closing on anything such as people and dogs. Maybe it’s
time to replace the old door, a good investment in the value of the home long
term if the door faces the street, it’s the first thing people see.
88.
A
home’s electrical control panel may in the garage or basement, or in a utility
room or closet. Label the switches inside the panel box in case a circuit needs
to be turned off or tested.
89.
Add motion-sensor lighting to the door
from house to garage. Wall-mounted controls for the garage door and overhead
lights enable both to be turned on and off from the door to the house at a
height that fits the senior. A small old table is handy for placing packages
that are being moved into or out of the home.
90.
A messy garage can become a home to
clutter and tripping hazards. Storage bins and secure shelving are useful
additions. Garages often store fire hazards and junk. Recycle all those bags
and let the old paint dry out and get rid of all of the dust collectors. The door
from garage to house should have an automatic closing bar and a bolt lock.
91.
Residents of single-family houses bring
their trash to the curb. People in apartments or mobile home typically carry
their trash to a central location in plastic trash bags. Plan something on
wheels that is manageable.
92.
Garage: mark where a driver entering a
garage should stop. This is easily accomplished with string and a tennis ball
hanging from the garage door opener. Cut the ball in half and insert the string
to the length that hits an inch above the driver’s rear-view mirror. For a
narrow garage, pool noodles or rubber molding strips can be installed along the
side walls to prevent damage from opening car doors. Installing a motion sensor flashing light for
when driver exits also can help avoid accidents when pulling out. My mom likes
to swear by the vehicle blind spot sensor which I think is hokum.
93.
If the property has steps, a pair of
sturdy handrails are needed on both sides
94.
Outdoor
furniture — placed on a porch, patio or lawn — can encourage people of all ages
to enjoy good weather by spending time outside.
95.
For the safety of residents and guests,
exterior pathways should be kept free of holes, loose bricks, uneven pavement,
branches, leaves, moss, and other tripping and slipping hazards. Keep bushes to
entry trimmed.
96.
Pathway lighting enables residents and
visitors to approach a house or apartment building safely after dark. The
lighting also allows the people inside the home to see what’s happening
outside. Outdoor lighting fixtures can be equipped with timers or sensors to
automatically turn the lights on at dusk
97.
The website of the U.S. Department of
Housing and Urban Development provides links to resources for each state,
Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. HUD.gov website
provides “tenant rights.” Information about the Fair Housing Act and the
Americans with Disabilities Act can be found on the website by searching the
phrase “disability overview.” Strangely enough there are more laws to protect
tenants and more funds available to fix tenant disability access issues.
98.
Another
safety measure is to have a plumber install a thermostatic valve, so the
temperature of the water, not simply the balance of hot and cold water, is
controlled. • Water leaks can cause significant damage, and leaks near wiring
and electrical outlets can be dangerous. Placing water leak sensors near the
water heater and in potential wet spots will provide an early alert to a
problem. • Insulate exposed hot water pipes to conserve energy and protect
against accidental burns. A plumber can balance all the systems.
99.
Never use an electrical device near a
filled sink or tub, even if plugged into a GFCI safety outlet. Note: A GFCI
(ground fault circuit interrupter) is sometimes called a GFI (ground fault
interrupter). Same device, different names. Perhaps remove the hairdryer and
curling iron from the bathroom and place in bedroom
100.
Keep
heating, cooling, plumbing in good working condition. Replace refrigerator, vacuum cleaner and water
dispenser filters as indicated in the manual or on the devices themselves. • If
the home uses well water, regularly check the sediment filter and water
conditioner salt levels. • Have fireplaces and woodburning stoves inspected and
cleaned before use each season.
101.
HVAC systems, replace or clean the air
filters every 30 to 90 days (according to the filter manufacturer’s
instructions). Vacuum or dust the vents and registers. Tip: In a home with HVAC
and ceiling fans, set the blades to rotate counterclockwise during the summer
(to circulate cool air) and clockwise in the winter (to circulate warm air). Clean
the dryer lint trap after every load of laundry, periodically clean the unit’s
exhaust vent (the flexible silver tube that connects the dryer to the
outdoors).
102.
Protect against pet-related falls: •
Limit the number of pet toys in the home (or limit the number available to the
pet at one moment). • Regularly pick up the toys and place them in a designated
spot — and try to train the pet to do the same, good luck with an older dog.
103.
When
carrying packages, a laundry basket or other bulky items, put the pet in the
basement, garage, utility room or a pen until the lifting and moving tasks are
done.
104.
Fight Fraud • When hiring a home
improvement or maintenance contractor, family and friends should recommend a
skilled, trustworthy professional. Don’t let them have contractors pencil out a
job without you reviewing contracts, be the job superintendent.
105.
A senior maybe cannot use a fire
extinguisher they can’t hold something heavy in an emergency and put out a
fire. They would be best trained to call 911 and get out of the house.
106.
Replace throw rugs with cushioned,
slip-resistant mats. Or use double-sided carpet tape to secure existing floor
coverings. Add adhesive nonslip strips to uncarpeted steps. Gather medications
from throughout the home and keep them in a single location. Sort out expired
or unneeded medications for safe disposal at a pharmacy or police station.
(Remove any personal information from the bottles and boxes or discard the
packaging and place the loose pills in a single container or bag.) Install
motion-sensor night-lights in hallways and bathrooms, near steps and along
staircases. Replace light bulbs that are too dim or too bright with long-lasting,
energy-efficient bulbs. (Check the wattage ratings on the light fixtures to
avoid installing bulbs that are too powerful.). Store flashlights throughout
the home in case of a power outage. Regularly test to check the batteries.
Maintain a landline phone, especially in the bedroom and kitchen, and/or carry
or keep a cell phone nearby. Keep a fully powered portable charger or power
bank on hand so a cell phone, laptop computer or tablet device can be recharged
during a power outage. Position and secure electrical and telephone cords along
a wall, where they won’t be a tripping hazard.
107.
Determine where deliveries should be left
when no one is home. Post instructions at the door or contact the carrier
through its website or by calling its customer service number. Stick-on
battery-operated lights to closets, along steps, in hallways and in the
kitchen.
So you read all my tips and tricks. Please comment and add any you find successful. This reversal in roles is a tricky hike but you will find joy along the way. I tend to worry and if you noticed I like to be ready. Your senior's house might be in an earthquake zone or some particular hazard you planned for ... please share
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Caroline Gerardo Barbeau
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https://carolineg.swmcretail.com
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